DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-64,427
WORLDTEX, INC.
HICKORY CORPORATE OFFICE
HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA

TA-W-64,427A
WORLDTEX, INC.
GREENSBORO CORPORATE OFFICE
GREENSBORO, 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 November 14, 2008 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of Worldtex, Inc., Hickory Corporate Office, Hickory, North
Carolina (TA-W-64,427) and Worldtex, Inc., Greensboro Corporate
Office, Greensboro, North Carolina (TA-W-64,427A).
The Hickory Corporate Office (TA-W-64,427) and Greensboro
Corporate Office, Greensboro, North Carolina (TA-W-64,427A)
together comprise the Worldtex, Inc. Corporate Headquarters.
Workers at the Worldtex, Inc. Corporate Headquarters are
engaged in managerial and administrative support, including
corporate governance, human resources, accounting, and sales
support employment related to the production of narrow elastic
tapes and medical wraps at an affiliated facility.
This investigation revealed that employment will decline
absolutely upon closure of the subject facilities in December 2008.
The workers at the Corporate Headquarters provided support for
an affiliated plant, Premier Narrow Fabrics/Elastic Corporation of
America, Inc., Columbiana, Alabama, that produced narrow elastics
and medical wraps. Workers of the Columbiana facility are
certified eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance under
TA-W-60,681 on February 16, 2007, due to shift in production to
Honduras. This shift began in March 2007 and was completed in
March 2008. Production at the Columbiana, Alabama facility
declined absolutely upon its closure in March 2008. Honduras is
party to a free trade agreement with the United States.
The petitioner also requested consideration of alternative
trade adjustment assistance for workers at each of the subject firm
locations covered by the petition.
The Department has determined in the case of Worldtex, Inc.,
Hickory Corporate Office, Hickory, North Carolina (TA-W-64,427) and
Worldtex, Inc., Greensboro Corporate Office, Greensboro, North
Carolina (TA-W-64,427A) that the requirements of Section 246 have
been met.
A significant number of workers at the division 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 a shift in production from the
workers' firm or subdivision to Honduras of narrow elastic tapes
and medical wraps by the subject firm contributed importantly to
the total or partial separation of workers and to the decline in
sales or production and at that firm or subdivision. In accordance
with the provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:











"All workers of Worldtex, Inc., Hickory Corporate Office,
Hickory, North Carolina (TA-W-64,427) and Worldtex, Inc.,
Greensboro Corporate Office, Greensboro, North Carolina (TA-W-
64,427A) who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after November 13, 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 25th day of November 2008

/s/Richard Church

RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance