Nautica nonunion workers accept severance deal

ROCKLAND – Nautica Enterprises Inc., which plans to shutter its 300-worker clothing distribution center in January, has ironed out severance packages for about 70 nonunion employees.

Larry Ingram, a Nautica official, said Tuesday that the nonunion employees – one of whom has been with the company for about 55 years – negotiated severance pay individually.

Last month, the 234 members of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees Local 371 who work at Nautica reached their own severance agreement with Nautica.

An international fashion and lifestyle company, Nautica announced March 26 that it will close its Rockland distribution center by Jan. 31 to consolidate operations.

State law requires companies that have employed more than 100 workers in the previous 12 months to provide one week’s pay for every year of employment after three years

On Tuesday, Ingram said that layoffs are expected to begin no sooner than June.

UNITE was able to strike a deal that will compensate union workers with one to five years of seniority with 10 days’ pay for each year of service.

Union employees with more seniority will earn up to 176 days of pay for every year of employment. All union workers will have their medical, dental and eye care benefits paid for by the company for three months after they are terminated, local UNITE president Althea Leach said last month. Employees and dependents are covered, but not spouses, she said.

Ingram did not elaborate on the nonunion agreement, except to say that the severance packages varied among workers.

In recent years, Nautica invested $40 million in a clothing distribution center in Martinsville, Va., with plans to create 375 jobs. Last month, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner announced that Nautica will expand its distribution presence in Henry County’s Patriot Centre and will create 150 jobs through a $5 million investment.

The company has offered Rockland employees the opportunity to transfer to Virginia.