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February 11, 2008

Bradford Soap union approves contract

Journal archive photo / Kathy Borchers
Soap fragments go through a dryer inside Bradford's West Warwick plant in 2005.

WEST WARWICK -- Employees at Bradford Soap Works, who are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 251, have accepted a new five-year contract, according to the company.

The current contract was due to expire in 15 months. Employees approved the new agreement yesterday.

The deal is a positive development for a company that has previously threatened to leave the state. In 2004, Bradford Soap announced plans to close its West Warwick plant and move 250 jobs to facilities in Indiana and Ohio, citing high labor costs. But Governor Carcieri and the state Economic Development Corporation intervened, brokering a new contract agreement between the company and its employees.

Bradford Chairman John Howland celebrated the contract vote. "A win for Bradford is a win for Bradford employees and a win for the state of Rhode Island," he said in a statement.

"The actions and decisions made in 2004, however necessary, ushered in a long period of
rebuilding for Bradford," Howland said. "We have had to rationalize our manufacturing operations nationally and internationally, and entirely rebuild our relationship with our staff and employees at all levels."

Bradford Soap, established in Rhode Island in 1876, calls itself the world's largest manufacturer of specialty soaps. It operates the Valley Queen Mill in West Warwick, an historic stone structure built in 1889 along the Pawtuxet River.

Posted by Benjamin N. Gedan  at 1:02 PM | Permalink

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Ray R. Hogarth | February 11, 2008 11:54 PM link

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