DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-42,303

ABELCONN, LLC
COKATO, 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
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 October 28, 2002 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at AbelConn, LLC,
Cokato, Minnesota. The workers at the subject facility produced
backplanes and custom interconnects for the avionics and military
markets.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The investigation revealed that AbelConn, LLC did not import
backplanes or interconnects during the relevant period.
Rather, production at the subject firm was shifted
domestically to an updated facility in New Hope, Minnesota.
A petition for eligibility for NAFTA-Transitional Adjustment
Assistance has been filed on behalf of workers at the subject firm
(NAFTA-7640).
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers at
AbelConn, LLC, Cokato, Minnesota are denied eligibility to apply
for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of
1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 22nd day of November, 2002.




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