Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
Isn’t it ironic that the healthcare reform written by the insurance industry (Affordable Care Act aka ObamaCare) is actually destroying insurance companies? Read on to find out why I ask such a question.
Arizona: Five Coco’s Bakery Restaurants shutdown; one in Sun City and four in Phoenix! Coco’s was sold to a competitor. In Scottsdale, the Bamboo Club shutdown as well as Frasher’s Steakhouse and Lounge (it’s supposedly moving to Phoenix). In Arcadia, the Milagro Grill shutdown.
California: The Employment Development Department now publishing WARNs bi-monthly, instead of daily. Santa Clara based computer chip maker Intel officially confirmed massive layoffs across several states. An internal Intel memo read “Yes, we are implementing headcount reductions” in Arizona and Oregon, but did not give numbers. The mass layoffs are blamed on crashing computer sales. In San Diego, after 36 years the owners of popular Lunch Bag Deli say their landlord is forcing them to shutdown. They say they got a 26 day eviction notice with no explanation. An employee of the real estate company that manages the property would only say, to local news media, that the lease was up and they didn’t want to renew. In Escondido, Palomar Health reports that ObamaCare is causing their Palomar Medical Center to lose $20-million USD per year! As a result they’re considering shutting it down (despite a previous announcement that the 56 acre hospital was going to be doubled in size!), forcing the 8-thousand patients who use the hospital to travel at least 12 miles for healthcare: “The right thing to do and the right decision at the right time is to make the recommendation to the board of directors they should close the downtown campus.”-Bob Hemker, CEO
Colorado: Englewood mining company Midway Gold now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.
Connecticut: Bloomfield based global health insurance company Cigna is fighting off attempts by Indiana based Anthem. Recently Anthem tried to buyout Cigna for $53.8-billion. If a takeover is successful you can bet they’ll be massive layoffs in an attempt to eliminate all the redundant jobs as a result. A recent Nightly Business Report stated that the result of insurance company mergers will be higher premiums for individuals. What was that about ObamaCare reducing the costs of healthcare?
Florida: After three years of operations, Jacksonville based non-profit crowdfunding venue One Spark laid off all but three employees. Administrators blame it on a lack of “focus”. In Rivera Beach, wholesaler Garden of Life issued a WARN for September, 28 people will be laid off. In Clearwater, the Burger King on US19 and Sunset Point Road shutdown for failing health inspections. In Tampa, the Tampa Tap Room shutdown for 30 health code violations. The Paradise Biryani Pointe shutdown for 41 health code violations.
Hawaii: After 49 years the owner of two iconic restaurants is shutting them down due to health problems. The restaurant Kenny’s will shutdown by 05 July, and Kenny’s Express will shutdown 04 July.
Idaho: In Boise, after 32 years the owners of women’s clothier Barbara Barbara announced they’re shutting down at the end of July, health problems convinced them it was time to retire. The Department of Labor finally published a WARN issued by Assurant insurance company, submitted back on the 15th. ObamaCare forcing Assurant to eliminate 65 health insurance jobs in Boise by August. If you’ve been following my updates New York City based Assurant recently announced it is getting out of the health insurance business because, as CEO Alan Colberg said, Obama Care isn’t slashing & burning health care funding big enough or fast enough: “The health and employee benefits business segments possess differentiated capabilities in their respective markets, but we do not believe they can meet our return targets at the pace we require.”
Illinois: What automotive industry recovery? Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar laid off another 50 people at their East Peoria factory, on top of the recent 120! It’s blamed on the crashing mining industry. H&S Care Center shutting down over the next couple of weeks. News reports say the nursing home has a number of code violations, and was recently fined $12,500 after a patient went on a stabbing rampage in April (you see, you don’t need a gun to be violent).
