DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,757

MERYL DIAMOND, LTD.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK

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 group eligibility requirements for
directly-impacted (primary) workers under Section 222(a)
the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, can be satisfied in
either of two ways:
I. Section (a)(2)(A) all of the following must be
satisfied:
A. a significant number or proportion of the workers
in such workers' firm, or an appropriate
subdivision of the firm, have become totally or
partially separated, or are threatened to become
totally or partially separated;
B. the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
C. increased imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by such firm or
subdivision have contributed importantly to such
workers’ separation or threat of separation and to
the decline in sales or production of such firm or
subdivision; or



II. Section (a)(2)(B) both of the following must be
satisfied:
A. a significant number or proportion of the workers
in such workers' firm, or an appropriate
subdivision of the firm, have become totally or
partially separated, or are threatened to become
totally or partially separated;
B. there has been a shift in production by such
workers’ firm or subdivision to a foreign country
of articles like or directly competitive with
articles which are produced by such firm or
subdivision; and
C. One of the following must be satisfied:
1. the country to which the workers’ firm has
shifted production of the articles is a party to
a free trade agreement with the United States;
2. the country to which the workers’ firm has
shifted production of the articles is a
beneficiary country under the Andean Trade
Preference Act, African Growth and Opportunity
Act, or the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery
Act; or
3. there has been or is likely to be an increase in
imports of articles that are like or directly
competitive with articles which are or were
produced by such firm or subdivision.

The investigation was initiated on August 16, 2005, in
response to a petition filed by the company on behalf of
workers at Meryl Diamond Ltd., New York, New York. The
workers produced ladies clothing (dresses, skirts, pants,
sweaters).
The investigation revealed that criteria
(a)(2)(A)(I.A.) and (a)(2)(B)(II.A.) have not been met.
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 means at least
three workers in a workforce of fewer than 50 workers, five
percent of the workers in a workforce of over 50 workers,
or at least 50 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 of
Meryl Diamond Ltd., New York, New York, 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 adjustment
assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 15th day of September 2005.

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