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As noted above, Mrs. Zeidler possessed a high school diploma
when she commenced her employment with Ladish. As a Steno III at
Ladish, her duties were essentially the same as those of Steno I
and Steno II, from which she had progressed. The curriculum Mrs.
Zeidler pursued at Alverno College was toward a Bachelor of
Science degree in professional communications with a minor in
business management. Mrs. Zeidler graduated with such a degree
on May 16, 1992.
Petitioners contend that the sole purpose in Mrs. Zeidler's
advanced education was to improve her skills in the work she was
doing with Ladish. She pursued the education because she
recognized several years earlier that Ladish would ultimately be
adversely affected by economic and business conditions that would
require permanent layoffs of employees. By having advanced
educational training in her field, Mrs. Zeidler felt that she
would not be laid off, or, at least, her employment would be
prolonged. Although Mrs. Zeidler was permanently laid off in
June 1992, she is satisfied that, because of her advanced
educational training, her employment with Ladish continued at
least 6 or 7 years longer that if she had not earned her degree.
Because of her advanced education, Mrs. Zeidler was "held out of
seniority", in that other employees having seniority over her
were laid off. Petitioners argue that Mrs. Zeidler's advanced
education did not qualify her for a new trade or business
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