DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,928

C.L. FASHION EXPRESS, INC.
PANORAMA CITY, CALIFORNIA

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 September 4, 2001, filed on behalf of workers at
C.L. Fashion Express, Inc., Panorama City, California. The
workers produced ladies', mens' and children's clothing (pants,
blouses and skirts).
Investigation findings revealed that the subject plant
experienced declines in sales and levels of employment.
The investigation also showed that United States imports of
women's and girls' blouses and shirts and men's and boys'
trousers, slacks, jeans and pants increased during the twelve
month period ending June 2001 as compared with the same twelve
month period ending June 2000. The ratios of imports to
domestic shipments of each were, respectively, 399 percent and
181 percent.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance has
been filed on behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA-
5365). 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 C.L. Fashion
Express, Inc., Panorama City, California, 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 C.L. Fashion Express, Inc., Panorama
City, California, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after August 16, 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 25th day of March 2002.
/s/Edward A. Tomchick
__________________________________
EDWARD A. TOMCHICK
Director
Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance