DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-65,800

BERNHARDT FURNITURE COMPANY
CORPORATE OFFICE
LENOIR, 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 an investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance as a secondarily affected
worker group.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility for secondary workers to apply for
Trade Adjustment Assistance, the group eligibility requirements of
paragraph (b) of Section 222 of the Trade Act, as amended, must be
met. It is determined in this case that the requirements of (b) of
Section 222, as amended, have been met.
The investigation was initiated on April 15, 2009, in response
to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Bernhardt Furniture
Company, Corporate Office, Lenoir, North Carolina. The workers are
engaged in administrative support for the firm's furniture
manufacturing facilities. Specifically, the workers provide
administrative, accounting, human resources, information
technology, marketing, design logistics, sourcing, and other
general support functions.
The investigation revealed that employment at the subject
firm declined from March 31, 2008 to March 31, 2009.
The Department has determined that the worker group is in
support of upholstered furniture produced by Bernhardt Furniture
Company.
The investigation revealed that the decline in employment at
the subject firm is related to increased imports of upholstered
furniture. Workers of Bernhardt Furniture Company, Plant 6/11,
Lenoir, North Carolina, were certified eligible to apply for
adjustment assistance on November 20, 2008 (TA-W-63,420B), based on
increased imports of upholstered 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 upholstered furniture produced by
Bernhardt Furniture Company, Lenoir, 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 Bernhardt Furniture Company, Corporate Office,
Lenoir, North Carolina, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after March 31, 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 2nd day of June, 2009


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