DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,369

SAINT-GOBAIN ABRASIVES, INC. (FORMERLY NORTON CO.)
BONDED ABRASIVES DIVISION
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

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 April 22, 2002 in response
to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Saint-Gobain Abrasives,
Inc., formerly Norton Co., Bonded Abrasives Division, Worcester,
Massachusetts. Workers subject of this investigation produced
fabricated metal used in a maintenance function by the Machine Shop
and Sheet Metal department for the abrasive division.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.


The subject firm did not import fabricated metal from 2000 to
2001 or in the period of January through March 2002 when compared
to the same period in 2001. Furthermore, it has been determined
that the Machine Shop and Sheet Metal department which fabricated
the metal went from the subject firm and was outsourced
domestically.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers at Saint-
Gobain Abrasives, Inc., formerly Norton Co., Bonded Abrasives
Division, Worcester, Massachusetts, are denied eligibility to apply
for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of
1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 5th day of February, 2003.


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