DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,082

BIRMINGHAM STEEL CORP.
JOLIET, ILLINOIS

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 sub-
division have decreased absolutely; and

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

The investigation was initiated on April 23, 2001 in response
to a petition filed by the United Steel Workers of America, Local
9777 on behalf of workers at Birmingham Steel Corp., Joliet,
Illinois. Workers at the subject firm were involved in employment
related to the production of steel re-bar and merchant bar.
Workers at the subject firm are not separately identifiable by
product line.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The investigation revealed that Birmingham Steel Corp. did not
import articles like or directly competitive with articles produced
at the Joliet, Illinois plant.
The Department of Labor conducted a survey of the subject
firm's major customers regarding their purchases of steel re-bar
and merchant bar. The survey revealed that none of the major
declining customers increased purchases of steel re-bar or merchant
bar, while at the same time decreasing their purchases of these
articles from the subject firm.
A petition for NAFTA-Transitional Adjustment Assistance has
been filed by the United Steelworkers of America, Local 9777 on
behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA-4804).
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Birmingham Steel Corp., Joliet, Illinois, are denied eligibility to
apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act
of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 30th day of July, 2001.
/s/ Linda G. Poole

LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance