DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-64,828

THOMASVILLE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONOVER 5
A SUBSIDIARY OF FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL
CONOVER, 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 7, 2009, in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of the
workers at Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc., Conover 5, a
subsidiary of Furniture Brands International, Conover, North
Carolina. The workers are engaged in activity related to the
production of leather upholstery.
Employment and sales at the subject firm declined from 2007 to
2008.
The investigation revealed that articles produced at Conover 5
were shipped to Thomasville, Plant 9, Hickory, North Carolina,
where the upholstery process was completed and used in the firm's
production of upholstered furniture. Workers of Plant 9 were
certified eligible to apply for adjustment assistance based on
increased imports.
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 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 by
Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc., 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 Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc.,
Conover 5, a subsidiary of Furniture Brands International,
Conover, North Carolina, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after January 6, 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."
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 15th day of May 2009


/s/Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance