DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-55,714

INTERFACE FABRICS
CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT
ELKIN, NORTH CAROLINA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply For Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility To Apply For
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (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 investigation was initiated on October 1, 2004 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Interface
Fabrics, Customer Service Department, Elkin, North Carolina.
Workers at the subject firm provided customer services (i.e.,
"inside sales": contact management, account maintenance,
book/confirm orders and delivery management) related to the
production of fabric for furniture.

The investigation revealed that workers of Interface
Fabrics, Customer Service Department, Elkin, North Carolina,
provided customer services in support of Interface Fabrics,
Inc., Aberdeen, North Carolina. The workers of Interface
Fabrics, Inc., Aberdeen, North Carolina were certified eligible
to apply for trade adjustment assistance under petition TA-W-
54,882 on May 28, 2004 based on increased company imports of
furniture fabrics like or competitive with the products made at
that facility.
Although the company moved some of its Elkin customer
service workers to another location, the Department has
determined that the workers were, in part, adversely affected by
the closure of the Interface Fabrics facility in Aberdeen, North
Carolina.
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.
The group eligibility criteria for the ATAA program that
the Department must consider under Section 246 of the Trade Act
are:
1. Whether a significant number of workers in the
workers' firm are 50 years of age or older.
2. Whether the workers in the workers' firm possess
skills that are not easily transferable.
3. The competitive conditions within the workers'
industry (i.e., conditions within the industry are
adverse).
The Department has determined that criterion (2) has not
been met.
The investigation revealed that the affected workers
possess skills that are easily transferable in the local area.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with furniture fabric produced by
Interface Fabrics contributed importantly to the total or
partial separation of workers and to the declines in sales or
production at that firm. In accordance with the provisions of
the Act, I make the following certification:












"All workers of Interface Fabrics, Customer Service
Department, Elkin, North Carolina, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after October 1,
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
I further determine that all workers of Interface Fabrics,
Customer Service Department, Elkin, North Carolina are denied
eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance
under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 4th day of November 2004
/s/ Linda G. Poole
_____________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance