DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-52,805

COUNCILL CRAFTSMEN, INC.
DENTON, NORTH CAROLINA

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 investigation was initiated on September 11, 2003 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers at Councill Craftsmen, Inc., Denton, North Carolina,
consisting of 3 production facilities and an administrative office.
The workers at the subject firm are engaged in the production of
wood office and household furniture; they are not separately
identifiable by product line.
The investigation revealed that sales, production, and
employment at the subject firm declined absolutely from 2001 to
2002, and during the period of January through August 2003 when
compared to the same period in 2002.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of wood office and
household furniture. This survey revealed increased imports of
wooden office and household furniture during the period under
investigation.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that there were
substantial and increasing aggregate United States imports of wood
office furniture and upholstered household furniture from 2001 to
2002 as well as during the period of January through October 2003
when compared to the same period in 2002.
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 wood office and household
furniture produced at Councill Craftsmen, Inc., Denton, North
Carolina, 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 Councill Craftsmen, Inc., Denton, North
Carolina who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after September 8, 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 21st day of November 2003.

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