DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-63,209

NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
CUSTOMER CALL CENTER
EAST HANOVER, NEW JERSEY

Negative Determination 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 April 17, 2008, in response
to a petition filed by a state agency representative on behalf of
workers of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Customer Call
Center, East Hanover, New Jersey. Workers of the subject firm are
engaged in telephone answering services which include receiving and
responding to telephone, email, and postal mail inquiries.
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 domestically and there must be a
relationship between the workers' work and the article produced by
the workers' firm or appropriate subdivision. The investigation
revealed that although production of an article(s) occurred within
the firm or appropriate subdivision, the call center workers as
described above does not support this production. Thus the worker
group cannot 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, I determine that all workers of Novartis
Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Customer Call Center, East Hanover,
New Jersey 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 12th day of June, 2008.

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