DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-81,196

MICROFIBRES, INC.
RHODE ISLAND OPERATIONS DIVISION
PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND

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 December 27, 2011 by the company official on behalf
of workers of Microfibres, Inc., Rhode Island Operations
Division, Pawtucket, Rhode Island (Microfibres). The workers’
firm is engaged in activities related to the production of
velvet and flock fabric.
Worker at the subject firm were previously eligible to
apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance under TA-W-70,773
(expired on November 4, 2011).
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers’ firm.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number or proportion of the workers at Microfibres have become
totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become
totally or partially separated.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production of flock fabric by Microfibres have decreased.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because company
imports of articles like or directly competitive with the
article produced by Microfibres have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased company imports contributed importantly to the
worker group separations and sales/production declines at
Microfibres.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Microfibres, who
are engaged in activities related to the production of velvet
and flock fabric, 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 Microfibres, Inc., Rhode Island
Operations Division, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or
after November 5, 2011, 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 31st day of January, 2012.

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