DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-57,366

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA

Negative Determinations Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance
And 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.
The investigation was initiated on June 10, 2005, in response
to a petition filed by a state workforce representative on behalf
of workers of Office Depot, Inc., Torrance, California. The
workers are engaged in customer relations and company logistics via
telephone.
The investigation revealed that Office Depot, Inc., Torrance,
California, does not produce an article within the meaning of
Section 222(a)(2) of the Act. In order to be considered eligible
to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade
Act of 1974, the worker group seeking certification (or on whose
behalf certification is being sought) must work for a "firm" or
appropriate subdivision that produces an article and there must be
a relationship between the workers' work and the article produced
by the workers' firm or appropriate subdivision. The customer
relations and company logistics workers described above do not
support a firm or appropriate subdivision that produces an article
domestically and thus the worker group can not be considered import
impacted or affected by a shift in production of an article.
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.
In order for the Department to issue a certification of
eligibility to apply for ATAA, the worker group must be certified
eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA). Since the
workers are denied eligibility to apply for TAA, the workers cannot
be certified eligible for ATAA.











Conclusion
After careful review of the facts in this investigation, I
determine that all workers of Office Depot, Inc., Torrance,
California are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and
alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the
Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 22nd day of June 2005.

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

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