[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7511-7512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3318]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[TA-W-53,419, TA-W-53,419A, and TA-W-53,419B]


Encee, Inc., Eden, North Carolina, Kannapolis, North Carolina, 
Smithfield, North Carolina; Notice of Revised Determination on 
Reconsideration

    By letter dated December 10, 2003, the company requested 
administrative reconsideration regarding the

[[Page 7512]]

Department's Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility to Apply for 
Trade Adjustment Assistance and Alternative Trade Adjustment 
Assistance, applicable to the workers of the subject firms.
    The initial investigation resulted in a negative determination 
issued on November 19, 2003, was based on the finding that the workers 
did not produce a product under the meaning of section 222 of the Act. 
The denial notice was published in the Federal Register on December 29, 
2003 (68 FR 74978).
    To support the request for reconsideration, the company supplied 
additional information to supplement that which was gathered during the 
initial investigation. The company indicated that Encee, Inc. is a 
wholly owned subsidiary division of Pillowtex Corporation. The 
petitioner further stated that functions of workers of Encee, Inc., 
Eden, North Carolina (TA-W-53,419), Kannapolis, North Carolina (TA-W-
53,419A) and Smithfield, North Carolina (TA-W-53,419B) were dedicated 
to support activities at an existing trade-certified facility of 
Pillowtex Corporation.
    An analysis of the information supplied by the company on their 
request for reconsideration revealed that the worker separations at the 
subject facilities were caused by a reduced demand for their services 
from a parent firm, whose workers produce an article and who are 
currently under certification for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TA-W-
52,559). The investigation further revealed that employment at the 
subject facilities declined absolutely during the relevant period.
    A review of the submitted documents revealed that at least five 
percent of the workforce at the subject facilities is at least fifty 
years of age and that the workers possess skills that are not easily 
transferable. Competitive conditions within the industry are adverse.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the additional facts obtained on 
reconsideration, I determine that increased imports of articles like or 
directly competitive with those produced at an affiliated TAA certified 
firm contributed importantly to the declines in the total or partial 
separation of workers at the subject firm. In accordance with the 
provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:

    All workers of Encee, Inc., Eden, North Carolina (TA-W-53,419), 
Encee, Inc. Kannapolis, North Carolina (TA-W-53,419A) and Encee, 
Inc., Smithfield, North Carolina (TA-W-53,419B), who became totally 
or partially separated from employment on or after October 24, 2002 
through two years from the date of this certification, are eligible 
to apply for adjustment assistance under section 223 of the Trade 
Act of 1974, and are also eligible to apply for alternative trade 
adjustment assistance under section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.

    Signed in Washington, DC, this 26th day of January 2004.
Elliott S. Kushner,
Certifying Officer, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 04-3318 Filed 2-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P