DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,678

MERRIMAC PAPER COMPANY
PEPPERELL PAPER COMPANY
PEPPERELL, MASSACHUSETTS

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 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. It is determined in this case that all of the
requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated on June 17, 2002, in
response to a petition filed by a company official and the Union
of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical, and Energy Workers, Local
1-534, on behalf of workers at Merrimac Paper Company, Pepperell
Paper Company, Pepperell, Massachusetts. The workers produced
colored paper.
The investigation revealed that production and employment at
the subject plant decreased during the period under
investigation.
The Department of Labor surveyed major customers of the
subject firm regarding their purchases of colored paper in the
2000-2001 and January to May, 2001-2002 time periods. Respondents
indicated that they reduced purchases from the subject firm and
increased imports in one or more sets of time periods.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with those produced by Merrimac
Paper Company, Pepperell Paper Company, Pepperell, Massachusetts,
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 Trade Act, I make the
following certification:
"All workers at Merrimac Paper Company, Pepperell Paper
Company, Pepperell, Massachusetts, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after May 28,
2001, 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 17th day of October 2002.


/s/Richard Church__________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance