DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-55,745

INTERSTATE BRANDS CORPORATION
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker 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. The group
eligibility requirements for directly-impacted (primary) workers
under Section 222(a) the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, can be
satisfied in either of two ways:
I. Section (a)(2)(A) all of the following must be satisfied:
A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in
such workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of
the firm, have become totally or partially separated,
or are threatened to become totally or partially
separated;
B. the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
C. increased imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by such firm or
subdivision have contributed importantly to such
workers' separation or threat of separation and to the
decline in sales or production of such firm or
subdivision; or



II. Section (a)(2)(B) both of the following must be satisfied:

A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in
such workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of
the firm firm, have become totally or partially
separated, or are threatened to become totally or
partially separated;
B. there has been a shift in production by such workers'
firm or subdivision to a foreign country of articles
like or directly competitive with articles which are
produced by such firm or subdivision; and

C. One of the following must be satisfied:
1. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a party to a free trade
agreement with the United States;
2. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a beneficiary country
under the Andean Trade Preference Act, African Growth
and Opportunity Act, or the Caribbean Basin Economic
Recovery Act; or
3. there has been or is likely to be an increase in
imports of articles that are like or directly
competitive with articles which are or were produced
by such firm or subdivision.

The investigation was initiated on October 6, 2004 in
response to a petition filed by the Retail Wholesale Department
Store Union on behalf of workers at Interstate Brands
Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The workers produced bread
and cakes.
The investigation revealed that criteria (I.C) and (II.B)
have not been met.
Interstate Brands Corporation did not import bread and
cakes, nor did it shift production to a foreign country during
the period under investigation.
The investigation also revealed that sales of bread and
cakes have remained relatively constant; worker separations at
the Grand Rapids facility were due to the transfer of production
to other domestic facilities owned by the company.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Interstate Brands Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan are denied
eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223
of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 28th day of October, 2004.

/s/ Richard Church
______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance