DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,149

STEEL HEDDLE, INC.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH 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 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 in response to a petition
received on March 25, 2002, and filed by a company official on
behalf of workers at Steel Heddle, Inc., Greenville, South
Carolina. The workers produced components for textile weaving
machines.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The investigation revealed that there were no company im-
ports of articles like or directly competitive with the textile
machine parts produced at Steel Heddle, Inc., Greenville, South
Carolina.
The U.S. Department of Labor conducted a survey of major
customers of Steel Heddle, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina,
regarding their purchases of textile machine parts in 2000,
2001, and the first-quarter of 2002. The survey revealed that
no respondent reported importing significant amounts of textile
machine parts while decreasing purchases from the subject firm
during the relevant period.









Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Steel
Heddle, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina are denied eligibility
to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the
Trade Act of 1974.

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 22nd day of May, 2002.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance