DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,491

JEFFERSON APPAREL
JEFFERSON, NORTH CAROLINA

TA-W-38,491A

MAID BESS CORPORATION
SALEM, VIRGINIA


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 in this case that all of the
requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
received on January 2, 2001 and filed on behalf of workers at
Jefferson Apparel, Jefferson, North Carolina. The investigation
was expanded to include Maid Bess Corporation, Salem, Virginia.
Jefferson Apparel is a division of Maid Bess Corporation. The
workers were engaged in the production of knit shirts and woven
hospital garments.
The investigation revealed production and employment at the
Jefferson plant decreased in 1999 compared to 1998 and in
January-November 2000 compared to the same period in 1999. A
layoff of salaried workers at the company's corporate office in
Salem, Virginia that supported production at the Jefferson plant
occurred in the relevant period.
The Department conducted a survey of the manufacturer for whom
the subject firm performed contract work in 1998, 1999, and
January-November 2000. The survey revealed that the respondent
increased its utilization of contract work for knit shirts and
woven hospital garments from foreign sources and its imports of
knit shirts and woven hospital garments from foreign firms while
decreasing its contract work for knit shirts and woven hospital
garments with the subject firm in 1999 compared to 1998 and in
January-November 2000 compared to the same period 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 knit shirts and woven hospital garments
produced at Jefferson Apparel, Jefferson, North Carolina
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 Jefferson Apparel, Jefferson, North Carolina
and Maid Bess Corporation, Salem, Virginia engaged in
employment related to the production of knit shirts and
woven hospital garments who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after December 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 9th day of March, 2001


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