DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-40,336

PLAID CLOTHING COMPANY, INC.
ERLANGER, KENTUCKY

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 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. It is determined in this case that all of the requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated on November 5, 2001 in response to a petition filed by the company on behalf of workers at Plaid Clothing Company, Inc., Erlanger, Kentucky. The affected workers were engaged in employment related to the production of men=s suits and sport coats.
Investigative findings reveal that sales, production and employment declined from January to July, 2000 compared to January to July, 2001. It was also revealed that the production of men=s suits and sport coats at the Erlanger Plant is being replaced by company imports.


This worker group was previously certified eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance, TA-W-35,946, which expired June 3, 2001.
A petition for eligibility for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance has been filed on behalf of the company (NAFTA-5540).
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 men=s suits and sport coats, manufactured at Plaid Clothing Company, Inc., Erlanger, Kentucky, contributed 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 Plaid Clothing Company, Inc., Erlanger,
Kentucky, who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after June 4, 2001 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 in Washington, D. C. this 19th day of December, 2001


/s/ Edward A. Tomchick
______________________________
EDWARD A. TOMCHICK
Director, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance