DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,852

ALFRED ANGELO COMPANY
HORSHAM, PENNSYLVANIA

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 August 20, 2001, and filed by the UNITE! Allentown-
Easton District Joint Board on behalf of workers at Alfred Angelo
Company, Horsham, Pennsylvania. The workers produced wedding
gowns and bridesmaid gowns.
The investigation revealed that sales and employment at the
Horsham plant declined in 2000 compared with 1999, and continued
to decline in January-June 2001 compared with the same period in
2000.
The U.S. Department of Labor conducted a survey of major
customers of the subject firm concerning their purchases of wedding
gowns and bridesmaid gowns in 1999, 2000, and January-September
2001. The survey revealed that respondents reported importing
wedding gowns and bridesmaid gowns while decreasing purchases from
the subject firm during the relevant time period.
The investigation further revealed that the wedding gowns
and bridesmaid gowns produced by Alfred Angelo Company, Horsham,
Pennsylvania, 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 aggregate U.S. imports
of women's and girls' dresses increased in 2000 compared with
1999, while the import-to-shipments ratio (I/S) remained above
150% during the relevant period. Latest available data revealed
that the (I/S) ratio rose to 153.4% in 2001.
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 wedding gowns and bridesmaid gowns
produced by Alfred Angelo Company, Horsham, Pennsylvania, contri-
buted 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 Alfred Angelo Company, Horsham, Pennsyl-
vania, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after August 7, 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 19th day of March, 2002.



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