DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-58,418

NICOLES & STONE COMPANY
BRADY FURNITURE COMPANY DIVISION
RURAL HALL, 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 November 30, 2005, in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of Nichols & Stone Company, Brady Furniture Company
Division, Rural Hall, North Carolina. The workers at the
subject firm produce bedroom furniture.
The current petition investigation revealed that sales,
production and employment declined January through November 2005
over the corresponding 2004 period.
The investigation also revealed that the company increased
imports of bedroom furniture from January through November 2005
over the corresponding 2004 period.
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 do not possess skills that are 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 bedroom furniture produced by
Nichols & Stone Company, Brady Furniture Company Divison, Rural
Hall, North Carolina, 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:
"Workers of Nichols & Stone Company, Brady Furniture
Company Division, Rural Hall, North Carolina who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after
November 23, 2004, through two years from the date of
certification are eligible to apply for adjustment assis-
tance 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 20th day of December, 2005.


/s/ Linda G. Poole

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