
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