DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-40,816

CONNOLLY NORTH AMERICA, LLC
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 separat-
ed;

(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 February 11, 2002 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers at Connolly North America LLC, El Paso, Texas. The
workers were engaged in employment related to the production of
leather hides for customers located in Mexico.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The investigation revealed that all of the subject firm=s
production of leather hides was exported. Workers separations at
the facility are primarily attributed to loss of export sales.
Exports of leather hides produced by the subject firm cannot be
used as the basis for certification under the Trade Act of 1974.
In this case, increased imports of leather hides would be the
only basis for certification.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Connolly North America LLC, 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 27th day of March, 2002.

/s/ Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance