DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W- 40,168

STITCHES, INC.
EL PASO, TEXAS

Negative Determination 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:
(1) that a significant number or proportion of the workers in the workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision thereof, have become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated;

(2) that sales or production, or both, of the firm or subdivision have decreased absolutely; and

(3) that increases of imports of articles like or directly competitive with articles produced by the firm or appropriate subdivision have contributed importantly to the separations, or threat thereof, and to the absolute decline in sales or production.

The investigation was initiated on October 9, 2001 in response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Stitches, Inc., El Paso, Texas. The workers produce industrial apparel.

The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been met.
The investigation further revealed that sales and employment increased from April 15, 2000 - August 2001. The company did not import.
The U.S. Department of Labor conducted a survey with the firm=s only customer. The customer did not import any articles like or directly competitive with articles produced at Stitches, Inc., El Paso, Texas.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers at Stitches, Inc., El Paso, Texas, are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D.C. this 7th day of December, 2001



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