DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,337

BAYER CORPORATION
CONSUMER CARE DIVISION
ELKHART, INDIANA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Trade 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
eligibility 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. It is determined in this case that all of the
requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated on May 29, 2001, in response
to a petition filed by the United Steelworkers of America, Local
12273 on behalf of workers at Bayer Corporation, Elkhart, Indiana
and Mishawaka, Indiana. The workers are engaged in employment
related to the production of Alka-Seltzer effervescent, Alka-
Seltzer Plus effervescent, Alka-Mints, Bactine brand disinfectant,
and three brands of vitamins. Workers are separately identifiable
by specific product.
The investigation revealed that sales of Alka-Seltzer
effervescent, Alka-Seltzer Plus effervescent, Alka-Mints, as well
as One-A-Day and Flintstone vitamins declined during the relevant
period. Employment also declined during the period under
investigation. All production is tentatively scheduled to cease at
the end of 2002.
The subject firm has been and is currently transferring
production of Alka-Seltzer effervescent product lines from the
Elkhart, Indiana facility to Bayer Corporation plants in Mexico and
Germany. This transferred production began to be imported back
into the United States in the second quarter of 2001. All other
product lines have been or are being transferred to other domestic
facilities.
A petition for NAFTA-Transitional Adjustment Assistance has
been filed by United Steelworkers of America, Local 12273 on behalf
of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA-4890).









Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that there was an increase in imports of
articles that are like or directly competitive with effervescent
products produced by the subject firm. In accordance with the
provisions of the Trade Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers at Bayer Corporation, Elkhart, Indiana, engaged
in employment related to the production of effervescent
products, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after May 14, 2000, through two years from
the date of certification, are eligible to apply for
adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of
1974."
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 19th day of March 2002.


/s/ Linda G. Poole
_____________ _____

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