DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,112

THE MEAD CORPORATION
SCHOOL AND OFFICE PRODUCTS DIVISION
KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN


Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
USC 2273) as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act
of 1988 (P. L. 100-418), the Department of Labor herein presents
the results of an investigation regarding certification of eligi-
bility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance,
each of the group eligibility requirements of Section 222 of the
Act must be met:
(1) that a significant number or proportion of the workers
in the workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision
thereof, have become totally or partially separated,
or are threatened to become totally or partially
separated;

(2) that sales or production, or both, of the firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and

(3) that increases of imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by the firm or
appropriate subdivision have contributed importantly to
the separations, or threat thereof, and to the absolute
decline in sales or production.

The investigation was initiated on September 18, 2000 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at The Mead
Corporation, School and Office Products Division, Kalamazoo,
Michigan. Workers at the subject firm were employed in
activities related to the production of paper based stationery
products.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment has been filed
on behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA - 4148). A
decision on that petition will be made concurrently with this
determination.
This investigation revealed that the subject firm does not
import paper based stationery products that are like or directly
competitive with articles produced by the subject firm. Corporate
wide imports of paper products increased in 2000 compared with
1999, but company officials state that the imports are not like
or directly competitive with the products manufactured at the
Kalamazoo, Michigan facility.
Investigative findings further revealed that any separations
at the Kalamazoo, Michigan plant were due to a transfer of pro-
duction to several other company-owned domestic facilities.
Petitioners allege that increased imports of paper based
stationery products led to layoffs at the subject firm. Sales
and production at the Kalamazoo plant increased in 2000 compared
with 1999. Although corporate-wide imports of paper products
increased in 2000 compared with 1999, company officials state
that the imports are not like or directly competitive with the
products manufactured at the subject firm.






Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers at The
Mead Corporation, School and Office Products Division, Kalamazoo,
Michigan are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assis-

tance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 28th day of November, 2000.

/s/ Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance