DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,123

THAW CORPORATION
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

TA-W-38,123A
THAW CORPORATION
EXCLUDING CUTTING DEPARTMENT
KENT, WASHINGTON

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 25, 2000, and filed on behalf of workers at
Thaw Corporation, at two locations in Seattle, Washington, 8300
Military Road South, which houses production of recreational
garments and accessories, as well as administration, and 222 Yale
North, which houses repair service at REI, the parent company.
Workers of Thaw Corporation in Kent, Washington, are engaged in
the production of outdoor recreational garments and accessories.
A petition for NAFTA-Transitional Adjustment Assistance has
been filed on behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA - 4158).
A determination on that petition will be made concurrently with
this decision.
This investigation revealed that production and employment
declined to zero with the closing of the Thaw Corporation
facilities. On April 12, 2000, the workers in the Cutting
Department in Kent, Washington were certified by an Amended
Certification (TA-W-37,328A); that certification does not expire
until February 18, 2002. The entire plant has since been
permanently shut down, and all workers separated.
The investigation further revealed that the subject firm has
increased its imports of outdoor recreational garments from
offshore, and is currently importing that product for sale and
distribution in the U.S.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with outdoor recreational garments
produced at Thaw Corporation, located in Seattle, Washington and in
Kent, Washington, 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 Act, I make
the following certification:
"All workers of Thaw Corporation, located in Seattle,
Washington (TA-W-38,123) and all workers of Thaw Corporation,
excluding the Cutting Department in Kent, Washington
(TA-W-38,123A) who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after September 6, 1999, through two years
from the date of certification are eligible to apply for
adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of
1974."
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 6th day of December, 2000.


/s/ Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance