Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
California: In Los Angeles, Contessa Foods failed to file a proper WARN. According to state employment officials the food packager notified the state of a massive layoff the day after it killed 239 jobs! The company shutdown. In Mountain View, Symantec continues to kill high-tech jobs, this time 12 people will become unemployed in June. In Stockton, Sodexo warned it will permanently kill 116 jobs in June! In San Clemente, Boston Scientific warned it will shutdown in June, killing 116 jobs! In Oakland, Sutter East Bay Hospitals warned they will layoff at least four employees in July. In Napa, Queen of the Valley Medical Center warned its 1365 employees of massive layoffs, blaming Obama Care. President and CEO Walt Mickens stated “We must transform the way we provide health care and we must act now!”, while spokeswoman Vanessa deGier explained “There are already billions of reductions in Medicare reimbursements that are programmed as part of the Affordable Care Act. Every single hospital across the county is facing these same cuts!” In Bakersfield, Kern County officials warned of massive layoffs at Kern Medical Center. Hospital officials blame Obama Care for causing $30-million USD in losses by preventing people from going to the hospital for treatment: “If there’s not patients to care for, we don’t need to have people on the payroll. These are people who need their job to feed their families, to support their families….”-Russell Judd, CEO
Connecticut: In Torrington, after 30 years The Party Store shutdown. The building was sold off to a church!
Florida: In Boca Raton, after only nine months 101 Cantina bar shutdown. It’s blamed on constant confrontations between college students and police.
Georgia: In Augusta, Massachusetts based inVentiv Medical Management shutting down in September, at least 50 jobs lost.
Illinois: Too Big to Jail US Bank shutting down more branch offices. This time 13 across The Prairie State, blamed on US Bank’s takeover of Charter One Bank.
Indiana: In Greenfield, Irwin Tools shutting down this summer, 80 jobs lost. The company is forced to consolidate operations to Georgia due to the bad economy.
Kansas: In Leawood, after 25 years Hy-Vee grocery store shutting down in June. Company officials said the store needed $4-million+ in remodeling but the city council actually passed ruling that forces them to shutdown: “In light of the city of Leawood’s recently passed moratorium on new development along the 135th corridor, it is clear that the current business environment in Leawood is one in which Hy-Vee cannot be successful. Two attempts to find a solution acceptable to both parties –one that allows us to continue serving our customers with the products, services and amenities that they deserve and expect — have been resisted by city officials. The first was in May 2013, when we attempted to remodel the store at its current location, and now, our most recent application to build a new store at the corner of 135th Street and Roe Avenue. Because lack of city support prevents us from providing customers with the best shopping experience we have to offer, we will be closing….”
Kentucky: More business shutdowns for Georgetown, this time crime is being blamed. Hunting and fishing supply store MK Outdoors shutdown after several burglaries cost the owner more in damages than in stolen merchandise: “They stole about 5-hundred dollars worth of stuff and done somewhere around 35-hundred and 4-thousand dollars in damage to get it!”-Mickey Kelly
Michigan: Pontiac Education Association laid off 63 teachers. It’s being blamed on the disappearance of 300 students for the upcoming school year! (and don’t forget the increased benefit costs caused by Obama Care) Pontiac schools are in so much financial trouble they are now being overseen by Oakland Intermediate School District.
New York: In Port Jefferson, The Community Program Centers of Long Island shutting down their Head Start program in June. 41 jobs lost. In Ronkonkoma, The Community Program Centers of Long Island shutting down their Head Start program, 25 jobs lost. In Westbury, custom metal fabricator John Hassall shutting down in September, 83 jobs lost. In Binghamton, consultant SOURCECORP BPS shutting down by July, 122 jobs lost!
North Carolina: In Charlotte, Massachusetts based inVentiv Medical Management shutting down in September, at least 50 jobs lost. In Hudson, Kincaid Furniture shutting down their furniture factory by November, at least 100 jobs lost! It’s connected to the shutdown of La-Z-Boy.
Washington: In Yakima, the state shutting down a business tax call center, 20 jobs lost. The state is consolidating operations to just one call center.
Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, India based Infosys laying off 31 IT employees in June.
27 – 29 April 2014: “Unfortunately our last days are ahead…”
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