DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-42,114

MINNESOTA BREWING COMPANY HOLDING
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA

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
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:
(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 September 16, 2002 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Minnesota
Brewing Company Holding, St. Paul, Minnesota. The workers produced
beer and malted beverages.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The investigation revealed that there was no loss of major
customers prior to the plant closing. The preponderance in the
declines in employment at the subject firm is related to plant
machinery not being efficient enough to keep up with an increase in
customer orders. In an attempt to fulfill these orders, the
company made a substantial investment in capital equipment, which
failed to operate properly. This forced the company into
bankruptcy, which led to the plant closure.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Minnesota Brewing Company Holding, St. Paul, Minnesota are denied
eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of
the Trade Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 6th day of December, 2002


/s/Elloitt S. Kushner___
ELLOITT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance