DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-40,179

RUPPE HOSIERY INC.
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA

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 in response to a petition received on October 9, 2001, and filed by the company on behalf of workers at Ruppe Hosiery Inc., Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The workers produce socks.

The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been met.
The Department of Labor conducted a survey of the subject firm=s declining customers regarding their purchases of socks in 1999, 2000, and January through September 2000 and 2001. The survey revealed that none of the customers increased import purchases of socks while decreasing purchases from the subject firm.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment has been filed on behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA-5449).
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Ruppe Hosiery Inc., Kings Mountain, North Carolina, are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 19th day of November, 2001.

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