DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-95,412

BLUESTEM BRANDS INC.
NORTHSTAR PORTFOLIO DIVISION
CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL CENTER
ST. CLOUD, 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 Novembre 25, 2019 by a State workforce official on
behalf of workers and former workers of Bluestem Brands Inc.,
Northstar Portfolio Division, Customer Service Call Center, St.
Cloud, Minnesota (Bluestem-Call Center). Workers of Bluestem-
Call Center are engaged in activities related to the supply of
customer support services.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the petition and the workers' firm.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number or proportion of the workers in Bluestem-Call Center 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 shifted to a foreign country the supply of services
like or directly competitive with the customer support services
supplied by the subject workers which contributed importantly to
worker group separations at Bluestem-Call Center.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Bluestem-Call Center,
who are engaged in the supply of customer support services, 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 Bluestem Brands Inc., Northstar Portfolio
Division, Customer Service Call Center, St. Cloud,
Minnesota, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after November 22, 2018 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 17th day of September 2020.

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