Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:
California: In Irvine, Integrated Oncology laying off 156 employees, or more than 60% of its staff by early 2014! It might be connected to North Carolina based LabCorp’s take over of the company. LabCorp is also laying off employees at a Los Angeles medical lab. Local news reports say LabCorp will not explain the layoffs. News reports also said employees are refusing to talk to the media for fear of being the ones who lose their jobs. San Fransisco based Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo laid off 763 people around the country!
Illinois: In Rockford, a U.S. Postal Service station on New Towne Drive was shut down. 100 jobs affected!
Iowa: In Urbandale, Just 4 Kids second hand clothing, toys and books store closed. The owner could not renew the lease.
Louisiana: What oil industry boom? In Morgan City, McDermott International is shutting down their Amelia oilfield fabrication operation, and moving to Mexico. At least 350 people unemployed!
Maryland: In Severna Park physical therapy products maker, Dynasplit, laid off 70% of its global workforce! More than 300 people in the U.S. lost their jobs, literally overnight with no warning! The company owner blamed the Too Big to Jail banks. He said money deposited for employee paychecks was seized by the bank to pay down a loan to the company! In Ellicott City, Taylor’s Antique Mall closing by January 2014. Reports say the historic building, built in 1890, was sold off to greedy property developer. Employees had little warning: “We’re still in a state of shock!”-Sue Hurd, store manager
Maine: The railroad company responsible for the explosion that killed people in Canada, Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, now bankrupt. Despicable company officials are trying to protect themselves from lawsuits.
New Jersey: In Princeton, the Ferry House restaurant closed. The bad economy is blamed for unpaid taxes and loans, which resulted in the state treasury seizing the restaurant and a bankruptcy filing.
New York: In Rochester, Bausch & Lomb laying off 400+ people by early 2014! An evil British empire Canadian pharmaceutical company took over Bausch & Lomb. In Garden City, Things & Stuff shut down. In Watertown, the Christian God couldn’t stop the Samaritan Medical Center from laying off 74 employees. They blamed Obama Care: “What mandates require is higher quality and reduced costs. We’re the ones that have to control the cost. As we look at that expense area, over half of our expenses are related to salary and benefits.”-Krista Kittle
Pennsylvania: In Hermitage, Bolotin Furniture shutting down after 107 years in business! 13 jobs lost.
Tennessee: After 60 years of operations, the non-profit Achieve Learning Center for Preschool Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children (aka Chattanooga Speech and Hearing Center) shut down. I could not find any explanation why. I did find lots of local news reports, in the months prior to the closing, that were trying to raise awareness of the Center. The Center celebrated its 60th anniversary in May 2013.
Wyoming: Alternative fuel farmer, Luca, now bankrupt. The company was planning on harvesting natural gas by using microbes and coal. However, they had trouble getting government permits and financing, and the straw that broke their back was when natural gas prices crashed.
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.