DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-58,000

DREXEL HERITAGE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.
PLANT #75
MORGANTON, 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, 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 September 21, 2005, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Drexel
Heritage Furniture Industries, Inc., Plant #75, Morganton, North
Carolina. The workers are engaged in the distribution and
warehousing of residential casegoods and upholstered furniture.
The investigation revealed that the workers of Plant 75 are
in direct support of casegoods produced by an affiliated
facility in Hilderbrand, North Carolina. Workers of Drexel
Heritage Furniture Industries, Plant 43, Hildebran, North
Carolina, were certified eligible to apply for trade adjustment
assistance under petition number TA-W-53,423. That
certification expires January 14, 2006. The Department
conducted an investigation to determine if import impact
continues to exist.
The investigation revealed that sales and production of
residential casegoods furniture by Drexel Heritage Furniture,
Plant #43, Hilderbrand, North Carolina, declined in January
through August 2005 when compared with the same time period of
2004.
The Department conducted a survey of the firm's major
declining customers regarding purchases of residential casegoods
furniture in 2003, 2004, and January through August 2005. The
survey revealed that customers increased import purchases during
the relevant period.
The decline in employment at Drexel Heritage Furniture
Industries, Inc., Plant 75, Morgantown, North Carolina is
attributable to the above described decline in sales and
production and increase in customer imports.
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 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 increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with residential casegood furniture
produced by Drexel Heritage Furniture Industries, Inc.
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 Drexel Heritage Furniture Industries, Inc.,
Plant #75 Morganton, North Carolina who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after September
14, 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 31st day of October 2005


/s/Linda G. Pools
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance