DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,635

ST. JOHN KNITS
ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA

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, 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) of Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiated on July 28, 2005 in response
to a petition filed by a state agency representative on behalf of
workers of St. John Knits, Alhambra, California. The workers at
the subject firm sew, link, crochet, press, and cut material for
women’s knit apparel.
The investigation revealed that fabric produced by the
subject firm is used exclusively for the production of women’s
knit apparel by St. John Knits.
The investigation revealed that employment and production at
the subject firm declined during the period of January through
July 2005 when compared to the same time period in 2004.
The decline in employment at the subject firm is related to
the subject firm’s decline in sales of women’s apparel.
Aggregate U.S. imports of women’s and girls’ bottoms and
women’s and girls’ tops increased in the twelve-month period
ending March 2005, when compared to the twelve-month period ending
March 2004. The import/shipment ratio exceeded 100 percent.
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 skills of the worker group at the subject firm are easily
transferable to other positions in the local area.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with the women’s apparel produced by
St. John’s Knits, 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 St. John Knits, Alhambra, California who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after July 1, 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;” and
I further determine that all workers of St. John Knits,
Alhambra, California, are denied eligibility to apply for
alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of
the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 15th day of September 2005.
/s/ Linda G. Poole

LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance