DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-92,576

SURGICAL SPECIALTIES PUERTO RICO, INC.
A SUBSIDIARY OF ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM KELLY SERVICES
AGUADILLA, PUERTO RICO

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor
herein presents the results of an investigation regarding
certification of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment
assistance.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a firm
under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are
satisfied if the following criteria are met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the
workers in such workers' firm have become totally or
partially separated, or are threatened to become
totally or partially separated;
(2)(B)(i)(I) there has been a shift by the workers'
firm to a foreign country in the production of
articles or supply of services like or directly
competitive with those produced/supplied by the
workers' firm; OR
(II) there has been an acquisition from a
foreign country by the workers' firm of
articles/services that are like or directly
competitive with those produced/supplied by
the workers' firm; AND
(ii) the shift/acquisition must have contributed
importantly to the workers' separation or
threat of separation.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on January 26, 2017 by a company official on behalf of
workers of Surgical Specialties Puerto Rico, Inc., a subsidiary
of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (Surgical
Specialties Puerto Rico, Inc.). The workers' firm is engaged
in activities related to the production of knives, needles,
tissue closure devices (such as sutures), and related
component parts. Workers are separately identifiable by article
produced. The worker group includes on-site leased workers from
Kelly Services.
Workers are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment
Assistance under TA-W-85,902 (expires June 4, 2017).
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers' firm.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number or proportion of the workers in Surgical Specialties
Puerto Rico, Inc. has become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially separated.
Section 222(a)(2)(B) has been met because the workers'
firm has shifted to a foreign country the production of a(n)
article like or directly competitive with those produced by the
workers which contributed importantly to worker group
separations at Surgical Specialties Puerto Rico, Inc.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Surgical Specialties
Puerto Rico, Inc., who are engaged in activities related to the
production of knives, needles, tissue closure devices, and
related component parts, meet the worker group certification
criteria under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a).
In accordance with Section 223 of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2273, I
make the following certification:
"All workers of Surgical Specialties Puerto Rico, Inc., a
subsidiary of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, including on-
site leased workers from Kelly Staffing, Aguadilla, Puerto
Rico, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after June 5, 2017, through two years from
the date of certification, and all workers in the group
threatened with total or partial separation from employment
on the date of certification through two years from the
date of certification, are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 14th day of March 2017.
/s/Del Min Amy Chen
______________________________
DEL MIN AMY CHEN
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance