DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,896

CRANFORD WOODCARVING, INC.
INCLUDING WORKERS WHOSE WAGES
WERE PAID BY TRI-STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, INC.
A SUBSIDIARY OF THE MCCRORIE GROUP
PLANTS 1, 4, AND 7
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS OF EXPRESS PERSONNEL
HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA

Amended 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 (19
USC 2273), and Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974 (26 USC
2813), as amended, the Department of Labor issued a Certification
of Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance on November 22, 2005,
applicable to workers of Cranford Woodcarving, Inc., a subsidiary
of The McCrorie Group, Plants 1, 4, and 7, including on-site
leased workers of Express Personnel, Hickory, North Carolina.
The notice was published in the Federal Register on December 15,
2005(70 FR 74367).
At the request of a company official, the Department
reviewed the certification for workers of the subject firm. The
workers are engaged in the production of wood components (e.g. -
carvings and turnings); they are not separately identifiable by
articles produced.
Information provided by the company shows that Tri-State
Employment Service, Inc. was contracted by Cranford Woodcarving,
Inc. to provide payroll function and benefit services to workers
on-site at the Hickory, North Carolina location of Cranford
Woodcarving, Inc.
Information also shows that all workers separated from
employment at the subject firm had their wages reported under a
separate unemployment insurance (UI) tax account for Tri-State
Employment Service, Inc.
Based on these findings, the Department is amending this
certification to include workers whose wages were reported by
Tri-State Employment Service, Inc. at Cranford Woodcarving, Inc.
a subsidiary of The McCrorie Group, Plants 1,4, and 7, Hickory,
North Carolina.
The intent of the Department's certification is to include
all workers of Cranford Woodcarving, Inc. were adversely affected
by increased customer imports.


The amended notice applicable to TA-W-57,896 is hereby
issued as follows:
"All workers of Cranford Woodcarving, Inc. including
workers whose wages were reported by Tri-State
Employment Service, Inc., a subsidiary of the McCrorie
Group, Plants 1, 4, and 7, including on-site leased
workers of Express Personnel, Hickory, North Carolina,
who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after September 2, 2004, through
November 22, 2007, are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974
and are also eligible to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade
Act of 1974."

Signed at Washington, D.C. this 17th day of February 2006.

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

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


DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,896

CRANFORD WOODCARVING, INC.
A SUBSIDIARY OF THE MCCRORIE GROUP
PLANTS 1, 4, AND 7
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS OF EXPRESS PERSONNEL
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 (19
USC 2273), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of its 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 September 7, 2005 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Cranford
Woodcarving, Inc., a subsidiary of the McCrorie Group, Plants 1, 4,
and 7, Hickory, North Carolina. The workers at the subject firm
produced wood components (e.g.- carvings and turnings); they are
not separately identifiable by articles produced.
The investigation revealed that sales, production, and
employment at the subject firm decreased during the period of
January through August of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm’s major
declining customers regarding their purchases of wood components.
The survey revealed increased customer reliance on imports of wood
components during 2003, 2004 and January through August 2005 over
the corresponding 2004 period.
The investigation revealed that McCrorie Group, Plants 1, 4,
and 7, Hickory, North Carolina also leased workers on-site from
Express Personnel to produce ready-to-assemble furniture.
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 of 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 determine that an increase in imports of articles
like or directly competitive with wood components produced at the
subject firm 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 Cranford Woodcarving, Inc., a subsidiary of
the McCrorie Group, Plants 1, 4, and 7, including on-site
leased workers of Express Personnel, Hickory, North Carolina,
who became totally or partially separated from employment on
or after September 2, 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 are also
eligible to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance
under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974."
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 22nd day of November 2005.

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