World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 20 June 2013. Companies planning massive layoffs in 2014! More school & health care cuts!

In New York, West Mountain Ski resort now bankrupt.  They blame foreclosure action by Utah’s Mormon owned Zions Bank.  Texas based GDF Suez Energy shutting down operations in Syracuse.   They will begin layoffs in September.  Company officials blame the bad economy.  In Bronx, Cookie’s The Kids Department Store shut down.  124 people unemployed!

In Wisconsin, the Christian God couldn’t stop Mercy Medical Center from shutting down its sub-acute care unit.  Parent company, Ministry Health Care, recently announced 250 layoffs at its chain of hospitals.  It’s blamed on a combination of declining customers, the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act and the federal sequestration.

In Illinois, Bella Bridal and Formal Wear closed after nine years.  The owner wants more time with her daughters.

Hatteras/CABO Yachts continues to layoff employees, this time 85 people in North Carolina.  Company officials say it’s because of crashing sales, however, the company has been up for sale for awhile now with seemingly no interested parties.  And 600 people lost their jobs with DAK Americas!  The company closing its Navassa PET resin, polyester staple fiber factory this Autumn.  Company officials said it’s their way of becoming more competitive.

In Missouri, ALCO Stores closed in Charleston.  Company officials said the store was not making enough money.

The Oregonian reducing newspaper home deliveries to just three days per week!  Apparently subscriptions aren’t enough to justify seven day delivery.  Company officials also said employees will be laid off.  Also in Oregon, the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility and Depot officially closed down, laying off the final 253 employees!

In Ohio, the Buckeye State’s largest newspaper, Plain Dealer, began laying off employees.  The layoffs will be ongoing over several months and could end up being more than 50.  The newspaper also plans on reducing home delivery.  143  people lost their jobs when DialAmerica Marketing closed their Columbus office!  62 people lost their jobs when Verizon Wireless closed their Dublin office.

Lincoln Educational Services closing four campuses in Ohio, and one in Kentucky!  It’s blamed on massive declining student enrollment caused by “Federal legislation implemented on July 1, 2012 that prohibits Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) students from participating in federal student financial aid programs….”

Germany based Siemens warned of at least 8000 layoffs in 2014!!!  Hundreds of employees are being laid off this year.  The company has operations around the world, including the United States.  Company officials say they have to downsize because they’re not seeing any true economic recovery, however, employees blame it on mismanagement by company officials.

Too Big to Jail, Morgan Stanley, laying off 30 people in its commodities unit.

Taiwan based TMT Group shipping company went bankrupt in Texas.  Company officials blame it on half of the fleet of ships being seized by creditors around the world.  Those ships, some still with cargo on board, are tied up at ports around the world.

In California, a major law firm, Downey Brand, laid off 11 employees.  Company officials say the bad economy is forcing them to adopt technologies that allow attorneys to do most of their own work, rather than use in house assistants.   In Alameda, Olympic Florist shut down.  After 34 years of business the owner wants to retire.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.