UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-98,275

SSB MANUFACTURING PLANT

FREDERICKSBURG PLANT

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA

Certification Regarding Eligibility

To Apply For Worker Adjustment Assistance and

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility To Apply For

Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("the Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor
("Department") herein presents the results of an investigation
regarding certification of eligibility to apply for Trade
Adjustment Assistance ("TAA") for workers.

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, or an appropriate subdivision of the firm,
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;

(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and

(ii) imports of articles like or directly competitive
with articles produced by such firm or subdivision 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 or subdivision

The investigation was initiated in response to a Trade
Adjustment Assistance for Workers (TAA) and Alternative Trade
Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) petition dated April 25, 2022 and
filed on April 26, 2022 by a State Workforce Office, on behalf of
former workers of SSB Manufacturing Plant, Fredericksburg Plant,
Fredericksburg, Virginia (hereafter referred to as the "group of
workers"). In accordance with 20 CFR 618.110 a worker group is
defined as, ""¦inclusive of teleworkers and staffed workers."

The group of workers is engaged in activities related to the
production of mattresses and foundations.

The petition alleges that worker separations, or threats
thereof, were due to, foreign trade. "On April 20, 2022, a WARN
notice was received from SSB Manufacturing Company in
Fredericksburg, Virginia, announcing the plant will close on or
about June 30, 2022. A total of 128 employees will be affected.
SSB Manufacturing Company is a subsidiary of Serta Simmons Bedding
LLC. ITC Determinations 701-TA-645 and 731-TA-1495-1501 Involving
Mattresses from foreign countries were published in the Federal
Register on 05/14/2021. Previous certification for the same
location #95277 expired on 2/19/22."

The group of workers were certified eligible to apply for
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) on February 19, 2020. The
certification expires on February 19, 2022.

During the course of the investigation, the Department
collected information from the petitioner(s), the workers' firm,
and other relevant 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, 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 mattresses and foundations by SSB
Manufacturing Plant have decreased absolutely.

Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with the article produced
by SSB Manufacturing Plant have increased.

Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased imports contributed importantly to the group of worker
separations and sales/production declines at SSB Manufacturing
Plant, Fredericksburg, Virginia.

ALTERNATIVE TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE

In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 2813, the Department herein presents
the results of its investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance
("ATAA") for older workers.

The group eligibility requirements for workers of a firm
under Section 246 (a)(3)(A)(ii) of the Trade Act are satisfied
if the following criteria are met:

(I) Whether a significant number of workers in the
workers' firm are 50 years of age or older;
(II) Whether the workers in the workers' firm possess
skills that are not easily transferable; and
(III) The competitive conditions within the workers'
industry (i.e., conditions within the industry
are adverse).

Section 246(a)(3)(A)(ii)(II) has been met because the workers
in the workers' firm possess skills that are easily transferrable.

Conclusion

After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of SSB Manufacturing
Plant, Fredericksburg Plant, Fredericksburg, Virginia who are
engaged in activities related to the production of mattresses and
foundations meet the worker group certification criteria under
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 SSB Manufacturing Plant, Fredericksburg
Plant, Fredericksburg, Virginia, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after February 20,
2022, 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; and are
denied eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment
assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended."

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 30th day of June, 2022



/s/ Hope D. Kinglock
_______________________
HOPE D. KINGLOCK

Certifying Officer, Office of

Trade Adjustment Assistance