Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.
Alabama: In Vernon, a store that never replaced their 115 years old manually operated cash register is now shutting down. God could not stop the owner, described as a “good church goin’ man”, from closing his family’s W. B. Clearman’s Store. A local news reporter said they just want to “fade out of sight”.
California: In San Louis Obispo, after 15 years Cugini’s Pizzeria & Trattoria shutdown. The restaurant owner said the greedy property owner jacked up the rent by adding on a monthly service charge as well as demanding 6% of her restaurant’s profits! She tried complaining to the property management company but they blew her off, then suddenly she got evicted! In Fresno, anti-2nd Amendment company, Pepsi, laid off 50 employees.
Florida: What housing market recovery? Mortgage risk analysis firm, Digital Risk, killing 745 jobs! “Due to substantial, abrupt and unforeseen residential mortgage events, including….improving credit quality, significant volume declines in refinance loan originations, etc., demand for Digital Risk services has materially decreased.”-Brandon Johnson, senior HR manager
Hawaii: Health care provider Kaiser Permanente killed 101 jobs! Company officials say they must “restructure” to meet Obama Care funding.
Idaho: In Meridian, cement/minerals engineering company FLSmidth laid off 46 employees. Boise based computer chip maker Micron reported profits at the end of January, but it was revealed that they also killed 419 jobs in Italy! It’s blamed on Micron’s take over of Italian chip maker Numonyx. Layoffs could be coming for Idaho.
Iowa: In Galesburg, Cooke Elementary school being shutdown. School district officials say student enrollment is so low the school can barley maintain 15 students per class, making it a waste of money to keep the school open. It also doesn’t help that the district is in the hole by $4.4-million USD!
Maine: In Portland, despite being called Century Tire the company lasted only 88 years. It was originally called Deering Tire Company, the current owners say they can no longer compete against the big boys.
Maryland: In Baltimore after 90 years Sun Products, maker of household cleaning products, shutting down their factory. 300 jobs lost! Union employees say there was no reason for the shutdown but company officials say they can’t continue to pay union wages and remain competitive. At one point in the distant past the factory employed 1500 people.
Massachusetts: The last video store In Newburyport, Express Video, shutdown.
Michigan: Eastern Michigan University is laying off 10 of its 11 full time lecturers for the 2014/15 school year! It’s blamed on declining student enrollment, which is making budget problems even worse.
Missouri: In Dutchtown, after 40 years Giuseppe’s Ristorante shutdown. The owners will now focus on catering only. The owners say their crashing restaurant revenues were caused by the temporary closure of Highway 40.
New Jersey: In Plainsboro, medical diagnostics company Abbott Point of Care to layoff 80 employees in March. The company must restructure to meet Obama Care funding.
Pennsylvania: In Pittsburg, Macy’s killing corporate office jobs. 69 positions are being consolidated. Not sure if this is part of the 2500 job cuts announced in January. Health insurance company, Highmark Blue Shield, killed 132 jobs! Company officials said they are “restructuring to align resources”.
Texas: In North Richland Hills, Sealy Mattress shutting down their factory in May, 114 jobs lost!
Washington: Sprint laid off 91 employees. It’s blamed on their $3.5-billion takeover of Clearwire.
West Virginia: In Keyser, yet another victim of the ongoing Hallmark shutdowns. After 39 years Linda’s Hallmark shutdown.
08-10 February 2014: More grocery store shutdowns!
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.
“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013