Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
A new study shows that low income people are making even less money now than in 2009! The National Employment Law Project says overall wages have been collapsing since 2009.
Another study shows that since 1973 all the benefits from increased worker productivity have gone to the 1%! The Economic Policy Institute says the people who actually make the money for the executives and shareholders, the workers, have gotten nothing for their efforts to be more efficient!
California: Reports that Palo Alto based Hewlett Packard (HP) is forcing employees who don’t get laid off to take a 50% cut in pay! Basically some HP employees are being pushed into contractor jobs (I know what that’s like).
Colorado: Glaze, the Baum Cake Shoppe shutdown, the owner refused to say why.
Connecticut: In Newington, after 54 years T-Bowl Lanes-Fun Squared shutdown. The owners got an offer for their property from Ashley Furniture they couldn’t refuse. Specialty healthcare provider The Kent shutting down by the end of the month, blaming three years of financial losses, 80 jobs lost.
Idaho: Boise based Syringa Networks announced it is ending its Syringa Wireless service after Xmas: “….Syringa Wireless has fought hard to maintain low prices and high quality service for our Idaho communities…..Over the last 3 years we have made extensive financial investments…..As a small, locally owned and operated provider, we have arrived at a point where it’s simply not feasible to continue to operate.”
Illinois: Affordable Care Act forcing Blue Cross-Blue Shield to layoff 60 people, affecting eight communities. The jobs were contracted out. American Coal laid off 110 people, the third round of layoffs at the Galatia mine this year, in the first two rounds 257 people lost their jobs! Challenger, Gray & Christmas says U.S. corporations announced 41-thousand 186 planned layoffs in August!
Indiana: What automotive industry recovery? In Winchester, Japan owned car parts maker Indiana Marujun warned 765 employees of plant shutdown by November 2016, saying “conditions gave us no other options.”
Kansas: In Independance, Affordable Care Act forcing Kansas Mercy hospital to shutdown, 190 jobs lost in October: “This was not the outcome we had sought or expected at the beginning of the discernment process, and our hearts are heavy. However, like many other rural health care providers today, we have struggled to remain viable in the face of a changing environment and economy.”-Lynn Britton, ceo
Maryland: Crown Cork & Seal shutting down their factory in Essex, 47 jobs lost in October.
Massachusetts: After 115 years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) the iconic Colonial Theater shutting down in October. It was intimated that it has been losing money big time for awhile now. It’s final fate is in the hands of Emerson College.
Minnesota: The Boys & Girls Club eliminating its staff at its La Crescent Community Arena location. It’s blamed on a lack of boys and girls.
Nebraska: In Omaha, the No Frills grocery store shutting down in time for Xmas. The owner, SpartanNash, claims all 42 employees will be offered jobs at other stores.
North Carolina: The Michael Waltrip Racing Management Company shutting down two locations in Cornelius, between November and April 2016, at least 217 jobs lost due to loss of revenue!
Pennsylvania: In Downingtown, Stauffers Market shutting down mid-month ’cause the owners want to retire. In Philipsburg, after five years Fezell’s County Market and the Sunoco fuel station shutting down by mid-month: “It’s just cash flow reasons. Just simply not able to cash flow the store.”-Tim Fezell, owner
Texas: ION Geophysical Corporation eliminating an additional 168 jobs, on top of the 225 people they’ve already laid off this year! Administrators don’t have any hope of recovery, at least in the short run: “The difficult cost reduction initiative we are undertaking today is necessary to prudently scale the company during this period of significantly decreased revenues, which we believe will extend into 2017.”-Brian Hanson, ceo
Washington DC: Law firm Dillworth Paxson shutting down its DC office, apparently due to a defection of lawyers to another law firm. The U.S. Department of Labor said last week’s new unemployment claims hit 282-thousand!
West Virginia: Affordable Care Act is the final straw for mental healthcare provider Process Strategies, so they laid off 37 employees: “We just could not sustain it any more…”-Jim Strawn
Wisconsin: Elitist Palmer Johnson Yachts shutting down their Sturgeon Bay facility due to lack of ‘trickle down’ orders from the super-rich, 1-hundred jobs lost: “Our operation and employment levels have continued to diminish, sales have diminished, offshore competitive pressures have escalated, and as a result this action becomes a necessity…..there is no alternative.”
02 September 2015: “It’s mind boggling!”
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed
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.”