DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-54,782

B.J. CUTTING
A SUBSIDIARY OF LAWRENCE STEVENS FASHIONS, LTD
HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA

Negative Determinations Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance
And Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (19 USC 2273), the Department of Labor herein presents
the results of an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance. The group
eligibility requirements for directly-impacted (primary) workers
under Section 222(a) the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, can be
satisfied in either of two ways:
I. Section (a)(2)(A) all of the following must be satisfied:
A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in
such workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of
the firm, have become totally or partially separated,
or are threatened to become totally or partially
separated;
B. the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
C. increased imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by such firm or
subdivision have contributed importantly to such
workers' separation or threat of separation and to the
decline in sales or production of such firm or
subdivision; or








II. Section (a)(2)(B) both of the following must be satisfied:

A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in
such workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of
the firm, have become totally or partially separated,
or are threatened to become totally or partially
separated;
B. there has been a shift in production by such workers'
firm or subdivision to a foreign country of articles
like or directly competitive with articles which are
produced by such firm or subdivision; and

C. One of the following must be satisfied:
1. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a party to a free trade
agreement with the United States;
2. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a beneficiary country
under the Andean Trade Preference Act, African Growth
and Opportunity Act, or the Caribbean Basin Economic
Recovery Act; or
3. there has been or is likely to be an increase in
imports of articles that are like or directly
competitive with articles which are or were produced
by such firm or subdivision.

The investigation was initiated on April 27, 2004 in
response to a petition filed by a State agency representative on
behalf of workers at B.J. Cutting, a subsidiary of Lawrence
Stevens Fashions, Ltd, Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The workers
produced hangtags and care labels for clothing. Workers were not
separately identifiable by product line.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) were not met.
The investigation revealed no company imports of hangtags
or care labels for clothing from 2002 to 2003, or during January
to March 2004.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the subject
firm did not shift production of its hangtags or care labels for
clothing abroad during the relevant period.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customer regarding its purchases of hangtags and care
labels for clothing. This survey revealed no imports of hangtags
or care labels for clothing during the period under
investigation.
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act
of 1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor
herein presents the results of its investigation regarding
certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers.
In order for the Department to issue a certification of
eligibility to apply for ATAA, the worker group must be
certified eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance
(TAA). Since the workers are denied eligibility to apply for
TAA, the workers cannot be certified eligible for ATAA.


Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of B.J.
Cutting, a subsidiary of Lawrence Stevens Fashions, Ltd,
Hazleton, Pennsylvania are denied eligibility to apply for
adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of
1974, and are also denied eligibility to apply for alternative
trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act
of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 21st day of May 2004.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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