DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,938
FRUIT OF THE LOOM
WINFIELD COTTON MILL
WINFIELD, ALABAMA

TA-W-38,938A
FRUIT OF THE LOOM
ALICEVILLE COTTON MILL
ALICEVILLE, ALABAMA

TA-W-38,938B
FRUIT OF THE LOOM
MARTIN MILLS, INC.
ST. MARTINVILLE, LOUISIANA

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 March 26, 2001, and filed by a company official on
behalf of workers at three Fruit of the Loom facilities: Winfield
Cotton Mill, Winfield, Alabama (TA-W-38,938); Aliceville Cotton
Mill, Aliceville, Alabama (TA-W-38,938A); and Martin Mills, Inc.,
St. Martinville, Louisiana (TA-W-38,938B). All workers were engaged
in activities related to the production of wearing apparel,
primarily men's and women's underwear.
The investigation revealed that sales, production, and
employment at the three subject facilities declined to zero in the
first and second-quarter of 2001 when the plants were permanently
shut down. The investigation further revealed that all production
was transferred offshore, and company imports of undergarments began
to increase accordingly during the relevant period. Investigative
findings also revealed that Fruit of the Loom has firmly established
and expanded a reliance on imported men's and women's underwear that
is like and directly comparable with the articles produced at
Winfield Cotton Mill, Winfield, Alabama (TA-W-38,938); Aliceville
Cotton Mill, Aliceville, Alabama (TA-W-38,938A); and Martin Mills,
Inc., St. Martinville, Louisiana (TA-W-38,938B).
The undergarments produced by Fruit of the Loom are marketed
through normal retail channels. Thus the articles manufactured by
the subject firm have been impacted importantly by the high
penetration of imports into this market. Investigative findings
revealed that the aggregate U.S. import-to-shipments ratio in the
men's and women's underwear category was 182% in the relevant
period.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investiga
tion, I conclude that increases of imports of articles like or
directly competitive with the men's and women's underwear produced
by Fruit of the Loom at: Winfield Cotton Mill, Winfield, Alabama
(TA-W-38,938); Aliceville Cotton Mill, Aliceville, Alabama (TA-W-
38,938A); and Martin Mills, Inc., St. Martinville, Louisiana (TA-W-
38,938B), 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 Fruit of the Loom at Winfield Cotton Mill,
Winfield, Alabama (TA-W-38,938); Aliceville Cotton Mill,
Aliceville, Alabama (TA-W-38,938A); and Martin Mills, Inc.,
St. Martinville, Louisiana (TA-W-38,938B), who became totally
or partially separated from employment on or after March 5,
2000, 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 5th day of July, 2001.




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