DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-71,897

CHICOPEE INC.
A SUBSIDIARY OF POLYMER GROUP, INC.
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM
MANPOWER STAFFING
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

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 August 3, 2009, by a State Workforce Official on behalf
of workers of Chicopee Inc., a subsidiary of Polymer Group,
Inc., North Little Rock, Arkansas (Chicopee Inc.). Workers at
the subject firm are engaged in activities related to the
production of nonwoven roll goods. The workers are not
separately identifiable by product. The investigation revealed
that the worker group at the subject firm includes on-site
leased workers from Manpower Staffing.
The investigation further revealed that workers of Chicopee
Inc., a subsidiary of Polymer Group, Inc., including on-site
leased workers from Manpower Staffing, North Little Rock,
Arkansas, who are engaged in employment related to the
production of nonwoven roll goods meet the criteria for
certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number or proportion of the workers in the workers' firm have
become totally or partially separated during the relevant
period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production of nonwoven roll goods by the subject firm
decreased during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with nonwoven roll goods
produced by Chicopee Inc. have increased. Specifically, the
Department of Labor conducted a survey of the subject firm's
major declining customers regarding their purchases of nonwoven
roll goods during the relevant period. The survey revealed an
increased customer reliance on imported nonwoven roll goods.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased imports of nonwoven roll goods by customers of
Chicopee Inc. contributed importantly to the worker group
separations and sales/production declines at Chicopee Inc.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Chicopee Inc., a
subsidiary of Polymer Group, Inc., including on-site leased
workers from Manpower Staffing, North Little Rock, Arkansas,
who are engaged in activities related to the production of
nonwoven roll goods 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 Chicopee Inc., a subsidiary of Polymer
Group, Inc., including on-site leased workers from
Manpower Staffing, North Little Rock, Arkansas, who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after
July 31, 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 6th day of January 2010

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance