Certified
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TAW-60980  /  WestPoint Home (Abbeville, AL)

Petitioner Type: Company
Impact Date: 02/14/2006
Filed Date: 02/20/2007
Most Recent Update: 03/07/2007
Determination Date: 03/07/2007
Expiration Date: 03/07/2009

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-60,980

WESTPOINT HOME
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM MANPOWER STAFFING
BED PRODUCTS DIVISION
FORMERLY WESTPOINT STEVENS
ABBEVILLE, ALABAMA

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 February 20, 2007 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of WestPoint Home, Bed Products Division, formerly
WestPoint Stevens, Abbeville, Alabama. The workers produce bed
products. The worker group includes on-site leased workers from
Manpower Staffing.
Workers of the WestPoint Home, Inc. corporate office
working at the Abbeville plant, and workers of the Clemson
Centre working at the Abbeville plant, were certified eligible
to apply for trade adjustment assistance on February 21, 2006
(TA-W-58,623B) and (TA-W-58,623Z). Workers covered by the
present petition are separately identifiable from the previously
certified workers.
Employment at the Abbeville facility decreased in 2006
compared to 2005.
Production at the subject facility deceased while company
imports of bed products increased in 2006 compared with 2005.
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 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 bed products produced at
WestPoint Home, Bed Products Division, formerly WestPoint
Stevens, Abbeville, Alabama, 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 WestPoint Home, including on-site leased
workers from Manpower Staffing, Bed Products Division,
formerly WestPoint Stevens, Abbeville, Alabama, who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after
February 14, 2006 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 7th day of March 2007

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