DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,260

AUSTIN APPAREL
LANCASTER PLANT
LANCASTER, KENTUCKY

TA-W-38,260A

AUSTIN APPAREL
SPRINGFIELD PLANT
SPRINGFIELD, KENTUCKY


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 eligi-
bility 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 that all of the requirements
have been met.
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
received on October 30, 2000, on behalf of former workers at
Austin Apparel, Lancaster and Springfield, Kentucky. The workers
were engaged in the manufacture (wash, press, inspect, fold and
package) of blue jeans. The workers are not separately
identifiable by product line.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm plants
closed in December 2000, impacting all workers.
The Department of Labor conducted a survey of major
declining customers of Austin Apparel regarding their purchases
of blue jeans during the period under investigation. The survey
revealed that the respondents increased import purchases of blue
jeans, while reducing purchases from the subject firm.
A petition for NAFTA-Transitional Adjustment Assistance has
been filed on behalf of workers of the subject firm (NAFTA-4264).
A determination on that case will be issued concurrently with
this decision.
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 men's blue jeans produced at Austin
Apparel, Lancaster and Springfield, Kentucky, 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 Austin Apparel, Lancaster Plant, Lancaster,
Kentucky, and Austin Apparel, Springfield Plant,
Springfield, Kentucky, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after October 18, 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 23rd day of January 2001.


/s/ Linda G. Poole

LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance