DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-71,877

AMERICAN FURNITURE MANUFACTURING, INC.
ECRU, MISSISSIPPI


Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor
herein presents the results of an investigation regarding
certification of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment
assistance.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a Firm
under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are
satisfied if the following criteria are met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially separated; and

(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm have
decreased absolutely; and

(ii)(I) imports of articles or services like or directly
competitive with articles produced or services supplied by
such firm have increased; and

(iii) the increase in imports described in clause (ii)
contributed importantly to such workers' separation or
threat of separation and to the decline in the sales or
production of such firm.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on July 31, 2009 on behalf of workers of American
Furniture Manufacturing, Inc., Ecru, Mississippi (American
Furniture Manufacturing). The workers produce upholstered
furniture.
The investigation revealed that workers of American
Furniture Manufacturing who are engaged in activities related to
the production of upholstered furniture meet the criteria for
certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
proportion of workers were separated during the relevant
period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production of upholstered furniture by American Furniture
Manufacturing have decreased during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with upholstered
furniture have increased during the relevant period.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased imports of articles like or directly competitive
with upholstered furniture by American Furniture Manufacturing
contributed importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at the subject firm.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of American Furniture
Manufacturing, Inc., Ecru, Mississippi, who are engaged in
activities related to the production of upholstered furniture
meet the worker group certification criteria under Section
222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a). In accordance with
Section 223 of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2273, I make the following
certification:
"All workers of American Furniture Manufacturing, Inc.,
Ecru, Mississippi, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after July 29, 2008,
through two years from the date of certification, and all
workers in the group threatened with total or partial
separation from employment on the date of certification
through two years from the date of certification, are
eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Chapter 2
of Title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 30th day of September, 2009.


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