DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-93,612

RUSSELL STOVER CHOCOLATES, LLC
A SUBSIDIARY OF LINDT & SPRUNGLI
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM MATERN STAFFING
RUTHER GLEN, VIRGINIA

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; and

(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm have
decreased absolutely; and

(ii)(I) imports of articles or services like or directly
competitive with articles produced or services supplied by
such firm have increased; and

(iii) the increase in imports described in clause (ii)
contributed importantly to such workers' separation or
threat of separation and to the decline in the sales or
production of such firm.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on March 6, 2018 by a state workforce office on behalf of
workers of Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC, a subsidiary of Lindt
& Sprungli, including on-site leased workers from Matern
Staffing, Ruther Glen, Virginia (Russell Stover Chocolates,
LLC). The workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the
production of chocolate products.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers' firm, major declining customer(s) of
the workers' firm, and the petitioner.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because 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.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production of chocolate products by Russell Stover
Chocolates, LLC have decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because the
customer imports of chocolate products or articles like or
directly competitive with the chocolate products produced by
Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased customer imports contributed importantly to the
worker group separations and sales/production declines at
Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Russell Stover
Chocolates, LLC, a subsidiary of Lindt & Sprungli, including on-
site leased workers from Matern Staffing, Ruther Glen, Virginia,
who are engaged in activities related to the production of
chocolate products 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 Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC, a
subsidiary of Lindt & Sprungli, including on-site leased
workers from Matern Staffing, Ruther Glen, Virginia, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after March 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 10th day of May 2018.

/s/Hope D. Kinglock
______________________________
HOPE D. KINGLOCK
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance