DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-53,288

BIDDEFORD BLANKETS, LLC
MICROLIFE USA
SUBSIDIARIES OF MICROLIFE CORPORATION
BIDDEFORD, MAINE

Amended 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) the Department of Labor issued a Certification of
Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance on November 21, 2003,
applicable to workers of Biddeford Blankets, LLC, a subsidiary of
Microlife Corporation, Biddeford, Maine. The notice was
published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2003 (68 FR
74979).
At the request of a petitioner, the Department reviewed the
certification for workers of the subject firm. The workers are
engaged in the production of flexible heating products, including
electric warming blankets.
New information shows that Biddeford Blankets, LLC and
Microlife USA are subsidiaries of Microlife Corporation. Workers
separated from employment at the subject firm had their wages
reported under a separate unemployment insurance (UI) tax account
for Microlife USA.


Accordingly, the Department is amending the certification to
properly reflect this matter.
The intent of the Department’s certification is to include
all workers of Biddeford Blankets, LLC who were adversely
affected by increased imports.
The amended notice applicable to TA-W-53,288 is hereby
issued as follows:
"All workers of Biddeford Blankets, LLC, Microlife USA,
subsidiaries of Microlife Corporation, Biddeford,
Maine, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after October 17, 2002, through
November 21, 2005, 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 at Washington, D.C. this 12th day of March 2004.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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


DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-53,288

BIDDEFORD BLANKETS, LLC
A SUBSIDIARY OF MICROLIFE CORPORATION
BIDDEFORD, MAINE

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), 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 October 20, 2003, in
response to a petition filed jointly by a company official and an
official of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile
Employees, Local 1856 on behalf of workers of Biddeford Blankets,
LLC, a subsidiary of Microlife Corporation, Biddeford, Maine. The
workers at the subject facility produce flexible heating products,
including electric warming blankets.
The investigation revealed that sales, production, and
employment at the subject facility decreased absolutely in November
2003.
The investigation further revealed that the subject firm did
not import flexible heating products, including electric warming
blankets or shift production of flexible heating products,
including electric warming blankets to a foreign country during
2001, 2002, or January through September of 2003.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject facility’s major
declining customers regarding their purchases of flexible heating
products, including electric warming blankets. This survey
revealed increases in imports of flexible heating products,
including electric warming blankets 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 this case that the
requirements of Section 246 have been met.
A significant number of workers at the subject facility are
age 50 or over and possess skills that are not 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 flexible heating products,
including electric warming blankets produced at Biddeford Blankets,
LLC, a subsidiary of Microlife Corporation, Biddeford, Maine
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 Biddeford Blankets, LLC, a subsidiary of
Microlife Corporation, Biddeford, Maine who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after October 17,
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