“There was no severance…we were just fired!”: U.S. Industrial/Mining/Logistics layoffs, October 2017

Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss/shutdown announcements made in October 2017.

Federal government data proves what truck drivers have been complaining about for years, the reason there’s a driver shortage is because trucking companies are paying less and less every year: “If you look at the federal data, a truck driver in 2006 was actually making more than he or she would be making in 2016 if you factor in the cost of living.”-Chip Cutter, LinkedIn, interviewed by CBSNews

 California:  Oil giant Chevron warning of yet more layoffs in the San Joaquin Valley, a 26% reduction by early 2018.  In Berkeley, after 24 years furniture maker The Wooden Duck shutting down in time for Thanksgiving, blaming the landlord for doubling the rent.  France owned Schneider Electric eliminating 15 jobs in Clovis, right before Xmas. Wholesale distributor Essendant shutting down its Whittier center, 123 jobs gone right before Xmas!  Boeing issued yet more layoff WARNs, this time 84 people becoming jobless between Thanksgiving and Xmas. Pacific Steel Casting issued a shutdown WARN for its Berkeley ops, 106 jobs gone right before Xmas!   Iron furniture maker Murray’s Iron Works issued a shutdown WARN for its City of Commerce location, 46 jobs gone three days before Xmas.  St. john’s Knits issued another WARN, 72 jobs gone before Xmas as part of its plan to outsource the work to Mexico (on top of the 130 jobs already lost to Mexico during Summer).   What automotive industry recovery?  Pickup truck tonneau cover maker Laurmark Enterprises-BAK Industries issued shutdown WARNs for its Chatsworth and San Fernando operations, 261 jobs gone before Xmas!   Electric car maker Tesla suddenly laid off as many as 7-hundred employees for lack of performance!  Is it connected to the fact the hi-tech electric car maker is having major U.S. production problems with its latest vehicles, or that it’s focusing on production in China?

Colorado: Snowboard maker/seller Bomber Industries-Bomber Alpine Snowboard Outfitters now chapter 7 bankrupt dead, the new owners blamed too much debt financing and lack of sales.

Florida: West Coast Transport Service now chapter 7 bankrupt busted.  Pre-Cast Specialties eliminating 252 jobs between December 2017 and January 2018!

Georgia: AR-15 maker Daniel Defense admitted it made a undisclosed number of “significant layoffs” due to crashing sales (before the Las Vegas shooting), one industry news report said 1-hundred people were let go without warning, an unnamed employee said “This was very unexpected. All of us were handed a blanket packet that explained everything. The paperwork didn’t even have my name on it. All they said about my job was that my position was being eliminated. There was no severance package, we were just fired!”

Idaho:  The biggest electric utility company in The Gem State, Idaho Power, is demanding customers fork-over $220-million USD to pay for a new hydroelectric dam on the border with Oregon! 

Illinois: Commercial printer Patterson Office Supplies issued a layoff WARN, 83 jobs gone by November.  Neovia Logistics issued a shutdown WARN for its Des Plaines ops, 109 jobs gone right after Xmas!  Fabick Machinery Company issued a shutdown WARN for its wholesale ops in Marion, 29 jobs gone by December due to crashing oil-mining industry sales.

Indiana: Connecticut based Harman International Industries shutting down its Crown Audio factory in Elkhart, 50 jobs gone three days before Xmas.  What construction industry recovery?  After 113 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions), demolition company Martin Enterprises shutting down in March 2018, blaming it on ten years of crashing business saying “We’ve never really bounced back from the recession and then finding drivers and the right people here in the office to fit has been rough. You add all those things together and it just doesn’t make for a good business.”

Iowa: Cedar Rapids based Rockwell Collins eliminated 124 Iowa jobs in the past 12 months, plus hundreds more outside the state!  Those layoffs are not in connection with the current pending sale of Rockwell Collins to United Technologies, which is causing new layoffs, a lawsuit has been filed to stop the sale.

Louisiana:  Netherlands owned Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I) suddenly laid off 90 people, blaming a variety of things including Hurricane Harvey.

Massachusetts: In Westfield, after 60 years aerospace manufacturing contractor Berkshire Industries shutdown without warning,  the remaining 80 (of the 150) employees suddenly unemployed, no reason was given!

Michigan:  What automotive industry recovery?  Penske-Automotive Component Carrier lost its contract with General Motors (GM), 60 jobs gone in time for Xmas.  In Grand Rapids, automotive supply chain company Dematic issued a mass layoff WARN, 204 jobs gone by New Year’s, on top of the 255 jobs lost back in July!   GST Autoleather now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Minnesota: Paper maker UPM Blandin shutting down a production line, 150 jobs gone by the 1st quarter of 2018 due to a global crash in sales!   In Waseca, Quad Graphics (Brown Printing) shutting down its operations after Xmas, local news reports say at one time the operation employed 750 people!  

