Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
Radio Shack CEO Joseph Magnacca stated to shareholders “I don’t know if we can overcome this impasse…”, implying that the economy is so bad they might need to shutdown even more stores. He also ignored questions about bankruptcy.
California: What housing market recovery and who said internet businesses are killing brick-n-mortar operations? In San Francisco, internet based real estate search site Trulia laid off 85 employees. Apparently four executives got demoted as well. Company officials said they are trying to eliminate redundant jobs. What automotive industry recovery? Car dealer California Superstores announced they’re shutting down three locations across the Golden State, 203 jobs lost by August! In San Diego, Midway Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram announced they’re shutting down in August, 96 jobs lost. In Thousand Oaks, legal drugs pusher Amgen announced more job losses, this time 59 in August. In Sunnyvale, semiconductor maker Supertex announced plans to layoff 19 people in August. In Davis, the Davis Healthcare Center shutdown after a fire caused massive damage, 142 jobs lost! In Long Beach, Bags Inc laying off 60 employees in August. In Concord, Too Big to Jail Bank of America continues to kill jobs, this time seven people will become unemployed in August. In Bonsall, San Luis Rey Downs Golf Course shutting down by August, 47 jobs lost. In Santa Anna, newspaper publisher Freedom Communications announced the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate several newspapers, which will mean 100 people being laid off! The city of La Puente laid off the city clerk and the entire code enforcement division! Code enforcement will be contracted with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Florida: In Fort Myers, after only six years the trendy Elephant Bar Restaurant shutdown. Company officials blamed lack of customers on the bad economy.
Hawaii: The Hilo Medical Center warned of Obama Care layoffs. The state run hospital says increased cost of operations plus decreased funding due to Obama Care is pushing them into the red by $48-million USD! In Maui, after 47 years Buzz’s Wharf restaurant shutdown. The owner blamed the bad economy.
Idaho: In Twin Falls, after only two years of production at the World’s largest yogurt factory Chobani laid off an undisclosed number of employees. Officials say the layoffs are because production quotas were reached (in other words the former employees did their jobs well)! But wait, more layoffs could be in the planning! Chobani officials told local news media that the factory was still using hundreds more employees than they really need. The new factory was designed for 400 employees, but state employment officials estimate there are between 500 and 1-thousand people working the successful operation.
Illinois: In Springfield, AT&T shutting down a call center, 200 jobs lost!
Kansas: In Pittsburg, book, music and video store Hastings announced they’re shutting down in July, 35 jobs lost.
Kentucky: In Lexington, taxsucker Lockheed Martin revealed they’ve laid off 110 people back in May! But wait, doesn’t that violate the tax deal they made with the state? In 2013 Lockheed Martin got $10.8-million in tax incentives in exchange for employing 391 people at least until 2015! In Princeton, Pennyroyal Center laid off 15 employees and could be closing its mental health clinic.
Massachusetts: In Wellesley, after ten years women’s boutique Essentia shutdown.
Michigan: In Saginaw, after 34 years Mr. Van’s Shoe Repair shutdown. The Flint Community Schools announced 250 job cuts for the upcoming school year!
Missouri: In Saint Louis, food processor ConAgra killing 130 jobs! It’s blamed on its takeover of Ralcorp.
Nebraska: In Omaha, food processor ConAgra killing 100 jobs! It’s blamed on its takeover of Ralcorp. Company officials claim that in the long run they’ll create more jobs.
New Jersey: GE Healthcare Life Sciences warned of hundreds of layoffs by 2015: “GE Healthcare can confirm that in the Spring of 2015, the GE Healthcare Life Sciences business will begin to consolidate some of its northeastern operations into a greater Boston-area site. As a result of this consolidation, GE Healthcare Life Sciences will begin to transition away from Princeton and Piscataway, New Jersey, and some roles may be affected, although it is too early in the process to say how many.”-Benjamin Fox, GE spokesman
New York: Pet Supplies Plus announced their statewide operations will shut down by the end of the month, 86 jobs lost. The pet supply franchise has been sold off. In Flushing, Professional Billing Associates announced they will shut down in September, 38 jobs lost.
North Dakota: What oil boom? In Fargo, after 34 years Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream shutdown. The owner blamed health problems and the bad economy saying his business was no longer “cutting it”.
Ohio: In Youngstown, Mitt Romney connected Toys R Us shutting down their 23 years old distribution center. At least 70 jobs lost. In Toledo, Community Development Institute-Head Start killing 280 jobs in July! The 2014-15 Head Start contract went to another contractor.
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette laid off 136 people! After 59 years car/home custom audio/video company HiFi House shutdown without notice.
Tennessee: In Nashville, Brazil based aircraft maker/servicer Embraer laid off 83 employees. They blamed declining business on the bad economy.
Texas: In Houston, one of three upscale Brio Tuscan Grille restaurants shutdown without notice. The Saint Genevieve bar was shutdown without notice. They’re reports that many eateries are being shutdown for property re-development.
Virginia: In Stauton, after 77 years Jimmy Anderson’s Food Mart shutdown. In South Boston, Comcast cable shutting down their service center by the end of the month.
Washington: In Seattle, Eagle Marine Services announced they will layoff 94 employees in July. No reason was given. Student travel company Ambassadors Group laying off at least 40 employees. It’s blamed on crashing revenues from its People to People Student Ambassadors Program. The company is also selling off its HQ building in Spokane. Utah based and privately held Mormon home security company, Vivint, shutting down their Liberty Lake call center by the end of the month. It’s estimated that hundreds of people will lose their jobs, but local news reports said Vivint officials refused to say why they’re shutting down, or exactly how many people will become unemployed. It should be noted that Vivint is facing sanctions by 11 states, as well as a class action lawsuit, for fraudulent and deceptive practices! Apparently the company’s current president used to work for Mitt Romney. It should also be noted that Utah is the base camp for the federal government’s domestic data spying operations! Is there a connection between the ‘home security’ company and the NSA?
Wisconsin: In Little Chute, wireless company Airadigm Communications laid off 55 employees. In La Crosse, the Mayo Clinic announced it will kill 51 medical transcription jobs in September. In Milwaukee, train maker Talgo shutdown and moved its last two passenger trains out of state. Company officials blame state officials. The Milwaukee YMCA now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.
01 – 03 June 2014: 1-thousand people secretly laid off in Ohio
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