DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-53,431

SWEETWATER APPAREL, INC.
INCLUDING LEASDED WORKERS OF SKILSTAF, INC.
COLLINWOOD, TENNESSEE

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 an investigation regarding
certification of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment
assistance as a secondarily affected worker group.
In order to make an affirmative determination and
issue a certification of eligibility for secondary workers
to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance, the group
eligibility requirements of paragraph (b) of Section 222 of
the Trade Act, as amended, must be met. It is determined in
this case that the requirements of (b) of Section 222, as
amended, have been met.
The investigation was initiated in response to a
petition received on November 4, 2003 and filed on behalf
of workers at Sweetwater Apparel, Inc., Collinwood,
Tennessee. The workers produce unfinished t-shirts.
The investigation revealed that Sweetwater Apparel,
Inc., Collinwood, Tennessee supplies component parts for
finished t-shirts to a manufacturer whose workers were
certified eligible to apply for adjustment assistance, and
a loss of business with this manufacturer contributed
importantly to the workers separation or threat of
separation.
The investigation also revealed that the subject firm
leased workers from Skilstaf, Inc. to produce t-shirts.
In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974
(26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of its investigation regarding
certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers.
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 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 workers of Sweetwater
Apparel, Inc., Collinwood, Tennessee 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 Sweetwater Apparel, Inc., Collinwood,
Tennessee and also Skilstaf, Inc. who became totally
or partially separated from employment on or after
October 31, 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 at Washington, D.C., this 25th day of November 2003.

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