Iowa: After years of arguing between Scott County and the owner of Lake Canyada Mobile Home Park, the county is forcing the park to shutdown by cutting off the watersupply! At first it was to shutdown by the end of the month, but there are so many tenants with nowhere to go that the shutdown date has been pushed back to the end of July. County administrators claim the water-sewer system for the mobile home park must be upgraded, but the park owner doesn’t want to pay for it.
Kentucky: State Health Department is shutting down three Women’s Infant & Children offices, 12 jobs lost. Administrators blame lack of taxpayer funding and lack of people signing up for the measly $40 per month in food assistance. Louisville based health insurance company Humana is considering a takeover bid by Connecticut based Aetna. If the deal is accepted then the 12-thousand Humana employees, and the more than 47-thousand employees with Aetna, will be threatened. A recent Nightly Business Report stated that the result of insurance company mergers will be higher premiums for individuals. What was that about ObamaCare reducing the costs of healthcare? Texas based oil pipeline company TMK Ipsco issued a mass layoff WARN saying at least 150 Wilder steel mill employees will be laid off in July! That’s on top of the 115 laid off this month!
Louisiana: Texas based oil holdings company Exterran issued a shutdown WARN for its Broussard oil equipment factory, 60 jobs lost between August and December.
Nevada: Colorado based & bankrupt Midway Gold shutdown their Pan Mine ops, blaming lack of money. Administrators refused to say how many jobs lost.
New Jersey: Salem County administrators went back on their word and will indeed eliminate jobs. A ‘letter to the editor’ revealed at least one person laid off already, and an undisclosed number going into next year.
New York: Volunteers of America Upstate New York announced they’re shutting down 11 thrift stores, apparently to focus on its services for low income families, but the fact their thrift stores lost more than $1-million last year is a better reason. In NYC, God refuses to stop the layoff of 83 employees of Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home Boys Town operations across The Big Apple. The WARN says the layoffs will take place in September and blames the bad economy. Also in The Big Apple, New York Life Insurance Company issued a WARN saying they are moving between October and March (they didn’t say where to) and at least 17 people will become unemployed. And the city of New York has become the second U.S. city (after San Francisco) to shutdown school during the Asian Lunar New Year. Administrators say it proves they’re respectful of other ethic groups, but it’s really about saving a lot of money by shutting down schools for a week.
North Carolina: Madison County School District forced to shutdown their Laurel Elementary school. It’s blamed on what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome. AB Tech announced it will shutdown the Haynes building and the Technology Commercialization Center on its Enka campus. News reports say AB Tech is prepping the Enka campus for sale. It’s blamed on the loss of $2-million in county taxpayer funding. It’s been revealed that for-profit managed county owned Yadkin Valley Community Hospital shutdown, 150 jobs lost at the end of May! News reports blame disputes between the greedy for-profit managers and the county over the lease.
Ohio: Cincinnati based Too Big to Jail Fifth Third Bancorp (Fifth Third Bank: The Curious Bank) will shutdown/sell-off 130 offices and other properties! Administrators say they need to save $60-million per year. After five years non-profit Boneyfiddle Arts Center shutdown, due to lack of funding: “It is really sad and painful for us, because we worked so hard to accomplish what we had. When we realized we could not meet our strategic goals we knew it was the logical choice.”-Jamie Benedict
Pennsylvania: In Garfield, after five years restaurant Salt of the Earth to shutdown in August. The owners are going to focus on their other business, architecture.
Tennessee: The McNairy County Board of Education eliminating 20 jobs; 15 current employees and five vacant teacher jobs.
Texas: The city of Brownsville shutdown its public swimming pools to all but those attending children’s swimming lessons. City administrators were not able to hire enough lifeguards, not for a lack of money but for a lack of qualified applicants.
Washington: In Puget Sound, Boeing laid off another 153 employees!
West Virginia: After 32 years Blatt’s Greenhouse, in Lavalette, shutdown.
Wisconsin: The Wisconsin State Journal laid off four people and eliminated at least three vacant positions.
19 – 21 June 2015: “…our journey is coming to an end…” “…leadership does not care….”
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”