DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,200

M. FINE AND SONS MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
LORETTO, TENNESSEE

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 eli-
gibility 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 October 16, 2000, filed on behalf of workers at M. Fine
and Sons Manufacturing Co., Inc., Loretto, Tennessee. The workers
perform finishing operations on blue jeans.
Investigation findings revealed that the subject plant
experienced declines in production and levels of employment.
The subject firm has shifted a major part of the finishing of
jeans to an offshore location, and is now importing the finished
jeans.
United States imports of men's and boys' trousers, slacks,
jeans and pants, and of women's and girls' slacks and shorts,
increased during the twelve months ending June, 2000 compared to
the same period of the previous year.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance has
been filed on behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA 4188).
A determination on that petition will be made concurrently with
this determination.
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 those produced by M. Fine and Sons
Manufacturing Co., Inc., Loretto, Tennessee, contributed
importantly to the decline in sales and production and to the total
or partial separation of workers of the subject firm. In
accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the following
certification:
"All workers at M. Fine and Sons Manufacturing Co., Inc.,
Loretto, Tennessee, engaged in employment related to blue
jean finishing, who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after September 27, 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 27th day of December 2000.
/s/ Linda G. Poole

LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer
Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance