DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-53,901

DELAINE WORSTED MILLS, INC.
GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (19 USC 2273), the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance. The group eligibility
requirements for directly-impacted (primary) workers under Section
222(a) the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, can be satisfied in
either of two ways:
I. Section (a)(2)(A) all of the following must be satisfied:
A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in
such workers' firm, or an appropriate
subdivision of the firm, have become totally or partially
separated, or are threatened to become totally or
partially separated;
B. the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
C. increased imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by such firm or
subdivision have contributed importantly to such workers'
separation or threat of separation and to the decline in
sales or production of such firm or subdivision; or


II. Section (a)(2)(B) both of the following must be satisfied:

A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the firm,
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. there has been a shift in production by such workers' firm
or subdivision to a foreign country of articles like or
directly competitive with articles which are produced by
such firm or subdivision; and

C. One of the following must be satisfied:
1. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a party to a free trade
agreement with the United States;
2. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a beneficiary country under
the Andean Trade Preference Act, African Growth and
Opportunity Act, or the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery
Act; or
3. there has been or is likely to be an increase in imports
of articles that are like or directly competitive
with articles which are or were produced by such firm or
subdivision.

The investigation was initiated on December 30, 2003 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers at Delaine Worsted Mills, Inc., Gastonia, North Carolina.
The workers produced yarn.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.A) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.A) have not been met.
The investigation revealed that employment levels from
December of 2002 to December of 2003 were not sufficient for the
establishment of a worker group. In order to establish a valid
worker group, there must be at least three full-time workers
employed within a year period prior to the date of the petition.
Workers of the group subject to this investigation did not meet
this threshold level of employment.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Delaine Worsted Mills, Inc., Gastonia, North Carolina are denied
eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223
of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.

Signed in Washington, D.C. this 28th day of January 2004.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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