Employment and Training Administration

Transcription

1 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration TA-W-60,370 MICROWAVE ANTENNA DIVISION INCLUDING ON-SITE TEMPORARY WORKERS OF UTI TA-W-60,370A CABLE ASSEMBLY DIVISION INCLUDING ON-SITE TEMPORARY WORKERS OF SPHERION ATLANTIC WORKFORCE LLC Amended Certification Regarding Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 USC 2273), and Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor issued a Certification of Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance on December 1, 2006, applicable to workers of Radio Frequency Systems, Inc., Microwave Antenna Division and the Cable Assembly Division, Meriden, Connecticut. The notice was published in the Federal Register on December 12, 2006 (71 FR 74564). At the request of the State agency, the Department reviewed the certification for workers of the subject firm. The workers of the Microwave Antenna Division produce microwave antennas used

2 in cell phone towers. The workers of the Cable Assembly Division produce cables and jumpers to connect to the antennas. Review of the petition file shows that the Department inadvertently failed to include coverage to the on-site temporary workers at each of the Division s described above. Workers of UTI were employed on-site at the Microwave Antenna Division and workers of Spherion Atlantic Workforce LLC were employed on-site at the Cable Assembly Division. The intent of the Department s certification is to include all workers at Radio Frequency Systems, Inc., Meriden, Connecticut, who were adversely affected by a shift in production to Mexico. Therefore, the Department is amending this certification to include temporary workers from UTI and Spherion Atlantic Workforce LLC working on-site at the Meriden, Connecticut Microwave Antenna and Cable Assembly Divisions of the subject firm. The amended notice applicable to TA-W-60,370 is hereby issued as follows: "All workers of Radio Frequency Systems, Inc., Microwave Antenna Division, including on-site temporary workers of UTI, Meriden, Connecticut (TA-W-60,370) and Radio Frequency Systems, Inc., Cable Assembly Division, including on-site temporary workers of Spherion Atlantic Workforce LLC, Meriden, Connecticut (TA-W- 60,370A), who became totally or partially separated 2

3 from employment on or after November 6, 2005, through December 1, 2008, are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and are also eligible to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of Signed at Washington, D.C. this 7 th day of March /s/ Linda G. Poole LINDA G. POOLE Certifying Officer, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance 4510-FN-P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 3

4 Employment and Training Administration TA-W-60,370 MICROWAVE ANTENNA DIVISION TA-W-60,370A CABLE ASSEMBLY DIVISION Certification Regarding Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 USC 2273), the Department of Labor herein presents the results of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance. In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a certification of eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance, the group eligibility requirements in either paragraph (a)(2)(a) or (a)(2)(b) of Section 222 of the Trade Act must be met. It is determined in this case that the requirements of (a)(2)(b) of Section 222 have been met. The investigation was initiated on November 7, 2006 in response to a petition filed by a state agency representative on behalf of workers of Radio Frequency Systems Inc., Microwave Antenna Division, Meriden, Connecticut (TA-W-60,370) and Radio Frequency Systems Inc., Cable Assembly Division, Meriden, Connecticut (TA-W-60,370A). The workers of the Microwave Antenna Division produce microwave antennas used in cell phone towers. The 4

5 workers of the Cable Assembly Division produce cables and jumpers to connect to the antennas. The workers are separately identifiable by product. The investigation revealed that a significant number or proportion of workers in the Microwave Antenna and Cable Assembly Divisions are threatened to become separated from employment. The subject firm has shifted a portion of microwave antenna and cable assembly production to a country (Mexico), which is party to a free trade agreement with the United States. In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the results of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers. In order for the Department to issue a certification of eligibility to apply for ATAA, the group eligibility requirements of Section 246 of the Trade Act must be met. The Department has determined in this case that the requirements of Section 246 have been met. A significant number of workers at the firm are age 50 or over and possess skills that are not easily transferable. Competitive conditions within the industry are adverse. Conclusion 5

6 After careful review of the facts obtained in the investigation, I determine that there was a shift in production from the workers firm or subdivision to Mexico of articles that are like or directly competitive with those produced by the subject firm or subdivision. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the following certification: All workers of Radio Frequency Systems Inc., Microwave Antenna Division, Meriden, Connecticut (TA-W-60,370) and Radio Frequency Systems Inc., Cable Assembly Division, Meriden, Connecticut (TA-W-60,370A), who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after November 6, 2005 through two years from the date of certification are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of Signed in Washington, D.C., this 1st day of December 2006 /s/ Linda G. Poole LINDA G. POOLE Certifying Officer, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance 6