Caterpillar laying off 300+ people at their Decatur, Illinois, operations! Apparently this is on top of the 460 job cuts announced in April! The heavy equipment maker is blaming it on crashing sales to mining companies, who’re shutting down operations worldwide. In Wheaton, the Stork’s Cradle baby and heirloom gift store shut down. The owners said they need more “balance” in their lives.
In Elmira, New York, Arnot Health has laid off 22 employees at Saint Joseph’s Hospital. They shut down a surgical unit. And 22 people laid off by MVP Health Care. The company has been laying off employees since January 2012. Is it because of Obama/Romney Care? Here’s what the company said: “The health care marketplace is changing rapidly, and MVP must constantly adapt….”
In Kentucky, Hospice of the Bluegrass got rid of 16 jobs. They blame it on cuts to Medicare and Medicaid no thanks to Obama/Romney Care (Affordable Health Care).
Blood management systems provider Haemonetics, shutting down operations in Braintree, Massachusetts, and moving its disposable products operations to Tijuana, Mexico. 320 jobs lost! In Wayland, the Christian (Lutheran) Little Dove Early Childhood Center shut down. Blamed on declining enrollment.
In New Jersey, after 47 years the nonsectarian private McAuley School shut down. Most of their students were ‘special needs’ children. Like other private and public schools, it’s being blamed on crashing enrollment. It begs the question; where are all the students going? (it should be noted that some school staff accused an administrator of verbally abusing students)
In Connecticut, Carrie Welton’s bar and restaurant closed down. The owner said it was because he was tired of the business and wants more time with his family. However, it was revealed that he owed the borough of Naugatuck property taxes all the way back to 2007.
After 54 years, the Bible & Book Center (that’s a redundant title because Bible means book) closed down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The owner blames competition from national stores and the internet.
Kansas based Perceptive Software is laying off at least 40 people across the country. It’s blamed on the company’s take over of seven competitors since 2011.
In Washington DC, CQ Rollcall laid off at least five people, along with buying out five employees who had contracts. The political news source, which reports on the goings on in Washington DC, says it’s part of their plan to move from print to digital/internet media.
The owners of The Guy’s Shop and Thelma’s, in Wisconsin, retired and shut down their stores. In Madison, after 51 years Dorn Hardware shut down. The owner blames competition from national stores and the bad economy: “We’ve been looking at dong this for at least three years. It’s all about sales and expenses. Sales are too low and expenses are too high.”-Tom Dorn
In Georgia, New York based International Flavors & Fragrances is shutting down their factory in Augusta. 54 employees affected. Company officials say it’s part of their plan to make the company more efficient by consolidating operations.
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 shut down.