DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,429

MELE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
MELE JEWEL BOX
UTICA, NEW YORK

AND
TA-W-39,429A

MELE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
FARRINGTON PACKAGING
UTICA, NEW YORK

AND
TA-W-39,429B

MELE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
BLUE STAR LEATHER
UTICA, NEW YORK

Notice of Determinations 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 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 in response to a petition
received on June 18, 2001 and filed on behalf of workers and former
workers at Mele Manufacturing Co., Inc., Mele Jewel Box (TA-W-
39,429), Farrington Packaging (TA-W-39,429A), and Blue Star Leather
(TA-W-39,429B) divisions, Utica, New York. The workers are engaged
in the production of jewel boxes, plastic pen boxes and hallmark
receipt boxes, and leather desk accessories, respectively.
It has been determined with respect to workers at Mele
Manufacturing Co., Inc., Mele Jewel Box and Blue Star Leather
divisions, Utica, New York, that all of the criteria have been met.
Company imports of jewel boxes and leather desk accessories
increased relative to production during the relevant period
It has been determined with respect to workers at Mele
Manufacturing Co., Inc., Farrington Packaging, Utica, New York that
criterion (3) has not been met.
The investigation revealed that company imports of plastic pen
boxes and hallmark receipt boxes did not increase during the
relevant period.
The Department of Labor conducted a survey of Farrington
Packaging's customers regarding their purchases of plastic pen
boxes and hallmark receipt boxes. The survey did not reveal
increases in imports of plastic pen boxes or hallmark receipt boxes
during the relevant period.

Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investi-
gation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles like or
directly competitive with jewel boxes and leather desk accessories
produced at Mele Manufacturing Co., Inc., Mele Jewel Box and Blue
Star Leather divisions, Utica, New York, 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 Mele Manufacturing Co., Inc., Mele Jewel Box
(TA-W-39,429) and Blue Star Leather (TA-W-39,429B) divisions,
Utica, New York, engaged in employment related to the produc
tion of jewel boxes and leather desk accessories who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after May
27, 2000 are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under
Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974."
"I further determine that all workers at Mele Manufacturing
Co., Inc., Farrington Packaging, Utica, New York (TA-W-
39,429A), are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974."

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 13th day of August 2001.



/s/ Linda G. Poole

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