« Mayors announce grant to improve Broad Street | Today | Photo: State House rally protests housing cuts »

February 5, 2008

Bradford Dyeing expects to lay off a third of work force

WESTERLY -- The owner of a textile mill that is one of the Westerly area's largest employers says he'll lay off about a third of the mill's work force because of problems reaching a deal with his union on work rules, as well as higher energy prices.

About 53 employees at Bradford Dyeing Association, most of them members of the union, will be laid off in April.

Michael Grills says he asked workers to make concessions in the work rules provision of the contract with Unite Here! Local 431.

He told The Westerly Sun the proposed changes would have allowed workers to do the jobs of people who don't come to work.

Union Vice President Joe Edwards says the union didn't agree to the changes because it could affect its contracts in other mills.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 2:54 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)