DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-93,315

ASTRO APPAREL, INC.
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT
SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA

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;
(2)(B)(i)(I) there has been a shift by the workers'
firm to a foreign country in the production of
articles or supply of services like or directly
competitive with those produced/supplied by the
workers' firm; OR
(II) there has been an acquisition from a
foreign country by the workers' firm of
articles/services that are like or directly
competitive with those produced/supplied by
the workers' firm; AND
(ii) the shift/acquisition must have contributed
importantly to the workers' separation or
threat of separation.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on November 17, 2017 by a company official on behalf of
workers of Astro Apparel, Inc., including on-site leased
workers from Express Employment, Scranton, Pennsylvania
("Astro Apparel, Inc."). The worker's firm is engaged in
activities related to the production of children's school
uniforms. The subject worker group is engaged in post-
production finishing and distribution activities in support of
RK Uniform, LLC, an affiliate of Astro Apparel, Inc.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers' firm and the petitioner.
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)(B) has been met because the firm has
shifted to a foreign country the production of an article like
or directly competitive with the article produced by Astro
Apparel, Inc. which contributed importantly to worker group
separations at Astro Apparel, Inc. Per 29 C.F.R. 90.2, "A
firm, together with any...successor-in-interest...may be
considered a single firm."


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Astro Apparel, Inc.,
including on-site leased workers from Express Employment,
Scranton, Pennsylvania, who are engaged in activities related to
the post-production finishing and distribution activities in
support of RK Uniform, LLC, an affiliate of Astro Apparel,
Inc., 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 Astro Apparel, Inc., including on-site
leased workers from Express Employment, Scranton,
Pennsylvania, who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after November 16, 2016, 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 17th day of December 2017.

/s/Hope D. Kinglock
______________________________
HOPE D. KINGLOCK
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance