DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-64,069

NORWALK INTERNATIONAL WOOD PRODUCTS
BYRDSTOWN, TENNESSEE

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)(A) of
Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiated on September 17, 2008 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of Norwalk International Wood Products, Byrdstown,
Tennessee. Workers at the subject facility are engaged in
activities related to the production of upholstered furniture.
Employment and production at the subject firm declined with
the cessation of operations on June 23, 2008.
The subject facility was vertically integrated with a
certified affiliated facility: Norwalk Furniture Corporation,
Livingston Division, Livingston, Tennessee (TA-W-63,984, certified
October 10, 2008, on the basis of increased customer imports). The
affiliated plant produced finished upholstered furniture.
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 do not possess skills that are 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 upholstered furniture contributed
produced at an affiliated location 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 Norwalk International Wood Products,
Byrdsville, Tennessee, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after September 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 17th day of November 2008


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