DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-55,945

LOUISVILLE LADDER GROUP
A SUBSIDIARY OF IMSALUM
SMYRNA, TENNESSEE

TA-W-55,945A

LOUISVILLE LADDER GROUP
A SUBSIDIARY OF IMSALUM
CORPORATE LOCATION
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

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 November 5, 2004 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers at Louisville Ladder Group, a subsidiary of Imsalum,
Smyrna, Tennessee (TA-W-55,945), and Louisville Ladder Group,
Corporate Location, Louisville, Tennessee (TA-W-55,945A). Workers
at the Smyrna production facility are engaged in the production of
aluminum and wood attic and step ladders, and are not separately
identifiable. Workers at the Corporate Location provide
engineering, accounting, customer service, and other support
services for the subject firm's two production facilities in
Smyrna, Tennessee, and Monterey, Mexico.
The investigation revealed that production and employment at
the Smyrna, Tennessee facility, and employment at the Louisville
corporate support location declined from October 2003 to October
2004.
The investigation further revealed that company imports of
ladders and components thereof 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 facility 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 aluminum and wood attic and step
ladders produced by Louisville Ladder Group, a subsidiary of
Imsalum, Smyrna, Tennessee, contributed importantly to the total or
partial separation of workers and to the decline in sales or
production at that firm or subdivision.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the
following certification:



"All workers of Louisville Ladder Group, a subsidiary of
Imsalum, Smyrna, Tennessee (TA-W-55,945), and Louisville
Ladder Group, a subsidiary of Imsalum, Corporate Location,
Louisville, Tennessee (TA-W-55,945A), who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after November 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 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 7th day of December 2004.

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