Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.
Alabama: In Birmingham, after 30 years Cosmo’s Pizza shutting down by the end of the month. The stressed out co-owner Leisa Bunn blames money troubles: “…I’ve worked here for over half my life, and it’s killing me to give it up, but I have no choice.”
Arizona: In Gilbert, the House of Cigars shutting down by the end of the month. The owner blamed a next door business: “I lost my lease and the land lord wants me out. the Tai Chi place next [door] has bitched enough to get what the [y] want.”
California: What automotive industry recovery? Napa Chrysler dealer now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The owner of the property the car dealership sits on is shocked saying he thought “they were bouncing back” from the recession. However, it turns out the dealership hadn’t been paying its own debts, to the tune of as much as $10-million USD! Bon Appetit Management issued a shutdown WARN for their San Francisco ops, 79 jobs lost by April. Albertsons-SAfeway eliminating another 24 jobs from the old Safeway HQ in Pleasanton, by April. JCPenney shutting down their Cupertino store, 147 jobs lost by April! In Palo Alto, Space Systems-Loral revealed they eliminated 122 jobs in January! VF Contemporary Brands shutting down their Vernon operations next week, 73 jobs lost. In Orcutt, Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas issued a layoff WARN, 64 jobs lost by April. United Technologies issued a shutdown WARN for their San Diego operations, 103 jobs lost by the end of March! United Technologies recently revealed they are moving some of their electronic controls manufacturing to Mexico. Iowa based government IT contractor Rockwell Collins will conduct layoffs in Poway, by April. Japan based tech company Toshiba shutting down its Livermore site, 50 jobs lost by the end of March. In Milpitas, electronic sensor maker Moog eliminating 22 jobs by April, as part of their takeover of Crossbow Tech. Hub CityTerminals shutting down their Brea operations by the end of March. Hub Group Trucking shutting down their Ontario depot, 131 jobs lost by the end of March! What housing market recovery? Pennsylvania based mortgage company Urban Fulfillment Services ending their Westlake Village ops, 192 jobs lost by the end of March! Hotel Westin Saint Francis shutting down in San Francisco, 52 jobs lost by the end of March. Also in San Francisco, electronic health records keeping company Practice Fusion issued a layoff WARN, 74 jobs lost by the beginning of April. Health insurance giant Blue Shield of California issued several layoff WARNs, 460 jobs lost across the state by mid-March! Cardinal Health issued a layoff WARN, 73 jobs lost by the end of March. Visiting Nurse Association shutting down their Victorville ops, 178 jobs lost by April! Inland Early Steps issued a shutdown WARN for their Corona operation, 79 jobs lost by April. B&H Education shutdown their Whittier ops, 73 jobs gone.
Florida: In North Miami, manufacturer World Emblem eliminating 51 jobs by the end of May. Elitist fitness clothing seller Lululemon Athletica shutting down their Fort Myers ‘showroom’ by mid-March.
Illinois: Three Joe Caputo & Sons grocery stores shutdown, and more could follow! The grocery store operator is being sued by its supplier who says they haven’t paid for any food delivered since June 2015! The Kewanee child prison being shutdown: “This decision is about transitioning Illinois to a new model of rehabilitating youth that aligns with national best practices and improves community safety.”
Louisiana: Oklahoma based Helmerich & Payne International Drilling issued a WARN saying it must shutdown its Gulf of Mexico Rig 105 due to a sudden loss of contract. 50 jobs lost.
Michigan: In Detroit, Fountain Bistro shutting down due to being sold-off.
Missouri: In Saint Louis, Gringo sold-off and shutting down, only to be replaced with yet another false Mexican food joint.
New Jersey: Car renter Hertz issued a layoff WARN for Park Ridge, 63 jobs gone by the end of March. New York Life Insurance issued two layoff WARNs, at least 68 jobs gone by the end of April. Mercer County eliminating hundreds of prison jobs as it preps to move 6-hundred inmates to neighboring Hudson County!
New Mexico: Taxpayer funded UTC Aerospace shutting down two factories, at least 150 jobs lost by September!
New York: Remy USA Industries issued a shutdown WARN for its Bay Shore receiving-distribution operations, 112 jobs lost by May! Allied Frozen Storage issued a shutdown WARN for its West Seneca frozen food warehouse, 64 jobs lost by the end of July. NYC Department of Education shutting down three charter schools; Beginning with Children, Lefferts Garden and Staten Island Community.
North Carolina: XPO Logistics shutting down their Ralph Lauren warehouse ops in Whitsett, 108 jobs affected! Company admin claims they are building a new warehouse elsewhere.
Ohio: In Youngstown, Mill Creek MetroParks announced it must conduct “internal reorganization” but refused to say how many employees will become unemployed. The reorganization comes despite increased burden on local taxpayers in the form of a quarter million dollar levy.
Pennsylvania: Prudential Insurance eliminating 91 jobs in Montgomery County, by the end of April. Metso Minerals issued a shutdown WARN for their York ops, at least 60 jobs lost in March. Teleperformance issued a shutdown WARN for its Grindstone operations, 180 jobs lost by the end of March! In Saint Mary’s, GrafTech eliminating 85 jobs by the end of March. In Pittsburgh, cancer treatment center Helomics issued a mass layoff WARN, 125 jobs gone by the beginning of March! ATI Flat Rolled Products issued a mass layoff WARN for two locations, 241 jobs gone by the end of March! QuadGraphics issued a shutdown WARN for Atglen, 152 jobs gone by the end of this month! In Erie, Clover Tech-Environmental Reclamation eliminating 40 jobs by April.
Virginia: State Army National Guard shutting down its Chatham readiness center due to dwindling tax funding.
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.”