DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-52,872

BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY
CONSUMER HEALTHCARE DIVISION
HOLDREGE, NEBRASKA


Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply For Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility To Apply For
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended (19 USC 2273), 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 Trade
Adjustment Assistance, the group eligibility requirements
in either paragraph (a)(2)(A) or (a)(2)(B) of Section 222
of the Trade Act must be met. It is determined in this case
that the requirements of (a)(2)(B) of Section 222 have been
met.
The investigation was initiated on September 17, 2003
in response to a petition filed by a company official on
behalf of workers at Becton Dickinson and Company, Consumer
Healthcare, Holdrege, Nebraska. The workers at the subject
firm produced pen injector needles.
The preponderance in the declines in employment at the
subject firm is related to a shift in plant production of
pen injector needles to foreign countries and subsequent
imports following the shift abroad.
In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974
(26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of its investigation regarding
certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers.
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 the Trade
Act of 1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of
Labor herein presents the results of its investigation
regarding certification of eligibility to apply for
alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older
workers.
The group eligibility criteria for the ATAA program

that the Department must consider under Section 246 of the

Trade Act are:
1. Whether a significant number of workers in the
workers' firm are 50 years of age or older.
2. Whether the workers in the workers' firm possess
skills that are not easily transferable.
3. The competitive conditions within the workers'
industry (i.e., conditions within the industry
are adverse).
The Department has determined that criterion (2) has
not been met.
The investigation revealed that skills of the worker
group are easily transferable to other position in the
local area.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that there was a shift in
production from the workers' firm to a foreign country of
articles that are like or directly competitive with those
produced by the subject firm or subdivision, and there has
been or is likely to be an increase in imports of like or
directly competitive articles. In accordance with the
provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:







"All workers of Becton Dickinson and Company, Consumer
Healthcare, Holdrege, Nebraska who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after
September 11, 2002, through two years from the date of
certification, are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974,
and are also eligible to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade
Act of 1974." and;
"I further determine that all workers of Becton
Dickinson and Company, Consumer Healthcare, Holdrege,
Nebraska are denied eligibility to apply for
alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section
246 of the Trade Act of 1974."
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 6th day of November, 2003.

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

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