DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,802

U.S. CONEC, LTD.
HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA

Notice of Determinations 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 subdi-
vision have decreased absolutely; and

(3) that increases of imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by the firm or appro-
priate 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 July 8, 2002, and filed on behalf of workers at U.S.
Conec, Ltd., Hickory, North Carolina. The workers produce three
product lines: 1) optical circuits, buses and subassemblies, 2)
optical ferrules and 3) fiber optic automated polishing machines.
Workers are separately identifiable by product line.
It has been determined with respect to workers producing
optical circuits, buses, subassemblies and optical ferrules that
all of the criteria have been met.


The investigation revealed that sales, production and
employment at the subject firm declined during the relevant period.
The investigation further revealed that company imports of
optical circuits, buses, subassemblies and optical ferrules
increased absolutely during the relevant period.
It has been determined with respect to workers producing fiber
optic automated polishing machines that criterion (3) has not been
met.
There were no company imports of fiber optic automated
polishing machines during the relevant period.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
customers regarding their purchases of fiber optic automated
polishing machines. This survey revealed no increase in imports of
fiber optic polishing machines during the period under
investigation.




Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with optical circuits, buses,
subassemblies and optical ferrules produced by U.S. Conec, Ltd.,
Hickory, North Carolina, 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 U.S. Conec, Ltd., Hickory, North Carolina,
engaged in employment related to the production of optical
circuits, buses, subassemblies and optical ferrules, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after June 17, 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."
"I further determine that all workers at U.S. Conec, Ltd.,
Hickory, North Carolina engaged in employment related to the
production of fiber optic automated polishing machines, are
denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under
Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974."
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 3rd day of September, 2002.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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