Layoffs Hit Rhode Island-Based Transportation Company

Layoffs Hit Rhode Island-Based Transportation Company

Northeast Transportation Services in Pawtucket has notified the State of Rhode Island that it is laying off 52 workers.

The company has not made any public statements. The notification to the state is required under the federal law.

The U.S. Department of Labor, under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, requires companies to give advance notice in cases of qualified plant closings and mass layoffs.  Northeast Transportation Services notified the Rhode Island Department of Labor on Thursday of the layoffs.

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Labor Battle with Teamsters in the Past

In 2022 and 2023, Local 251 of the Teamsters and the company were in a long-lasting labor dispute. Teamsters went on strike from June 22, 2022, to January 17, 2023. The union ultimately ratified a new contract in 2023.

 

Latest in Transportation Cuts

In recent months, the transportation and logistics industries have been hit with layoffs.

• Target announced in February that it would cut 100 district office roles and 400 supply chain positions.
• UPS announced it was reducing its operational workforce by 30,000 in 2026.

• Amazon has made major cuts in its logistics

   

 

Second WARN Announcement in Rhode Island in 2026

In January, GoLocal first reported that East Greenwich-based EaglePicher had filed with the State of Rhode Island, notifying it that the company is laying off 38 Rhode Island employees.

Those layoffs are scheduled for this month.

 

Sluggish Job Market

Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000 for February, compared with the estimate for 50,000 and below the downwardly revised January total of 126,000. February marked the third time in the past five months that payrolls declined, following a sharp revision showing a drop of 17,000 in December.