DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-40,379

HC CONTRACTING INC.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK

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 December 3, 2001 in response to a petition filed by Unite, Local 89-22-1, on behalf of workers at HC Contracting Inc., New York, New York. The workers were engaged in employment related to the production of ladies= apparel such as dresses, jackets and pants.
The investigation revealed that sales and employment at the subject firm decreased during the period under investigation.


The investigation also disclosed that HC Contracting Inc. workers performed contract work for major garment customers who market their garments through normal distribution channels. The subject firm has been impacted by the high penetration of imports in this market.
Aggregate U.S. imports in 2001 for women and girls= shorts and slacks, as well as women and girls= coats and jackets, increased absolutely in the twelve month period ending June 2001 over the corresponding period ending June 2000. In the twelve month period ending June 2001, the ratio of imports to domestic shipments for women=s coats and jackets was over four hundred percent, while the corresponding ratios for women=s dresses was over one hundred and fifty percent.
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 ladies= apparel including skirts, dresses, jackets and pants, produced at HC Contracting Inc., New York, New York, 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 HC Contracting Inc., New York, New York, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after October 31, 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 in Washington, D. C. this 9th day of January, 2002.


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