DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-59,563

DISTINCTIVE DESIGNS FURNITURE USA
GRANITE FALLS DIVISION
SEWING DEPARTMENT
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM EXPRESS PERSONNEL
GRANITE FALLS, 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)(B) of
Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiated on June 13, 2006 in response
to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers of
Distinctive Designs Furniture USA, Granite Falls Division, Sewing
Department, Granite Falls, North Carolina. Workers at the subject
firm performed work in the sewing department for upholstered
furniture.
The subject firm leased workers from Express Personnel.
The investigation revealed that the decline in employment at
the subject firm from January through May 2006 when compared to the
same period of the previous year, is attributable to the shift in
production in the sewing department to a country (Canada) that is
party to a free trade agreement with the United States.
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 there has been a shift in
production from the workers' firm or subdivision to Canada of
articles that are like or directly competitive with those produced
by the subject firm or subdivision. In accordance with the
provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Distinctive Designs Furniture USA, Granite
Falls Division, Sewing Department, including on-site leased
workers from Express Personnel, Granite Falls, North Carolina,
who became totally separated from employment on or after June
12, 2005, 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 at Washington, D.C., this 30th day of June 2006

/s/Linda G. Poole

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