Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
Alabama: Alabama Power announced it is switching its Greene County coal fired electricity factory to natural gas. It will also result in half the employees (about 60) becoming unemployed! Company officials blame new federal government regulations, which has forced them to spend more than $3-billion USD to change over to natural gas!
California: In Santa Barbara, after 40 years the iconic Circle Bar B dinner theater horse ranch shutdown. I went to one show (in the late 1980s), it was fun, but the owners of the property say expenses have gone up so much that revenues from the dinner theater aren’t enough, they are looking at other income generating possibilities. In San Louis Obispo, the state prison known as the Men’s Colony announced they are laying off 66 psychiatric technicians over the next six months. This comes after accusation that the state prison psyc system ordered technicians to falsify prisoner records. But the real reason could be that the state is now sending prisoners to contracted mental health care, because the federal government is paying for it. In Chatsworth, Switzerland based food producer Nestle issued a WARN saying they were killing 353 jobs in October! State employment officials did not relay a reason, saying “not known at this time”. In Long Beach, taxsucker Boeing issued a WARN saying 158 people will become unemployed in September! In Sacramento, after three years doughnut shop Doughbot shutdown. The two owner-operators said “…these last few years have been…..incredibly difficult. We’re simply burned out.”
Connecticut: Stamford based World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) killed off 60 jobs. WWE claims their revenue remains “strong” but it sounds like investors pushed for the job cuts.
Florida: In Miami Beach, another restaurant done in by a greedy landowner. Andreas Schreiner of Pubbelly Restaurant Group said their PB Steak restaurant shutdown because “…the rising costs of real estate would not have allowed us to continue to operate PB Steak without raising our prices, which would go against our commitment to our customers, to be a local, everyday eating establishment.” What housing market recovery? All across southern Florida the federal government seized 21 houses, accusing the Massachusetts (Boston Strong, actually based in Marlborough) based owner, TelexFREE, of scamming immigrants from Brazil and Dominican Republic to the tune of $1-billion USD! By the way, Too Big to Jail Boston Strong (Fitchburg) Fidelity Bank just agreed to pay $3.5-million for their role in the TelexFREE scam.
Hawaii: In Kakaako, after only eight months the interior design eStyle Hawaii store shutdown! The greedy landowner kicked them out! The property is being redeveloped.
Idaho: In Blackfoot, after 15 years Tweedy’s Music shutdown. The owners revealed there are two speculators competing to buy their property.
Illinois: In Chicago, Forever Yogurt shutdown two brand new stores! Company officials blame lawsuits from property owners like General Growth Properties (GGP, I used to work for those jerk wads in Idaho). The lawsuits claims Forever Yogurt owes backdue rent (I know how much GGP likes to charge in rent, and I wouldn’t pay either!). What automotive industry recovery? In Freeport, another round of layoffs with troubled Titan Tire, this time 48 employees let go. Titan Tire supplies tires to farm and heavy equipment makers, and orders have crashed. Freeport’s mayor is worried: “This is disappointing news at a time when we’ve already had our share of disappointing news. We are deeply interested in the fate of this plant and its workers, and we’re willing to do anything we can to help because it’s important not only to the area but the entire state.”-Jim Gitz
Iowa: In Cedar Rapids, British empire United kingdom based internet services company Hibu initiated a second round of layoffs. This time 44 U.S. citizens became unemployed. Back in April of this year, Hibu killed 184 jobs! Six of Hibu’s U.S. subsidiaries are already in chapter 15 bankruptcy protection.
Kansas: Virtual network company Chit Chat now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Company officials blame Sprint for questionable billings.
Louisiana: In Marrero, the Christian God refused to stop the Reverend Mansfield Thompson Educational Foundation from shutting down their Faith Christian Academy, with only a five day notice to “vacate”: “It was like unreal, unbelievable, that they would let us prepare to open and then send us a letter to close.”-Joycelyn Robinson, school administrator
But this shutdown is not about raptured students (what I call DSS or Disappearing Student Syndrome), but about evil Christian leaders caught stealing money. At the end of 2013 a state investigation revealed Reverend Mansfield Thompson Educational Foundation was probably absconding with the money paid by struggling Christian parents: “At this point, I just want my money back. I paid $400 for registration and I’m getting the run around with that. I just want my money back!”-Ramira Williams
Michigan: In Taylor, Fitness USA shutdown the last of its three Taylor locations. It might have to do with a discrimination lawsuit filed last year.
New York: In Carle Place, 1-800-Flowers announced it is restructuring, and killing off 220 jobs in October! In NYC, Bloomberg Media killed about 25 jobs, and killed a TV show. Company officials said they are “…shifting resources to regions outside of New York.”
Ohio: In Youngstown, the Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership (MYCAP) warned it will kill 10 jobs with its Head Start education program. They blame the federal government for cutting off their federal food service funding. MYCAO is also going away and Development Institute of Denver will take over the Head Start program temporarily. The World’s largest household products maker (like diapers and detergent), Cincinnati based Procter & Gamble, announced they are killing 100 brands over the next two years, which will equate to job destruction. Company officials say those 100 brands make up only 5% of their profits. What housing market recovery? In Solon, mortgage company ServiceLink announced they’re shutting down in December and killing 211 jobs!
Pennsylvania: Edinboro University warned of more layoffs by the end of this school year. However, they hinted that if they can stay within budget, and don’t lose anymore funding, then the layoffs will be canceled. In Lancaster, after three years Fork-n-Spoon Cafe shutdown.
Vermont: The State College system warned that budget cuts wanted by the governor will result in job losses. The governor wants to cut $1-million in funding. In May this year, Johnson State College laid off five employees and blamed it on DSS.
Washington: The budget cutting of Redmond based Microsoft will also affected hundreds (if not more) supply vendors/contractors. Microsoft is suspending vendor access for six months every 18 months. During those six months vendors/contractors will have to find employment elsewhere. Local news reports say local vendors are already talking about abandoning Microsoft altogether!
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.
“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013