DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-93,479

SONOVA USA, INC.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS UNITRON HEARING, INC.
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM
AEROTEK AND AWARD STAFFING
PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA

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 29, 2018 by the state workforce office on
behalf of workers of Sonova USA, Inc., formerly known as
Unitron Hearing, Inc., Plymouth, Minnesota (Sonova USA). The
workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the production
of hearing instruments (aids). The subject worker group includes
on-site leased workers from Aerotek and Award Staffing.
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 Sonova USA have 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 partially shifted to a foreign country the production
of a(n) article like or directly competitive with the hearing
instruments produced by the subject workers which contributed
importantly to worker group separations at Sonova USA.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Sonova USA, Plymouth,
Minnesota, who are engaged in activities related to the
production of hearing instruments, 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 Sonova USA, Inc., formerly known as
Unitron Hearing, Inc., including on-site leased workers
from Aerotek and Award Staffing, Plymouth, Minnesota, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after December 14, 2016 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 28th day of February 2018.

/s/Del Min Amy Chen
______________________________
DEL MIN AMY CHEN
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance