DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-55,162

VAUGHAN-BASSETT FURNITURE COMPANY, INC.
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM
NORMAN WILLIAMS AND ASSOCIATES
SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

TA-W-55,162A

VAUGHAN-BASSETT FURNITURE COMPANY, INC.
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
GALAX, VIRGINIA

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 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 June 29, 2004 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers at Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company, Inc., Sumter,
South Carolina (TA-W-55,162) and Vaughan-Bassett Furniture
Company, Inc., Corporate Headquarters, Galax, Virginia (TA-W-
55,162A). Workers at the Sumter, South Carolina facility produce
wooden household furniture and entertainment units; they are not
separately identifiable by product. Workers at the Galax,
Virginia facility are separately identifiable: workers provide
either administrative support (credit support, customer service
and order entry) or they are engaged in production. The
administrative workers at Galax, Virginia facility are not
separately identifiable by the production facility they support.
The investigation revealed that Vaughan-Bassett Furniture
Company, Inc., Sumter, South Carolina leased some production
workers from Norman Williams and Associates, Sumter, South
Carolina, during the relevant period.
The investigation revealed that sales at the Sumter, South
Carolina facility decreased absolutely from January through May
2004, when compared to the same period in 2003, and workers at
both subject facilities are threatened by separations.
The Department of Labor surveyed the major declining
customers of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company, Inc., Sumter,
South Carolina regarding their purchases of wooden household
furniture and entertainment units. This survey revealed
increases in imports of wooden household furniture and
entertainment units during the period under investigation.
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 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 wooden household furniture and
entertainment units produced by Vaughan-Bassett Furniture
Company, Inc., Sumter, South Carolina (TA-W-55,162), contributed
importantly to the total or partial separation of workers at
that firm or subdivision. In accordance with the provisions of
the Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company, Inc.,
including on-site leased workers from Norman Williams and
Associates, Sumter, South Carolina (TA-W-55,162), and
administrative support workers of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture
Company, Inc., Corporate Headquarters, Galax, Virginia
(TA-W-55,162A), who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after June 29, 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 August, 2004.


/s/ Linda G. Poole
_______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance