DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-53,736

KING PRODUCTS
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative 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 December 8, 2003 in response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers at King Products, Los Angeles, California. The workers at the subject firm produced furniture turnings.
The investigation revealed that sales at the subject firm declined from 2001 to 2002 and again during the period of January through November of 2003 compared to the same period in 2002.
United States aggregate imports of furniture turnings increased in 2002 compared with 2001 and also increased in January through October, 2003 compared with the same period one year earlier.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm’s major customers regarding their purchases of furniture turnings. The survey revealed increased imports of furniture turnings by the subject firm’s major customer during the period under investigation.
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 of 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 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 increases of imports of articles like or directly competitive with furniture turnings produced at the subject firm contributed importantly to the total or partial separation of workers and to the decline in sales or production at that firm or subdivision. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers of King Products, Los Angeles, California who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after November 03, 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 12th day of January, 2004.

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