DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-64,811

CLAYTON MARCUS COMPANY
PLANT 1-BETHLEHEM
A DIVISION OF ROWE FINE FURNITURE
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 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 January 6, 2009 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of Clayton Marcus Company, a division of Rowe Furniture,
Hickory, North Carolina. The workers produce upholstered
furniture.
Workers at the subject firm are under an existing trade
adjustment assistance certification (TA-W-60,887) that will
expire on March 21, 2009. Additional lay-offs are scheduled to
occur shortly after the termination date of the current
certification.
The investigation revealed that employment, sales and
production at the subject firm declined during the relevant time
period.
The investigation also revealed that the subject firm
increased imports of upholstered furniture from 2007 to 2008.
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 upholstered furniture produced
at Clayton Marcus Company, a division of Rowe Furniture,
Hickory, 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 Clayton Marcus Company, a division of Rowe
Furniture, Hickory, North Carolina who become totally or
partially separated from employment on or after March 22,
2009 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 9th day of January 2009


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