DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-56,460

AMERIWOOD INDUSTRIES
WRIGHT CITY, MISSOURI

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), 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 February 1, 2005 in
response to a petition filed by the Union of Needletrades, Textiles
and Industrial Employees on behalf of workers at Ameriwood
Industries, Wright City, Missouri. The workers are engaged in
employment related to the production of ready to assemble
furniture.
The investigation revealed that sales and production at the
subject facility decreased in 2004 from 2003.





The United States Department of labor surveyed the subject
firm's major customers regarding their purchases of ready to
assemble furniture during 2003, 2004 and January 2005. The survey
revealed that the subject firm's customers increased its imports of
ready to assemble during the period of investigation.
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 skills of the worker
group are easily transferable to other positions in the local
commuting area.



Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of ready to
assemble furniture produced at Ameriwood Industries, Wright City,
Missouri 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 Ameriwood Industries, Wright City, Missouri,
who became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after January 28, 2004, through two years from the date of
certification are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance
under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974."
I further determine that all workers of Ameriwood
Industries, Wright City, Missouri 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 15th day of March 2005.

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