DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-52,688

HOWES LEATHER CORPORATION
CURWENSVILLE AND CUTTING DIVISION
CURWENSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA

TA-W-52,688A

HOWES LEATHER CORPORATION
CLEARFIELD WHOLE LEATHER DIVISION
CURWENSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA

Certifications 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 an investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
The investigation was initiated on August 27, 2003 in response
to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers of
Howes Leather Corporation, Curwensville and Cutting Division,
Curwensville, Pennsylvania (TA-W-52,688) and Howes Leather
Corporation, Clearfield Whole Leather Division, Curwensville,
Pennsylvania (TA-W-52,688A). Workers of the Curwensville and
Cutting Division (TA-W-52,688) produce and cut vegetable dyed sole
leather. Workers of the Clearfield Whole Leather Division (TA-W-
52,688A) produce upholstery and garment lace leather.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment
Assistance as a secondarily affected worker group, the group
eligibility requirements in either paragraph (b)(3)(A) or (b)(3)(B)
of Section 222 of the Trade Act must be met. It is determined in
the case of Howes Leather Corporation, Curwensville and Cutting
Division, Curwensville, Pennsylvania (TA-W-52,688) that the
requirements of (b)(3)(B) of Section 222 have been met.
The investigation revealed that the Howes Leather Corporation,
Curwensville and Cutting Division, Curwensville, Pennsylvania (TA-
W-52,688) supplies cut sole leather used in the production of
leather footwear, and the loss of business with a manufacturer
whose workers were certified eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance contributed importantly to worker separations at the
subject division.
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 the case of Howes Leather
Corporation, Curwensville and Cutting Division, Curwensville,
Pennsylvania (TA-W-52,688) that the requirements of Section 246
have been met.
A significant number of workers at the division are age 50 or
over and possess skills that are not easily transferable.
Competitive conditions within the industry are adverse.
Furthermore, 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 the case of Howes Leather Corporation,
Clearfield Whole Leather Division, Curwensville, Pennsylvania (TA-
W-52,688A) that the requirements of (a)(2)(A) of Section 222 have
been met.
The investigation revealed that sales and employment at the
subject facility decreased absolutely from 2001 to 2002 and
employment decreased in January through July 2003 when compared to
the same period in 2002.
The investigation further revealed that the subject firm did
not import upholstery and garment lace leather or shift production
to a foreign country during the relevant period.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject division's major
declining customer regarding their purchases of upholstery and
garment lace leather. This survey revealed increases in imports of
during the period under investigation.
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 the case of Howes Leather
Corporation, Clearfield Whole Leather Division, Curwensville,
Pennsylvania (TA-W-52,688A) that the requirements of Section 246
have been met.
A significant number of workers at the division are age 50 or
over and possess skills that are not easily transferable.
Competitive conditions within the industry are adverse.
The workers producing leather for shoes, upholstery and
leather at Howes Leather Corporation, at 50 Cooper Road and 101
Meadow St. in Curwensville, Pennsylvania, were certified eligible
to apply for TAA under TA-W-39,811 and TA-W-39,811A, respectively.
The certifications expired September 24, 2003.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Howes Leather
Corporation, Curwensville and Cutting Division, Curwensville,
Pennsylvania (TA-W-52,688) qualify as adversely affected secondary
workers under Section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. In
accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the following
certification:
"All workers of the Howes Leather Corporation, Curwensville
and Cutting Division, Curwensville, Pennsylvania (TA-W-52,688)
who became totally or partially separated from employment on
or after September 25, 2003, 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."
Furthermore, after careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with those produced at Howes Leather
Corporation, Clearfield Whole Leather Division, Curwensville,
Pennsylvania (TA-W-52,688A) 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 Howes Leather Corporation, Clearfield Whole
Leather Division, Curwensville, Pennsylvania (TA-W-52,688A)
who became totally or partially separated from employment on
or after September 25, 2003, through two years from the date
of certification are eligible to apply for adjustment assis-
tance 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 at Washington, D.C., this 25th day of September 2003

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance