DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-63,885

COCHRANE FURNITURE COMPANY
LINCOLNTON, 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 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 August 18, 2008, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Cochrane
Furniture Company, Lincolnton, North Carolina. The workers produce
household furniture (case goods and upholstered).
The workers of the Case Division of Cochrane Furniture
Company, Lincolnton, North Carolina, are currently certified (TA-W-
59,929, expiring September 20, 2008). At the time of that
certification they were separately identifiable by product line
from the employees of the subject firm who make upholstered
furniture. However, those two worker groups are no longer
separately identifiable.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm experienced
declines in sales, production and employment during 2007 as
compared with 2006, and during the period January through July 2008
as compared with the same period of 2007.
The investigation also revealed that the subject firm has
increased its imports of household furniture.
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 household furniture produced at
Cochrane Furniture Company, Lincolnton, North Carolina, 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 Cochrane Furniture, Case Division, Lincolnton,
North Carolina, who will become totally or partially separated
from employment on or after September 21, 2008, 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"; and


"All workers of Cochrane Furniture Company, Upholstered
Division, Lincolnton, North Carolina, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after August 15,
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 in Washington, D. C. this 18th day of September 2008.

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