DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-56,689

JONES APPAREL GROUP
NORTH CAROLINA DISTRIBUTION DIVISION
RURAL HALL, NORTH CAROLINA

Negative Determinations 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 investigation was initiated on March 7, 2005 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Jones
Apparel Group, North Carolina Distribution Division, Rural Hall,
North Carolina. The workers provide fabric distribution
services for manufacturers in the garment industry.
The investigation revealed that Jones Apparel Group, North
Carolina Distribution Division, Rural Hall, North Carolina does
not produce an article within the meaning of Section 222(a)(2)
of the Act. In order to be considered eligible to apply for
adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of
1974, the worker group seeking certification (or on whose behalf
certification is being sought) must work for a "firm" or
appropriate subdivision that produces an article and there must


be a relationship between the workers' work and the article
produced by the workers' firm or appropriate subdivision. The
workers of Jones Apparel Group, North Carolina Distribution
Division, Rural Hall, North Carolina do not support a firm or
appropriate subdivision that produces an article domestically
and thus the worker group can not be considered import impacted
or affected by a shift in production of an article.
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 Jones
Apparel Group, North Carolina Distribution Division, Rural Hall,
North Carolina are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and are
also denied eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjust-
ment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C., this 22nd day of March 2005.

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