DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,611

DEAN SPECIALTY FOODS GROUP
ATKINS, ARKANSAS

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 subdi-
vision have decreased absolutely; and

(3) that increases of imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by the firm or appro-
priate subdivision have contributed importantly to the
separations, or threat thereof, and to the absolute
decline in sales or production.

The investigation was initiated on June 3, 2002 in response to
a petition filed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
(IBT), Local 878 on behalf of workers at Dean Specialty Food Group,
Atkins, Arkansas. The subject firm is a division of Dean Foods Inc.
The workers primarily produced pickles.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The Department of Labor surveyed the major declining customers
of Dean Specialty Foods Group, Atkins, Arkansas regarding their
purchases of pickles during 2000, 2001 and January-March 2002 over
the corresponding 2001 period. The survey revealed that none of the
respondents reported importing pickles during the relevant period.
The investigation further revealed that the company did not
import pickles during the period under investigation.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Dean
Specialty Food Group, Atkins, Arkansas are denied eligibility to
apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act
of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 14th day of November 2002.

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance