DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,173

ECC CARD CLOTHING, INCORPORATED
SIMPSONVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility to Apply for
Worker Adjustment Assistance and 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 an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance as an
adversely affected secondary group.
An investigation was conducted in order to determine
whether the petitioning group of workers qualify as adversely
affected secondary workers as suppliers of component parts to a
firm or subdivision primarily affected by increased imports or a
shift of production abroad.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance,
the following group eligibility requirements under Section
222(b) must be met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in
the workers' firm or an appropriate subdivision of the
firm have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially
separated;

(2) the workers' firm (or subdivision) is a supplier or
downstream producer to a firm (or subdivision) that
employed a group of workers who received a
certification of eligibility to apply for trade
adjustment assistance benefits and such supply or
production is related to the article that was the
basis for such certification; and

(3) either-

(A) the workers' firm is a supplier and the component
parts it supplied for the firm (or subdivision)
described in paragraph (2) accounted for at least 20
percent of the production or sales of the workers'
firm; or

(B) a loss of business by the workers' firm with the
firm (or subdivision) described in paragraph (2)
contributed importantly to the workers' separation or
threat of separation.

The investigation was initiated on May 13, 2005, in
response to a petition filed by workers on behalf of workers of
ECC Card Clothing, Inc., Simpsonville, South Carolina. The
workers produced dog pads, pipeline pigging, carpet kickers,
hand cards and flexible card clothing.
The investigation revealed that criterion (1) has not been
met.
Petitioners allege that job losses were due to their firm
losing business as a supplier to a firm that shifted production
abroad or was affected by increased imports. The investigation
revealed, however, that was not the case.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
separate or threaten to separate a significant number or
proportion of workers as required by Section 222 of the Trade
Act of 1974. Significant number or proportion of the workers in
a firm or appropriate subdivision thereof, means that at least
three workers with a workforce of fewer that 50 workers, five
percent of the workers with a workforce over 50 workers, or
fifty workers.
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 covered
by this petition of ECC Card Clothing, Inc., Simpsonville, South
Carolina do not qualify as adversely affected secondary workers
and are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance
under section 223(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, and are also
denied eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment
assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 21st day of June 2005.


/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

__
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance