DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-54,503

AMESBURY GROUP, INC.
TEXTILE DIVISION
STATESVILLE, 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, as
amended (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 sales and/or production have
decreased absolutely at the workers firm or subdivision and an
increase in imports of articles like or directly competitive with
articles produced by the workers' firm or subdivision contributed
importantly to workers' separation or threat of separation and to
the decline in the sales or production of the subject firm or
subdivision.
The investigation was initiated on March 15, 2004 in response
to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Amesbury Group, Inc.,
Textile Division, Statesville, North Carolina. The workers at the
subject facility produce window weather stripping.
The investigation revealed that production, and employment at
the subject facility declined from 2002 to 2003.
The investigation further revealed that company imports of
window weather stripping increased during the relevant period.
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 increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with window weather stripping produced
at Amesbury Group, Inc., Textile Division, Statesville, 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 Amesbury Group, Inc., Textile Division,
Statesville, North Carolina who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after February 24, 2003
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 6th day of April 2004.

/s/ Richard Church

______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance