DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-62,572

ETHICON
A JOHNSON AND JOHNSON COMPANY
SAN ANGELO, TEXAS

Certification 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.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment
Assistance(TAA), 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 December 13, 2007 in
response to a petition filed by a company official and the United
Food and Commercial Workers, Local 5147 on behalf of workers of
Ethicon, a Johnson and Johnson Company, San Angelo, Texas. Workers
of the subject firm produce medical devices for surgical use; they
are not separately identifiable by articles produced.
The workers of the subject firm were under an existing TAA
certification (TA-W-57,089) that expired on June 8, 2007
The investigation revealed that the in decline in employment
at Ethicon, a Johnson and Johnson Company, San Angelo, Texas is
related to a shift in production of medical devices for surgical
use to Mexico, which is a party to a free trade agreement with the
United States.
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 of 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 group eligibility requirements
of Section 246 of the Trade Act must be met. The Department has
determined in this case that the requirements of Section 246 have
been met.
A significant number of workers at the firm are age 50 or over
and possess skills that are not easily transferable. Competitive
conditions within the industry are adverse.







Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that there was a shift in production
from Ethicon, a Johnson and Johnson Company, San Angelo, Texas to
Mexico of articles that are like or directly competitive with the
products produced by the subject firm or subdivision. In accordance
with the provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Ethicon, a Johnson and Johnson Company, San
Angelo, Texas who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after June 9, 2007 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."
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 1st day of February 2008

/s/Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance