DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-58,378

HOFFMASTER
DIVISION OF THE FONDA GROUP, INC.
A SOLOCUP COMPANY
GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK

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, 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 November 18, 2005,
in response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of
Hoffmaster, division of the Fonda Group, Inc., a Solocup
Company, Glens Falls, New York. The workers are engaged in
the production of placemats.
The investigation determined that criteria
(a)(2)(A)(I.C.) and (a)(2)(B)(II.B.) have not been met for
workers of the subject firm.
The investigation revealed that subject firm did not
shift the production placemats to a foreign country, nor
did the subject firm import placemats.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's
major declining customers regarding their purchases of
placemats during 2003, 2004 and January through October
2005. This survey determined that the customers did not
import purchases while reducing purchases from the subject
firm during the relevant period.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that workers of
Hoffmaster, division of the Fonda Group, Inc., a Solocup
Company, Glens Falls, New York are denied eligibility to
apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the
Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 26th day of January, 2006.


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