Alliance Says It Has More Than 50 Members

Houston, TX, May 4, 2011 -- More than 50 American companies have signed up to join the Alliance for Free Choice and Jobs in Flooring since the group was organized in January, according to alliance president Jonathan Train.

“Over 20 companies signed up on the spot at the National Wood Flooring Association annual meeting last week and dozens of other companies took membership agreements to send in later,” Train said in a press release.

He said new members include domestic manufacturers, accessory suppliers, and a shipping company.

The group is opposing a small group of large U.S. flooring manufacturers that are demanding antidumping and countervailing duty penalties on imported multilayered flooring from China that the alliance said would effectively block imports from China.

Train said many member companies believe the petition is the first step toward blocking other kinds of imported flooring, including solids and laminates.