DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-59,007

PROFESSIONAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, INC,
A DIVISION OF THE LESTER GROUP
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA

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.
The investigation was initiated on March 13, 2006 in response
to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers of
Professional Distribution Services, Inc., a division of The Lester
Group, Martinsville, Virginia. The workers of the subject facility
are engaged in distribution services. These services include
repackaging, re-labeling, quality control, inspection, cleaning,
repair and patching of garments, as well as the transportation of
garments.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm does not
produce an article within the meaning of Section 222(a)(2) of the
Act. In order to be considered eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, the worker
group seeking certification (or on whose behalf certification is
being sought) must work for a "firm" or appropriate subdivision
that produces an article and there must be a relationship between
the workers' work and the article produced by the workers' firm or
appropriate subdivision. The subject facility does not support a
firm or appropriate subdivision that produces an article
domestically and thus the worker group can not be considered import
impacted or affected by a shift in production of an article.
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 the
investigation, I determine that all workers of Professional
Distribution Services, Inc., a division of The Lester Group,
Martinsville, Virginia 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 14th day of April 2006


/s/Richard Church
______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance