DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-54,841

ELASTEX, INC.
A DIVISION OF THE ELASTIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA
ASHEBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

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 on June 9, 2004, applicable to the workers of
Elastex, Inc., a division of the Elastic Corporation of
America, Asheboro, North Carolina. The notice will soon be
published in the Federal Register.
At the request of the State agency, the Department
reviewed the certification for workers of the subject firm.
The workers are engaged in the production of knitted narrow
elastic bands and gauge.
Information shows that the petitioner, a company
official, requested Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance
(ATAA) on behalf of the workers of the subject firm but
that request was not addressed in the decision document.
Information obtained from the company indicates that a
significant number of workers of the subject firm are age
50 or over, workers have skills that are not easily
transferable, and conditions within the industry are
adverse. Review of this information shows that all
eligibility criteria under Section 246 of the Trade Act of
1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended have been met.
Accordingly, the Department is amending the
certification to reflect its finding.
The amended notice applicable to TA-W-54,841 is hereby
issued as follows:
“All workers of Elastex, Inc., a division of the
Elastic Corporation of America, Asheboro, North
Carolina who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after June 3, 2003 through June
9, 2006, 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 16th day of June 2004


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


DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-54,841

ELASTEX, INC.
A DIVISION OF THE ELASTIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA
ASHEBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

Certification 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 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 May 3, 2004 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on
behalf of workers at Elastex, Inc., a division of the
Elastic Corporation of America, Asheboro, North Carolina.
The workers at the subject firm produce knitted narrow
elastic bands and gauge.
The investigation revealed that sales, production, and
employment at the subject firm declined from 2002 to 2003.
Moreover, the subject firm is scheduled to close in June of
2004.
The investigation further revealed that company
imports of knitted narrow elastic bands and gauge increased
during the relevant period.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of
articles like or directly competitive with knitted narrow
elastic bands and gauge produced at Elastex, Inc., a
division of the Elastic Corporation of America, Asheboro,
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 Elastex, Inc., a division of the
Elastic Corporation of America, Asheboro, North
Carolina who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after April 30, 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."
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 9th day of June 2004.

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