Montana: Simms Fishing Products eliminating at least a dozen jobs as it outsources work to a contractor in Washington, administrators blame “the cost of land and building” in Montana.

New Mexico: Recently formed, Albuquerque based, ONE Aviation already warning of mass layoffs as it ends production of its EA550 personal jet.  ONE Aviation is now focusing on developing a new personal jet called Project Canada. 

New Jersey: In Union, jewelry maker Tessler & Weiss eliminating 150 jobs right after Xmas!

New York: Remington Arms announced that sales are so bad (pre Las Vegas shooting) that it will begin furloughing employees at its Ilion factory, in an attempt to keep inline with market trends.  This is on top of the 55 jobs killed last month.  AVX Corporation-Olean Advanced Products shutting down its factory in Olean, date “to be determined”.   Global Brands issued a shutdown WARN for its fashion warehouse, 49 jobs gone right after Xmas.

North Carolina:  Unnamed employees revealed Rockwell Collins plans to offshore at least 130 Winston-Salem jobs to the Philippines, it might be connected to the pending sale of Rockwell Collins to United Technologies!  Hydro Extrusions-Sapa Extrusions  warned of mass layoffs due to a drop in orders, but didn’t say how many people would lose their jobs.  DuraFiber Technologies now chapter 7 bankrupt busted, already shutting down factories, more than 4-hundred jobs gone so far!  Diverse manufacturer Lord Corporation announced it will begin eliminating jobs worldwide in 2018, due to global market conditions.

Ohio: Furniture maker American Signature issued a layoff WARN, 13 people jobless by December.  Plastics maker Spartech-Polyone laying off 57 people in Greenville “due to a change in business circumstances”.   Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems eliminating 55 jobs in Akron as part of its plan to move jobs to Mexico.  Industrial mill service provider TMS International issued a shutdown WARN, 99 jobs in Middletown gone due to loss of contract.    What automotive industry recovery?  Fiat-ChryslerFCA Transport shutting down its Toledo transportation terminal, at least 92 jobs affected by February 2018.  Emission controls maker Faurecia Clean Mobility laying off eight people right after Xmas.

Oregon: After 128 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) the new owners of West Linn Paper Company decided to shut it down, no explanation to hundreds of employees ( except saying “due to unforeseen business circumstances”) who will become unemployed around Xmas time!

Pennsylvania: Dura-Bond eliminating 180 jobs in Steelton, by Thanksgiving, blaming it on crashing pipe orders from the oil industry!  Germany owned Akustica issued a  shutdown WARN for its Pittsburgh location, 54 jobs gone by October 2018.   Johnson & Johnson issued a shutdown WARN for ops in West Chester and Wayne, 297 jobs gone right before Xmas!   Japan owned but Switzerland based Metalor Technologies issued a shutdown WARN for its Export location, 121 jobs gone right after Xmas!  What construction industry recovery?  Deluxe Building Systems issued a shutdown WARN for its Berwick ops, 154 jobs gone right after Xmas!

Tennessee:  Italy based eyewear maker/distributor Luxottica Retail North America issued a mass layoff WARN, 208 jobs in Memphis gone right after Xmas, due to crashing sales!

Texas:  Vistra Energy shutting down two additional coal fired power plants, 650 jobs gone due to cheaper competition by natural gas power plants!  Dynergy warning of massive layoffs, as a result of being taken over by Vistra Energy.

Washington: The new owners of Columbia River Logistics (same as West Linn Paper Company) decided to shut it down, no explanation to the employees ( except saying “due to unforeseen business circumstances”) who will become unemployed around Xmas time!

West Virginia:  Italy owned plastics maker M&G Polymers now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Wisconsin: Johnson Controls announced it will eliminate an undisclosed number of jobs, local news media say unnamed sources put the number of people to be laid off at 150!  Spartech-Polyone Designed Structures shutting down its factory in Ripon, 70 jobs gone in 2018 due to “a change in business circumstances”.  U.S. Paper Converters shutting down its Appleton operations, 52 jobs gone by New Years due to state officials bringing in foreign operations with taxpayer money: “For the third time in less than two months, the Paper Valley has been hit hard. At a time when the state is set to spend billions to lure a foreign company, our heritage and core industries are being gutted without explanation or without concern from our state leadership. This is not just about the loss of fifty jobs, but fifty families, men, women and children being thrust into difficult times and during the holiday season. It is high time we focus our time, resources and money on Wisconsin industry and Wisconsin jobs. Paper is our heritage, and it must be our future.”-Tom Nelson, Outagamie County Executive

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Mining/Industrial/Logistics layoffs, September 2017: “MARKET TURNDOWN, INDUSTRY-WIDE”