DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,304

ALCATEL
OPTICAL FIBER DIVISION
CLAREMONT, 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 15, 2002 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Alcatel,
Optical Fiber Division, Claremont, North Carolina.
Workers are engaged in activity related to the production of
optical fiber and fiber optic cable. Workers are not separately
identifiable by product line.
The investigation revealed that workers producing optical
fiber were separated from employment at the subject company.
The investigation also revealed that production of optical
fiber is vertically integrated into fiber optic cable production.
The investigation also revealed that sales and production of
fiber optic cable declined at the subject company during the
relevant time period.
The investigation also revealed that subject company import
purchases of optical fiber and fiber optic cable increased during
the relevant time period.
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 Alcatel,
Optical Fiber Division, Claremont, North Carolina contributed
importantly to sales and production declines 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 Alcatel, Optical Fiber Division, Claremont,
North Carolina, engaged in the production of optical fiber
and fiber optic cable, who are totally or partially
separated from employment on or after March 6, 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 17th day of June 2002.


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