DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,130

ELBERTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
ELBERTON, GEORGIA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 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 by UNITE on behalf of
workers at Elberton Manufacturing Company, Inc., Elberton,
Georgia. The workers are engaged in employment related to the
production of ladies' blouses.
Sales, production and employment have all decreased in the
relevant period.
The investigation revealed that the sole customer of the
company increased its reliance on imports in the relevant period.


United States imports of women's and girls' blouses and
shirts increased in the 12 month period of April through March,
2000, compared to the corresponding period one year earlier. The
estimated ratio of imports to domestic shipments was greater than
300 percent in 1999.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investi-
gation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles like or
directly competitive with ladies' blouses produced at Elberton
Manufacturing Company, Inc., Elberton, Georgia, 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 Elberton Manufacturing Company, Inc.,
Elberton, Georgia, who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after September 8, 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 in Washington, D. C. this 2nd day of November, 2000


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