DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,046

PARAMOUNT HEADWEAR, INC.
DEXTER STRAW MANUFACTURING DIVISION
DEXTER, MISSOURI


Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
USC 2273) as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act
of 1988 (P. L. 100-418), the Department of Labor herein presents
the results of an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance
each of the group eligibility requirements of Section 222 of the
Act must be met. It is determined in this case that all of the
requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
received on September 5, 2000, and filed on behalf of workers at
Paramount Headwear, Inc., Dexter Straw Manufacturing Division,
Dexter, Missouri. The workers were engaged in the production of
straw hats.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment has been filed on
behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA - 4127). A determina-
tion on that petition will be made concurrently with this decision.
This investigation revealed that production and employment at
the Dexter, Missouri plant declined to zero when all manufacturing
operations at that facility ceased. The investigation further
revealed that the subject firm has been importing headwear from
vendors in Mexico since early in September, and will sharply
increase their imports of hats beginning on December 1, 2000. The
hats are sold and distributed throughout the U.S. by paramount
Headwear, Inc.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with the straw hats produced by
Paramount Headwear, Inc., Dexter Straw Manufacturing Division,
Dexter, Missouri, contributed importantly to the decline in sales
or production and to the total or partial separation of workers of
that firm.









In accordance with the provisions of the Trade Act, I make the
following certification:
"All workers of Paramount Headwear, Inc., Dexter Straw
Manufacturing Division, Dexter, Missouri, who became totally
or partially separated from employment on or after August 28,
1999, through two years from the date of certification, are
eligible to apply for NAFTA-TAA under Section 250 of the Trade
Act of 1974."

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 5th day of December, 2000.
/s/ Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance