DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-40,543

STEELCASE, WOOD DIVISION
FLETCHER, 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 sub-
division have decreased absolutely; and

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

The investigation was initiated on January 14, 2002, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Steelcase,
Wood Division, Fletcher, North Carolina. The workers produce wood
office furniture.


The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The subject firm does not import wood office furniture.
U.S. imports of wood office furniture decreased substantially
in 2001 and in the first month of 2002.

Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Steelcase, Wood Division, Fletcher, 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 28th day of March 2002.

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