DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,756

H & L TOOL COMPANY
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA

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 July 1, 2002, in response
to a petition filed on behalf of workers at H & L Tool Company,
Erie, Pennsylvania. The workers produced plastic injection molds.
The investigation revealed that criteria (3) has not been met.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
import plastic injection molds.
The U.S. Department of Labor conducted a survey of the subject
firms' customers regarding their purchases of injection molds
during 2000, 2001 and January through May 2002. The survey
revealed that none of the customers reported increasing their
imports of plastic injection molds during the relevant period.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers at H & L
Tool Company, Erie, Pennsylvania, engaged in employment related to
the production of plastic injection molds, are denied eligibility
to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade
Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 26th day of August, 2002.

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance