More layoffs at Monet group
More layoffs are planned at the Monet Group costume jewelry manufacturer in Providence. Liz Claiborne Inc., which bought the financially ailing company two months ago, announced Tuesday, August 15, that is would eliminate 48 positions.
When Claiborne took over the company, there were 261 workers at Monet’s facility in East Providence. Three years ago the company employed 800, including 500 manufacturing workers.
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In January, Monet announced it was shutting down manufacturing in Rhode Island and transferring the work to Asia. In May, it filed for bankruptcy.
The purchase made Liz Claiborne the country’s top seller of costume jewelry.
Strike talks continue at Raytheon
Officials from Raytheon Co. continue to meet with striking electrical workers at the Lexington plant.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1505 President Stanley Lichwala declined to discuss specifics but said he was optimistic after the full day of talks in the presence of a federal mediator.
The session was the second since 2,700 workers, or 21 percent of the company’s Massachusetts work force, walked off the job August 21 seeking more job security and better health care and pension benefits.
Lexington-based Ray-theon is the country’s third-largest defense contractor, with 199 revenues of $19.8 billion.
State, prison guards reach tentative deal
The Almond administration and guards at the Adult Correctional Institutions, the only state-owned prison in Rhode Island, signed a tentative contract deal late Tuesday (September 12) signaling the likely end of a labor dispute that lasted more than four years and sparked a one-day officers strike.
The state and the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers reached the agreement after negotiating for more than eight hours. State Superior Court Judge Frank Williams mediated the talks.
Union President Richard Ferruccio said the deal includes an agreement on wages, but said he couldn’t provide further details.
Guards walked off the job for one day in July, prompting Almond to call in the National Guard to secure the prison. As recently as a two weeks ago, contract talks broke off, with the two sides at a standstill.
RI Hospital nurses ratify partial pact
Members of the nurses union at Rhode Island Hospital ratified an agreement on wages and benefits, resolving a portion of the contract dispute that almost led to a strike at the hospital two months ago.
The nurses voted 648 to 159 to approve the partial agreement according to union officials. Under the agreement, the nurses will receive raises averaging 22 percent over three years.
Still unresolved are issues of mandatory overtime and other non-economic questions.
Rhode Island Hospital and the United Nurses and Allied Professional, which represents 1,800 nurses and other workers at the hospital, will try to resolve those issues over the next six weeks before a scheduled meeting with an arbitrator on November 2.
