New Britain Residents Hold More than Half of 300 Jobs Being Eliminated
The last day of work for most employees at Stanley Black & Decker’s (SBD) 600 Myrtle Street manufacturing facility in New Britain will occur by May 18th, according to the company’s official notification to the state Department of Labor (DOL) filed on March 4th.
Citing a “decline in product demand”, SBD informed the CT DOL of the closure in accordance with the 60-day notice requirement in federal law. The March 4th letter followed the company’s February 26th public announcement of the closing of the plant that produced single-sided tape measures. “These products are quickly becoming obsolete in the markets we serve,” according to the announcement.
“We expect the closing to be permanent in nature. This closing will involve cessation of all operations and termination of all employees at the site,” SBD stated in its letter. The first wave of terminations between May 4th- May 18th will involve 287 employees including assembly line, maintenance and engineering workers and the remaining 13 terminations will follow.
SBD, based on its annual reports and market indicators, is one of the top global toolmakers for consumers and professionals with annual revenues exceeding $15 billion.
In a statement issued after SBD’s public announcement, David Sullivan, IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) Eastern Territory General Vice President, and IAM District 26 Directing Business Representative Jeff Santini, stated: “The IAM Union is deeply disappointed by Stanley Black & Decker’s announcement to close its manufacturing plant in New Britain, Conn., a move that will devastate hundreds of hardworking IAM Local 1433 members and the broader community that has supported this company for generations. We are still gathering information on this closure and will have more to say in the days ahead. Our members showed up every day and gave their best to this company, and they deserve answers, respect, and every protection available to them under their collective bargaining agreement and the law.” The IAM Locals had represented SBD workers and workers at other manufacturers in the city since 1945.
City officials have been told that more than half of the 300 workers are New Britain residents. Mayor Bobby Sanchez, who reached out to Governor Lamont when the closing was announced, has said his office is working closely with workforce agencies, community partners and employers to help dislocated workers get assistance in finding new jobs.
CT-DOL’s Rapid Response and Dislocated Worker Unit has been in New Britain to assist workers. The on-site support includes a range of services including obtaining benefits, training and job placement.
The closing of Stanley Black & Decker’s last manufacturing plant in New Britain comes as major redevelopment is underway along the Myrtle Street corridor where factory buildings have been razed in past years. A proposed, jobs producing billion-dollar energy complex and data center on land where Stanley factories once stood was announced several years ago but has yet to materialize.
Stanley’s former brick office building between Burritt and Curtis streets, purchased several years ago by developer Amit Lakhotia, is the site of Avon Towers being renovated for 100 market rate apartments. The outmoded Mount Pleasant public housing project is being replaced with new family housing for both public housing tenants and others. With the help of state grants Phase One demolition and replacement is set to begin this year in the New Britain Housing Authority plan. Mount Pleasant is directly across the street from the soon to be vacant SBD facility.
The Sanchez Administration will need to assess a re-use for SBD’s 600 Myrtle Street plant and how it will fit into the Myrtle Street corridor plan envisioned as a mix of housing and business development. Stanley’s remaining buildings and grounds have an appraised value of $6,275,600 and generate $190,544 a year in property taxes, according to city assessor and tax records.
Related Post https://nbpoliticus.com/2026/02/28/stanleys-183-year-legacy-ends-cost-cutting-and-closures/
John McNamara is Ward 4 Alderman and the Common Council Majority Leader.
NB Politicus posts also appear in the New Britain Progressive
Subscribe to receive email editions https://newbritainprogressive.com/sign-up-for-the-e-mail-edition/
NB Politicus 