DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-40,280

MUNRO & COMPANY, INC.
DEWITT FOOTWEAR
DEWITT, ARKANSAS

TA-W-40,280A

MUNRO & COMPANY, INC.
CLARENDON FOOTWEAR
CLARENDON, ARKANSAS

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 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:
(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 15, 2001, in response to a petition filed by the company on behalf of workers at Munro & Company, Inc., Dewitt Footwear, DeWitt, Arkansas; and Munro & Company, Inc., Clarendon Footwear, Clarendon, Arkansas. The workers for Munro & Company, Inc., Dewitt Footwear, DeWitt, Arkansas produce men's casual and safety toe footwear. The workers for Munro & Company, Inc., Clarendon Footwear, Clarendon, Arkansas produce stitching and cutting for men's casual and safety toe footwear.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment has been filed on behalf of workers at the subject firms (NAFTA-5440 and NAFTA-5441).
This investigation revealed that criterion (2) was not met.
Sales and production at the DeWitt, Arkansas and Clarendon, Arkansas facilities have increased in the relevant time period.
The petitioners are encouraged to reapply for Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits if conditions change at the subject plant.

Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers at Munro & Company, Inc., Dewitt Footwear, DeWitt, Arkansas; and Munro & Company, Inc., Clarendon Footwear, Clarendon, Arkansas, are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 21st day of December, 2001.



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