DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-82,896

CHARLES INC.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA

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 July 11, 2013 by the state workforce office on behalf
of workers of Charles Inc., Council Bluffs, Iowa. The workers'
firm is engaged in activities related to the production of
upholstered furniture such as sofas, chairs, ottomans and
sectionals.
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 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 upholstered furniture by Charles Inc.,
Council Bluffs, Iowa have decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because company
imports of upholstered furniture like or directly competitive
with the upholstered furniture produced by Charles Inc.,
Council Bluffs, Iowa have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased imports contributed importantly to the worker group
separations and sales/production declines at Charles Inc.,
Council Bluffs, Iowa.



Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Charles Inc., Council
Bluffs, Iowa, who are engaged in activities related to the
production of upholstered 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 Charles Inc., Council Bluffs, Iowa, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after July 10, 2012, 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 5th day of August, 2013.

/s/Michael W. Jaffe
______________________________
MICHAEL W. JAFFE
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance