DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-63,554

CRANFORD WOODCARVING, INC.
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM EXPRESS PERSONNEL
HICKORY, 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 June 18, 2008 in response to a
worker petition filed on behalf of workers of Cranford Woodcarving,
Inc., Hickory, North Carolina. The workers produce wooden furniture
components. The workers were under an existing trade adjustment
assistance certification that expired on November 22, 2007.


The investigation revealed that Cranford Woodcarving, Inc.,
Hickory, North Carolina supplied component parts for furniture and
a loss of business with a manufacturer of furniture whose workers
were certified eligible to apply for adjustment assistance
contributed importantly to the separation or threat of separation
of workers at the subject firm.
In addition, 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 of Cranford Woodcarving, Inc., Hickory, 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 Cranford Woodcarving, Inc., including on-site
leased workers from Express Personnel, Hickory, North Carolina
who became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after November 23, 2007 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 19th day of August 2008


/s/Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance