DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,861

ULTRA FLEX
A DIVISION OF HICKORY SPRINGS MANUFACTURING
COVERING ELASTIC DIVISION
HIGH POINT, NORTH 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, 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
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 facility, have become totally or partially
separated, or are threatened to become totally or
partially separated;
B. the sales or production, or both, of such facility 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 30, 2005 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers at of Ultra Flex, a division of Hickory Springs
Manufacturing, Elastic Covering Division, High Point, North
Carolina. The workers at the subject facility make elastic yarn
for hosiery.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) were not met.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
increase imports of elastic yarn for hosiery during 2003, 2004,
or January through July of 2005.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the subject
firm did not shift production of elastic yarn for hosiery abroad
during the relevant period.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of elastic yarn
for hosiery in 2003, 2004 and January through August 2005.
These surveys revealed no imports of elastic yarn for hosiery
during the period under investigation.
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 of the facts obtained in this
investigation, I determine that all workers of Ultra Flex, a
division of Hickory Springs Manufacturing, Elastic Covering
Division, High Point, 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 adjustment assistance under section 246 of the
Trade Act of 1974, as amended.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 7th day of October, 2005

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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