DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,237

INTERNATIONAL PAPER
SHEET PLANT
TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI

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 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:
(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 May 14, 2001, in response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at International Paper, Sheet Plant, Tupelo, Mississippi. The workers produced corrugated and cardboard boxes.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been met.
The subject firm did not import corrugated and cardboard boxes from abroad.
The Department surveyed major customers of the subject firm regarding their purchases of corrugated and cardboard boxes in the 1999, 2000 and January through March 2001. The survey revealed that customers did not import corrugated and cardboard boxes in the time period relevant to this investigation
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of International Paper, Sheet Plant, Tupelo, Mississippi, are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 2nd day of October, 2001.
/s/ Linda G. Poole

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