DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-51,533

BELCASE OFFICE FURNITURE INC.
INCLUDING LEASED WORKERS OF
SPMI
RATCLIFF, ARKANSAS

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
USC 2273), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of its 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, 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)(A) of
Section 222 have been met - the sales and/or production have
decreased absolutely at the workers firm or subdivision and an
increase in imports of articles like or directly competitive with
articles produced by the workers' firm or subdivision contributed
importantly to workers' separation or threat of separation and to
the decline in the sales or production of the subject firm or
subdivision.
The investigation was initiated on April 17, 2003 in response
to a petition filed by a state agency on behalf of workers at
Belcase Office Furniture Inc., Ratcliff, Arkansas. The workers at
the subject firm produced wood office furniture.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm leased some
of its production workers from SPMI, Van Buren, Arkansas.
The investigation revealed sales, production, and employment
declined absolutely during 2001, 2002 and during the period of
January through March 2003. The subject firm ceased operations of
April 9, 2003.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the subject firm
did not import wood office furniture or shift production abroad
during the relevant period.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customer regarding their purchases of wood office
furniture. This survey revealed increased imports of wood office
furniture during the relevant period.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that aggregate United
States imports of wood office furniture increased during the
relevant period.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with wood office furniture produced at
Belcase Office Furniture Inc., Ratcliff, Arkansas contributed
importantly to the total or partial separation of workers and to
the decline in sales or production and at that firm or subdivision.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the following
certification:
"All workers of Belcase Office Furniture Inc., Ratcliff,
Arkansas and leased workers of SPMI, Van Buren, Arkansas
producing wood office furniture at Belcase Office Furniture
Inc., Ratcliff, Arkansas who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after April 16, 2002 through
two years from the date of certification are eligible to apply
for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act
of 1974."
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 27th day of May, 2003

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