DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,105
EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES
FORMERLY GNB TECHNOLOGIES
DUNMORE, PENNSYLVANIA

Certification 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 eligibility 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. It is determined in this case that all of the
requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
received on April 23, 2001, and filed on behalf of workers of
Exide Technologies, Dunmore, Pennsylvania. The workers produce
signal, light and ignition (SLI)-lead acid automotive batteries.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm was
formerly GNB Technologies before it merged with Exide Corporation
and became known as Exide Technologies.
Sales and employment declined at the Dunmore plant from 1999
to 2000. The plant will be closing.
The Department conducted a survey of the subject firms'
major declining customers for 1999, 2000 and January through
March 2000 and 2001, regarding their purchases of automotive
batteries. The Department also had a survey, in-house, from one
of the customers identified by Exide as reducing purchases of
automotive batteries. That survey was for 1999 and 2000. The
customer survey revealed increasing customer imports of
automobile batteries and decreasing purchases from Exide.
A NAFTA-TAA petition was filed for the workers at the
subject firm, NAFTA-4758.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases in imports of automotive
batteries like or directly competitive with those produced at
Exide Technologies contributed importantly to the decline in
sales or production and to the total or partial separation of
workers of that firm. In accordance with the provisions of the
Act, I make the following certification:
 "All workers of Exide Technologies, formerly GNB
Technologies, Dunmore, Pennsylvania, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after April 5,
2000, through two years from the date of certification, are
eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section
223 of the Trade Act of 1974."

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 24th day of July, 2001

/s/ Edward A. Tomchick
______________________________
EDWARD A. TOMCHICK
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance