DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-82,427

VT FLEECE CO.
INCLUDING OFF-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM FLEECE TO PLEASE
HYDE PARK, VERMONT

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 February 7, 2013 by the company official on behalf of
workers of VT Fleece Co., Hyde Park, Vermont (VT Fleece). The
worker group includes off-site leased workers from Fleece to
Please under the operational control of the subject firm.
Workers of the subject firm are engaged in activities related
to the production of fleece clothing and blankets, and are not
separately identifiable by product line. VT Fleece permanently
shut down in February 2013.
During the course of the investigation, information was
obtained from the workers' firm and public sources.
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.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production by VT Fleece have decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because aggregate
imports of articles like or directly competitive with the
fleece clothing and blankets produced by VT Fleece have
increased during the relevant period.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased aggregate imports of clothing and blankets
contributed importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at VT Fleece.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of VT Fleece Co., Hyde
Park, Vermont, who are engaged in activities related to the
production of fleece clothing and blankets, 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 VT Fleece Co., including off-site leased
workers from Fleece to Please, Hyde Park, Vermont, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on
or after February 6, 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 21st day of March, 2013

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