DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,528

GRIFFIN WHEEL COMPANY
BESSEMER, ALABAMA

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
subdi-vision have decreased absolutely; and

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

The investigation was initiated on January 9, 2001 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Griffin
Wheel Company, Bessemer, Alabama. The subject firm is a
subsidiary of Amsted Industries Incorporated. The workers
produced railroad wheels.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
Petitioners allege that the company closed the Bessemer
plant in June 2000 and consolidated the production with
operations at a sister plant in Canada and a plant in Brazil.
U.S. imports of railroad wheels and parts thereof, and any
such wheels or parts imported with axles fitted in them wheels,
whether or not fitted with axles decreased in 1999 compared to
1998 and in January-November 2000 compared to the same period in
1999.
Company imports of wheels decreased in FY 1999 compared to
FY 1998 and accounted for a minor percentage of company-wide
production in FY 1998, FY 1999, and January-June 2000. According
to a company official, the company has no plans to increase its
imports of wheels.
Company-wide sales and production increased in FY 1999
compared to FY 1998 and in January-June 2000 compared to the same
period in 1999.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Griffin Wheel Company, Bessemer, Alabama are denied eligibility
to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade
Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 20th day of February, 2001


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