DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-81,248

BURKE HOSIERY MILLS, INC.
HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA

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 January 18, 2012 by a company official on behalf of
workers of Burke Hosiery Mills, Inc., Hickory, North Carolina
(subject firm). The workers’ firm is engaged in activities
related to the production of infant’s, children’s, men’s, and
women’s socks.
The workers of the subject firm were certified to apply
for TAA under TA-W-72,502 (issued on February 18, 2010).
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers’ firm and the United States
International Trade Commission.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because 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.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production of socks by the subject firm have decreased
absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because aggregate
imports of articles like or directly competitive with the
socks produced by the subject firm have increased during the
relevant period.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased aggregate imports 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 Burke Hosiery
Mills, Inc., Hickory, North Carolina, who are engaged in
activities related to the production of socks, 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 Burke Hosiery Mills, Inc., Hickory,
North Carolina, who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after February 19, 2012, 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