DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-40,865

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS DIVISION
LINCOLNTON, NORTH CAROLINA

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
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 February 25, 2002 in
response to a petition filed by the company on behalf of workers
at Sonoco Products Company, Industrial Products Division, Lincolnton, North Carolina. The
workers produced spiral paper cores.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The subject firm did not import.
The customer survey conducted by the U.S. Department of
Labor revealed that the customers of the subject firm did not
purchase paper spiral cores from foreign sources.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance has been filed on behalf of
workers at the subject firm (NAFTA 5919).
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers at Sonoco
Products Company, Industrial Products Division, Lincolnton, North Carolina, are denied
eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223
of the Trade Act of 1974.


Signed in Washington, D.C. this 29th day of April, 2002




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