DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,234

SPRING FORD INDUSTRIES
SPINDALE, NORTH CAROLINA

TA-W-41,234A

SPRING FORD INDUSTRIES
RUTHERFORDTON, NORTH CAROLINA

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
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. It is determined in this case that all of the
requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated on April 8, 2002 in response
to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Spring Ford Industries
in Spindale, North Carolina (TA-W-41,234) and in Rutherfordton,
North Carolina (TA-W-41,234A). The workers at the Spindale
facility (TA-W-41,234) dyed fabric as part of a highly integrated
t-shirt production process. The workers at the Rutherfordton
facility (TA-W-41,234A) cut fabric as part of a highly integrated
t-shirt production process.

The investigation revealed that corporate-wide sales,
production, and employment declined absolutely from 2000 to 2001.
The subject facilities closed in March of 2002.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that United States
aggregate imports of t-shirts increased during the relevant period.
Petitions for eligibility to apply for NAFTA-Transitional
Adjustment Assistance have been filed on behalf of workers at
Spring Ford Industries in Spindale, North Carolina (NAFTA-5971) and
in Rutherfordton, North Carolina (NAFTA-5993).
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with those produced at the subject
facilities contributed importantly to the decline in sales or
production and to the total or partial separation of workers of
those facilities. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I
make the following certification:
"All workers of Spring Ford Industries in Spindale, North
Carolina (TA-W-41,234), engaged in employment related to the
dyeing of fabric as part of a highly integrated t-shirt
production process and in Rutherfordton, North Carolina (TA-W-
41,234A), engaged in employment related to the cutting of
fabric as part of a highly integrated t-shirt production
process who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after March 20, 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 at Washington, D.C., this 3rd day of July, 2002.


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