TAA Decision 96100
Note: Determinations for this case number, this case number with an alphabetic suffix, and any appeals or amendments appear below.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-96,100
VERSO WISCONSIN RAPIDS PAPER MILL
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN
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 July 27, 2020 by a Union Representative the United
Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy,
Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union
(USW), District 2, on behalf of workers of Verso Wisconsin
Rapids Paper Mill, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin (Verso).
The workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the
production of paper (graphic papers used in commercial printing,
media, and marketing applications, including magazines,
catalogs, books, direct mail, corporate collateral and retail
inserts and packaging papers used in point-of-purchases
displays and laminated paperboard for box packaging) and pulp.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the petitioner, the workers' firm, and the major
declining customer(s) of the workers' firm.
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 paper and pulp by Verso have decreased.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because customer
imports of articles like or directly competitive with the
article produced by Verso 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
Verso.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Verso Wisconsin
Rapids Paper Mill, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, who are engaged
in activities related to the production of paper and pulp, 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 Verso Wisconsin Rapids Paper Mill,
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after July 24,
2019, 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 22nd day of September 2020.
/s/Hope D. Kinglock
______________________________
HOPE D. KINGLOCK
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance
