DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-62,086

PRELUDE FOAM PRODUCTS, INC.
INCLUDING LEASED ON-SITE WORKERS FROM ABLEST, INC AND TEMPORARY
STAFFING, INC.
THOMASVILLE, 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 (19
USC 2273), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents
the results of an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance as a
secondarily affected worker group.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility for secondary workers to apply for
Trade Adjustment Assistance, the group eligibility requirements
of paragraph (b) of Section 222 of the Trade Act, as amended,
must be met. It is determined in this case that the requirements
of (b) of Section 222, as amended, have been met.
The investigation was initiated on September 4, 2007 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Prelude
Foam Products, Inc., Thomasville, North Carolina. The workers at
the subject facility produced foam fabrications for the
furniture industry.
The worker group includes leased on-site workers from
Ablest, Inc. and Temporary Staffing, Inc.
The investigation revealed that employment, sales, and
production declined absolutely due to the subject facility's
closure on July 31, 2007.
The subject firm supplied foam products, and at least 20
percent of its production or sales was supplied to manufacturers
of furniture whose workers were certified eligible to apply for
adjustment assistance.
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 workers at Prelude Foam
Products, Inc, Thomasville, North Carolina, qualify as adversely
affected secondary workers under Section 222 of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended. In accordance with the provisions of the Act,
I make the following certification:
"All workers of Prelude Foam Products, Inc, including
leased on-site workers from Ablest, Inc. and Temporary
Staffing, Inc., Thomasville, North Carolina, who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after
August 31, 2006, 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 12th day of December 2007


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