Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
California: Japan based video game maker Gree laid off 30% of employees at its San Francisco operations. Analysts say it’s the result of Gree failing to accomplish its goal to dominate the mobile gaming market. In Monterey, Osio Cinemas being shutdown by its investor owners who blame competition, rising debt and crashing sales. Aliso Viejo based data storage company QLogic warned 2-hundred employees of mass layoffs, due to unexpected crashing sales. In Sacramento, after 22 years City Limits Showgirls strip joint shutting down due to county ‘lawmakers’ re-zoning the land.
Connecticut: In Stamford, the New York Sports Clubs shutting down. Administrators blamed “recent events” but didn’t go into details.
Indiana: In Fort Wayne, after 43 years Roller Dome South shutting down in August.
Iowa: In Sioux City, after 30 years Wilmes Do It Best Hardware shutdown.
Kansas: In Manhattan, the country’s oldest Pizza Hut shutdown after 55 years due to crashing sales. The franchise owner lamented “…in 1960….No one here even knew what a pizza was! Imagine that! But I don’t think I would have guessed how big Pizza Hut ….would get either.” The controversial taxpayer created (Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004) investment company Kansas Bioscience Authority revealed it laid off 50% of employees last week. Administrators blame lack of state taxpayer funding. ‘Lawmakers’ say KBA has failed to bring in the big investment bucks needed to save the ‘christian’ state’s failing economy. (…the love of money is the root of all evil…: 1 Timothy 6:10)
Kentucky: Lexington based printer maker Lexmark will eliminate at least 5-hundred jobs around the World. It’s the result of Lexmark taking over companies like Kofax and ReadSoft.
Massachusetts: In Hamilton, after six years Winfrey’s Fudge & Chocolates shutdown “…due to the lack of parking and foot traffic.” The property is for sale. In Cambridge, music venue T. T. The Bear’s Club shutdown.
Michigan: After 51 years shoe store Alfano’s Stride Rite shutting down. But wait, it’s not just one store but five stores spread across the state: “Outlets are really affecting business…..it’s got to come to an end.”-Nick Alfano, owner
Minnesota: In Madelia, crime is being blamed for the shutdown of The Furniture Clinic after the inventory was destroyed by vandals. What makes this worse is that the owner of the store recently started the business after he lost his regular job due to losing his eyesight!
Montana: What was that about ObamaCare increasing access to healthcare? ObamaCare forcing Lolo Family Practice to shutdown. It’s the only medical care in Lolo. People will have to travel to the next town for healthcare.
Nebraska: Be’ne Pizza and Pasta shutting down after 14 years.
New Jersey: Four Pathmark grocery stores in Middlesex County shutting down due to parent company A&P’s bankruptcy.
New Mexico: In Santa Fe, after 33 years Robert R. Bailey Clothiers shutting down. The family owners decided it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.
New York: In Manhattan, Bis.Co.Latte shutdown their brick-n-mortar store, blaming greedy property owners jacking up the rent by more than 35%! Their handmade biscotti is still available over the internet.
Ohio: On the corner of Healthy and Happiness, Walgreens admitted they’re shutting down their Chillicothe store. It’s part of the plan to shutdown 2-hundred stores by the end of the year.
Pennsylvania: ObamaCare causing Geisinger Medical Group to consolidate operations and shutdown their Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in August.
Texas: Singapore based Flextronics laying off 168 people at its Fort Worth factory by the end of 2015! In 2014 they laid off 223 people at their newly opened Motorola factory, also in Fort Worth!
Washington: Those 26-thousand layoffs couldn’t stop Redmond based Microsoft from losing $3.2-billion USD in its 4th quarter!
West Virginia: Animal Friends of Barbour County warned it will shutdown due to lack of funding. When you realize how many animals the shelter saves it’s a sad reflection of the bad economy: “Last year we took in 1,120 animals. That’s pretty evenly divided as far as dogs and cats. We run and operate as a no-kill facility.”-Carol Talbot
Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin‘s two year Colleges eliminating 83 jobs by consolidating administration jobs. It’s blamed on Right to Work you over gov’na Scott Walker.
19 – 20 July 2015: “significant downturn in business”
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.”