DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-56,691

WORLDTEX, INC.
HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA

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 an 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)
and (a)(2)(B) of Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiated March 7, 2005, in response to
a petition filed by the company on behalf of workers at Worldtex,
Inc., Hickory, North Carolina. The workers were engaged in
activities related to the production of elastic products used in
the apparel industry.
Employees at the subject location were engaged in services in
support of three other affiliated facilities whose workers are
currently certified for Trade Adjustment Assistance: Regal
Manufacturing Company, Hickory, North Carolina (TA-W-54,492;
Elastex, Inc, Asheboro, North Carolina (TA-W-54,841), and Elastic
Corporation of America, Inc., Columbiana, Alabama (TA-W-55,306).
The certifications were based on either shifts of production or
increased imports of elastic products for the apparel industry.
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 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 firm 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 conclude that increases of imports of articles
like and directly competitive with elastic products produced by
the firm contributed importantly to the total or partial
separation of subject firm workers and the decline in sales or
production at the subject firm or subdivision; and also that a
shift in production from the subject firm to a beneficiary country
of articles that are like or directly competitive with articles
produced by the firm also contributed to layoffs at the subject
firm. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the
following certification:
"All workers of Worldtex, Inc., Hickory, North Carolina, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after March 7, 2004, through two years from the date of
certification are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance
under Section 223, and alternative trade adjustment assistance
under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974."
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 28th day of March, 2005.

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance