DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-72,395

3M/SOUTHBRIDGE
A SUBSIDIARY OF 3M
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM COWORX STAFFING
SERVICES, DIAMOND STAFFING INC., EXPRESS PERSONNEL SERVICES,
SAVVY STAFFING SOLUTIONS, AND TALENT TREE/SKILLMASTER
SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor
herein presents the results of an investigation regarding
certification of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment
assistance.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a firm
under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are
satisfied if the following criteria are met:
I. The first criterion (set forth in Section 222(a)(1) of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a)(1)) requires that a significant
number or proportion of the workers in the workers' firm
must have become totally or partially separated or be
threatened with total or partial separation.

II. The second criterion (set forth in Section 222(a)(2) of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a)(2)) may be satisfied if either:

(i)(I) there has been a shift by the workers' firm to a
foreign country in the production of articles or
supply of services like or directly competitive with
those produced/supplied by the workers' firm; OR
(i)(II) there has been an acquisition from a foreign
country by the workers' firm of articles/services that
are like or directly competitive with those
produced/supplied by the workers' firm.

III. The third criterion requires that the shift/acquisition
must have contributed importantly to the workers'
separation or threat of separation. (Set forth in Section
222(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. §
2272(a)(2)(B)(ii)).

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on September 24, 2009 by a company official on behalf of
workers of 3M/Southbridge, a subsidiary of 3M, Southbridge,
Massachusetts (3M/Southbridge).
The investigation revealed that the worker group includes
on-site leased workers from CoWorx Staffing Services, Diamond
Staffing Inc., Express Personnel Services, Savvy Staffing
Solutions, and Talent Tree/Skillmaster. The workers are engaged
in activities related to the production of industrial and
consumer safety products including hearing, vision, and
respiratory protection such as safety eyewear, goggles, face
protection, respirators, ear muffs, ear plugs, and
communications headsets. The workers are not separately
identifiable by products produced.
The investigation revealed that workers of 3M/Southbridge,
who are engaged in activities related to the production of
industrial and consumer safety products including hearing,
vision, and respiratory protection meet the criteria for
certification.
Criterion I has been met because a significant proportion
of workers in the workers' firm have become totally or partially
separated during the relevant period.
Criterion II has been satisfied because there has been a
shift in the acquisition of industrial and consumer safety
products including hearing, vision, and respiratory protection
by 3M/Southbridge to China, Taiwan, and Mexico.
Criterion III has been met because the shift in
acquisition of industrial and consumer safety products
including hearing, vision, and respiratory protection by
3M/Southbridge to China, Taiwan, and Mexico contributed
importantly to worker group separations of 3M/Southbridge.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of 3M/Southbridge, a
subsidiary of 3M, including on-site leased workers from CoWorx
Staffing Services, Diamond Staffing Inc., Express Personnel
Services, Savvy Staffing Solutions, and Talent Tree/Skillmaster,
Southbridge, Massachusetts, who are engaged in activities
related to production of industrial and consumer safety
products including hearing, vision, and respiratory protection
meet the worker group certification criteria under Section
222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a). In accordance with
Section 223 of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2273, I make the following
certification:
"All workers of 3M/Southbridge, a subsidiary of 3M,
including on-site leased workers from CoWorx Staffing
Services, Diamond Staffing Inc., Express Personnel
Services, Savvy Staffing Solutions, and Talent
Tree/Skillmaster, Southbridge, Massachusetts, who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after
September 17, 2008, through two years from the date of
certification, and all workers in the group threatened with
total or partial separation from employment on date of
certification through two years from the date of
certification, are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 3rd day of November, 2009


/s/Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance