TAA - Trade Adjustment Assistance - MTbucket

this is great news for Mt Laurel New Jersey.  Are there any other offices who have done this?  they actually qualified and that means they have set a precedence.  Everyone who is struggling with Medical Transcription right now either losing their jobs or (sounds like) had their hours cut should check into this...

From the website: 

TAA Decision 72153



Note: Determinations for this case number, this case number with an alphabetic suffix, and any appeals or amendments appear below.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

	Employment and Training Administration

	TA-W-72,153 

MEDQUIST, INC.
INCLUDING WORKERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES REPORTING TO
MOUNT LAUREL, NEW JERSEY

	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.  See 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 August 28, 2009 by the Oregon State Workforce Office 
on behalf of workers of MedQuist, Inc., Mount Laurel, New 
Jersey. The workers are engaged in providing medical 
transcription services. The worker group includes workers 
throughout the United States reporting to Mount Laurel, New 
Jersey.
     The investigation revealed that workers of MedQuist, Inc., 
Mount Laurel, New Jersey, who are engaged in employment 
related to the supply of medical transcription services, meet 
the criteria for certification.  
      Criterion I has been met because at least five percent of 
the workers have become separated during the relevant period.  
      Criterion II has been satisfied because the workers' firm 
has acquired from India services like or directly competitive 
with the medical transcription services supplied by the 
workers' firm. 
      Criterion III has been met because the acquisition of 
medical transcription services by MedQuist, Inc. from India 
contributed importantly to home based worker group separations 
at MedQuist, Inc., Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
Conclusion
	After careful review of the facts obtained in the 
investigation, I determine that workers of MedQuist, Inc., Mount 
Laurel, New Jersey, who are engaged in employment related to the 
supply of medical transcription services, 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 MedQuist, Inc., Mount Laurel, New Jersey 
including workers at home sites throughout the United 
States, who became totally or partially separated from 
employment on or after August 27, 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 22nd day of September, 2009