Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
God refuses to stop Obama Care from forcing Catholic Mercy Health from killing 300 healthcare jobs across seven states: “Like all health care providers, Mercy is managing the impact of market changes, including reimbursement reductions from government and commercial payers, as well as lack of Medicaid expansion in most of the states we serve.”-Sonya Kullman, Mercy Springfield
Arizona: In Phoenix, 13 Danny’s Family Car Wash locations seized! Company managers have been indicted on immigration violation charges. Besides that, the economy has been so bad that the owner had to sell off his mansion to float the company. The car wash will now be auctioned off. More than 900 jobs affected!
California: In Costa Mesa, S.B. Restaurant revealed they have already shutdown 16 Elephant Bar Global Grill/Wok Kitchen restaurants across the country. The company is bankrupt and hopes somebody can buyout the rest of the restaurants soon, or they’ll all be shutdown. What automotive industry recovery? Yet another California Superstores car dealer shutting down, this time in San Leandro, 69 jobs will be lost in August. Also in San Leandro, Too Big to Jail bank Wells Fargo announced they will kill 52 jobs in August. In Brisbane, MV Transportation warned they will kill 230 jobs in September!
Florida: In Orlando, The Elephant Bar Global Grill shutdown (see California).
Illinois: In Alton, after 37 years White’s Greenhouse and Seasons Garden Center shutdown. In Lakeview, after ten years the Pie Hole Pizza Joint shutdown. The owner blames it on a combination of the purchase of faulty kitchen equipment and the crashing economy: “The last two years have just been really hard.”-Doug Brandt
Louisiana: In New Orleans, gelato shop La Divina Gelateria shutdown. The owners say they are focusing on wholesale ops only.
Maryland: The city of Annapolis laying off seven employees, and raising taxes and fees! Yes, raising taxes and fees on residents who are unemployed/under-employed, as well as businesses whose revenues continue to crash, is the answer. NOT!
Massachusetts: In Leominster, HealthAlliance Hospital warned it is laying off an undisclosed number of healthcare workers by the end of September. They blame Obama Care. Fact; at the end of March the hospital was “in the black” financially, but because of Obama Care they’re already bleeding ‘red’: “Given the dramatic and sweeping changes taking place nationally and regionally in health care, going forward, we will continue to review our staffing levels and make adjustments. We know that any workforce reduction involves real people and real jobs. These are difficult decisions….”-Deborah Weymouth, CEO
“We’re trying to keep up…with lower payment rates. We are trying to stay with it so we don’t slip into larger losses.”-Michael Cofone, former interim president
Michigan: Another Family Dollar store shutdown, this time a four years old store in Spring Arbor. The Oaklawn Hospital killed 43 jobs, blaming Obama Care for a $5-million USD loss!
Minnesota: After more than 25 years Campus Pizza & Pasta now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. In Beavercreek, only months after holding a “grand opening”, women’s clothing store Lane Bryant shutdown. In Saint Cloud, Quad/Graphics shutting down printing ops in August, 280 jobs lost! The Minnesota School of Business shutdown their Shakopee branch, blaming disappearing students: “…in the past few years the number of students taking classes at the Shakopee campus has decreased dramatically.”-note taped to door at the Shakopee branch
Mississippi: Texas based alternative fuel maker KiOR began laying off its employees. The company turns wood into fuel. However, it started up using hundreds of millions of dollars borrowed from banks and the Magnolia State. So far KiOR has made timely payments on the loan from taxpayers, but warned that if it can’t get more debt financing by August it will declare bankruptcy. Apparently a recent deal with a California vulture capitalist was only good until August.
Missouri: In Kansas City, cell phone insurance company Asurion announced 98 layoffs for August. Company officials claim it’s because they’ve become more efficient. After more than 30 years boat shop Saint Louis Sail & Paddle (Saint Louis Sailing Center) shutdown. The new owners blame crashing sales: “As all sailors know, a correction of course is often required when the wind changes. As business people, Cyril and I knew it was time to move on.”– Amy Narishkin
New Jersey: For the second time in two years the casino Revel is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Casino officials also warned their 3100 employees that they could become unemployed in August! The casino is up for sale. And the Pier Shops mini-mall in the Caesars casino is up for sale, at a huge loss! Children’s clothing retailer, Kid Brands, now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Company officials say they are $109-million in debt, but are asking the court to allow a $49-million loan so they can stay in business.
New York: In Mount Vernon, Stop & Shop Supermarkets warned they’re shutting down their warehouse ops, 239 jobs lost in September!
North Carolina: God refused to stop the ‘Christian’ owner of Amazing Grace Locksmiths and American Locksmiths from becoming chapter 11 bankrupt busted. This after the local Sheriff accused him of taking money from customers without completing the job, plus a safe company accuses him of stealing lock codes. Even his own church is pissed at him! In Robbinsville, Ashley Furniture has backed out of plans to buy Stanley Furniture‘s factory, this means 400 people will become unemployed for sure! Apparently Ashley Furniture officials claim the factory is too small for what they need.
Ohio: In Kenwood, Sterling’s Cut Glass shutting down. The owners say they will focus on internet sales only. Production is also being moved, 75 jobs affected.
Pennsylvania: In Monaca, God refuses to stop Saint John the Baptist Parish from shutting down their elementary school. It’s blamed on disappearing students. Enrollment for the 2014-15 school year hit a new low of only 97.
Tennessee: In Chattanooga, Farley’s & Sathers candy factory laid off 95 Umpa Lumpas, I mean employees. The Chicago based owners (Ferrara Candy) are moving production to candy factories in Illinois. News reports say that over the past five years Ferrara Candy has killed 200 jobs at their Farley’s & Sathers candy factory!
Texas: Near Dallas, a six years old Jakes Hamburgers shutdown. The owners blame the location, and claim most of the employees were moved to other Jakes locations. In Fort Worth, American Airlines announced it is killing 38 flights to Venezuela. Airline officials claim they are owned $750-million by the Venezuelan government, more specifically the tickets were paid for in bolivars when they were supposed to be paid for in U.S. dollars.
Vermont: In Burlington, Benways Taxi (Transportation) company shutting down, at least 100 jobs lost! Company officials did not say when the shutdown would take place. Competing taxi companies are sympathetic, saying the costs of doing business (fuel, repairs, taxes, fees, insurance) are just too high.
Wisconsin: Metal stamping company Eclipse Manufacturing suddenly shutdown by its new owner. 51 employees were told by HTT World Stamping to reapply for their jobs, but were also told that not all of them would be hired!
14 – 17 June 2014: Cops gunnin’ for your taxes!
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