DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-74,162

DESIGNS DES CAROLINES
MORGANTON, 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, 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 June 1, 2010 by a company official on behalf of workers
of Designs des Carolines, Morganton, North Carolina (subject
firm). The workers are engaged in employment related to the
supply wood finishing services for wood furniture. The worker
group does not include any on-site leased workers.
The investigation revealed that workers at the subject
firm, who are engaged in employment related to the supply wood
finishing services for wood furniture, meet the criteria for
certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
proportion or number of workers at the subject firm has been
totally or partially separated, or threatened with separation,
during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because subject firm
sales decreased absolutely during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because aggregate
United States imports of articles like or directly competitive
with those produced directly using services supplied by the
subject firm increased significantly during the relevant
period.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased United States aggregate imports of non-
upholstered furniture and other related articles contributed
importantly to worker group separations and sales declines at
Designs des Carolines, Morganton, North Carolina.

Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Designs des
Carolines, Morganton, North Carolina, who are engaged in
employment related to the supply wood finishing services for
wood 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 Designs des Carolines, Morganton, North
Carolina, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after May 24, 2009, through two years from
the date of certification, and all workers in the group
threatened with total or partial separation from employment
on 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 21st day of January, 2011

/s/ Del Min Amy Chem
______________________________
DEL MIN AMY CHEN
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance