DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,088

HEINZ PET PRODUCTS COMPANY
EL PASO, TEXAS

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 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:
(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 September 18, 2000 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Heinz Pet
Products Company, El Paso, Texas. The workers were engaged in the
production of dog food.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The investigation revealed the subject firm did not import
products like those produced at the subject plant in El Paso in the
relevant period.
The closing of the El Paso facility was related to a strategic
business decision on the part of the parent company to transfer
production to other domestic facilities. Corporate sales and
production at the corporate level increased for products
competitive with those produced by the subject plant.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment has been filed on
behalf of workers of the subject firm (NAFTA-4157). A
determination on that case will be issued concurrently with this
decision.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers at Heinz
Pet Products Company, El Paso, Texas, are denied eligibility to
apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act
of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 16th day of October 2000.


/s/ Linda G. Poole

LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance