DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-38,483
SAPUTO CHEESE USA INC.
THORP, WISCONSIN

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 in response to a petition
received on December 26, 2000, filed by the Teamsters General
Union, Local 662, on behalf of workers at Saputo Cheese USA Inc.,
Thorp, Wisconsin. Workers were engaged in employment related to
the production of blue cheese and gorgonzola cheese.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) was not met.
The shut down at the subject facility was a direct result of
a shift of production to other company facilities in the United
States, not imports.
Corporate-wide sales and production of gorgonzola and blue
cheese have increased within the relevant period.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment has been filed
on behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA - 4384). A
determination on that petition will be made concurrently with
this decision will be made concurrently with this decision.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Saputo
Cheese USA Inc., Thorp, Wisconsin, are denied eligibility to
apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade
Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 31st day of January, 2001.
/s/ Linda G. Poole

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