DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-52,564
PREWETT MILLS DISTRIBUTION CENTER
A DIVISION OF PREWETT HOSIERY SALES CORPORATION
FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA

TA-W-52,564A
V.I. PREWETT & SON, INC.
A DIVISION OF V.I. PREWETT & SON
FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA

TA-W-52,564B
MCKEEHAN HOSIERY MILL, INC.
FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA

TA-W-52,564C
JOHNSON HOSIERY MILLS, INC.
FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA

TA-W-52,564D
JOHNCO HOSIERY, INC.
FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA

TA-W-52,564E
WEE SOCKS
A DIVISION OF V.I. PREWETT & SON
FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA

TA-W-52,564F
CHEROKEE HOSIERY MILLS, INC.
FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA

TA-W-52,564G
LALA ELLEN KNITTING
FORT PAYNE, ALAMBAMA

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 (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 August 15, 2003 in response
to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers at
Prewett Mills Distribution Center, a division of Prewett Hosiery
Sales Corp, Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564) engaged in sales and
distribution services of cotton socks; V.I. Prewett & Son, Inc.,
Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564A) engaged in knitting and
finishing production of cotton socks; McKeehan Hosiery Mill, Inc.,
Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564B) engaged in the knitting of
cotton socks; Johnson Hosiery Mills, Inc., Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-
W-52,564C) engaged in the finishing of cotton socks; JohnCo
Hosiery, Inc., Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564D) engaged in the
finishing of cotton socks; Wee Socks, a division of V.I. Prewett &
Son, Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,546E) engaged in the finishing of
cotton socks; Cherokee Hosiery Mills, Inc., Fort Payne, Alabama
(TA-W-52,564F) engaged in the finishing of cotton socks and Lala
Ellen Knitting, Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564G) engaged in the
knitting of cotton socks. All of the above locations form part of
an integrated production process.
The investigation revealed sales, production and employment
declined from 2001 to 2002 and during the period of January through
August 2003 compared to the same period in 2002.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
customers regarding their purchases of cotton socks in 2001, 2002
and January through July, 2003. The survey revealed increased
imports of cotton socks during the relevant periods.
United States aggregate imports of products like or directly
competitive with cotton socks produced by the subject firm
increased sharply during the periods noted above.
In addition, 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 do not possess skills that are easily transferable.
Competitive conditions within the industry are adverse.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with cotton socks produced at Prewett
Mills Distribution Center, a division of Prewett Hosiery Sales
Corp, Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564) ; V.I. Prewett & Son, Inc.,
Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564A); McKeehan Hosiery Mill, Inc.,
Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564B); Johnson Hosiery Mills, Inc.,
Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564C); JohnCo Hosiery, Inc., Fort
Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564D); Wee Socks, a division of V.I.
Prewett & Son, Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,546E); Cherokee Hosiery
Mills, Inc., Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564F) and Lala Ellen
Knitting, Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564G) 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 Prewett Mills Distribution Center, a division
of Prewett Hosiery Sales Corp, Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-
52,564) ; V.I. Prewett & Son, Inc., Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-
52,564A); McKeehan Hosiery Mill, Inc., Fort Payne, Alabama
(TA-W-52,564B); Johnson Hosiery Mills, Inc., Fort Payne,
Alabama (TA-W-52,564C); JohnCo Hosiery, Inc., Fort Payne,
Alabama (TA-W-52,564D); Wee Socks, a division of V.I. Prewett
& Son, Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,546E); Cherokee Hosiery
Mills, Inc., Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564F) and Lala Ellen
Knitting, Fort Payne, Alabama (TA-W-52,564G) who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after
August 12, 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, 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 14th day of October 2003

/s/ Richard Church
_____________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance