DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-55,506

GROUPE LACASSE LLC
A SUBSIDIARY OF HAWORTH, INC
HENDERSON PLANT
INCLUDING LEASED WORKERS
OF MANPOWER TEMPORARY SERVICES
HENDERSON, TEXAS

Negative Determination 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 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
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 August, 25, 2004 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers at Groupe Lacasse LLC, a subsidiary of Haworth Inc,
Henderson Plant, Henderson, Texas. The workers produce steel office
furniture. The subject facility leased workers from Manpower
Temporary Services.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) were not met.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
import steel office furniture in 2002, 2003 or January through June
of 2004, nor did it shift production to a foreign country.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject facility's major
customers regarding their purchasing of steel office furniture in
2002, 2003, and January through July, 2004. The survey revealed no
imports in the relevant periods.
In addition, 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 worker group must be certified
eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA). Since the
workers are denied eligibility to apply for TAA, the workers cannot
be certified eligible for ATAA.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Groupe
Lacasse LLC, a subsidiary of Haworth Inc, Henderson Plant,
including leased workers of Manpower Temporary Services, Henderson,
Texas are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance
under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and also denied
eligibility for alternative trade adjustment assistance under
Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 13th day of September 2004.

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