Eddie Lampert (Sears Holdings) controled Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) now bankrupt. The California based company has $261 million USD in debt. Over the past two years OSH has lost $132.8 million! Apparently the attempt to sell OSH to Lowes fell through. OSH is now being parted out, which means lots-o-people will be out-o-work!
Also in California, the Los Angeles County Superior Court eliminated 511 positions, demoted 139 employees and transferred 223 to new jobs! The county court is short $85 million! Computer security company, Symantec, laid off 1700 employees! In January, a company official referred to the U.S. capitalist crony corporate “system is just broken”.
The New York City Housing Authority will layoff 500 employees! It’s blamed on reductions in federal funding. Oak Beverages shut down in Brooklyn, 53 people laid off. And BorgWarner Morse TEC ends their new Powdered Metal Operation in Cortland. 35 people laid off. Originally the new Cortland location was to have employed 70 people. I couldn’t find an explanation for the closure.
Too Big to Jail, JP Morgan Chase, announced 1800 layoffs at its New York and Florida mortgage offices. It’s part of their plans to layoff 17000 people by the end of 2014!
Also in Florida, Okey Dokey Grocery shutting down all 11 stores! 157 people out-o-work! Originally the company was planning on opening 50 new stores! Reports now say the company is trying to find tenants for their stores. Local business analysts think the company rushed into the grocery business without a true gameplan.
In Minnesota, IntriCon of Arden Hills laid off 35 people. The maker of wireless monitoring devices for medical products is moving production around from a couple of states and a couple of countries.
In Missouri, after 99 years the last Garavelli’s Cafeteria closed down. The owners blame the increasing costs of doing business, and declining customers. It’s now up for sale. The non-profit Boone Hospital Center laid off 13 employees, and reduced hours for seven others. It’s part of non-profit BJC Healthcare’s 160 employee layoffs at several of its hospitals! It’s blamed on Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act: “…experiencing reductions in our reimbursement for the healthcare services that we provide…”-June Fowler, BJC Healthcare
In Alabama, the Christian God can’t stop Catholic Providence Hospital from laying off 35 employees. It’s blamed on the federal government’s ‘sequestration’ of funding. Hospital officials say they’ve lost $2 million in Medicare funding! And medical bed manufacturer, Hausted Patient Handling Systems, sold their factory to Graham Field Health Products. Clothing brand, Russel Brands, shut down their Wetumpka factory. 191 jobs lost! This is in addition to the closing of its Alexander City factory.
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Atlanta Bread Company restaurant shut down. Local news media reports say it’s not clear why it shut down. SMS Sportsworld closed in Aiken. The owner blamed it on too much competition and the bad economy.
Oak Farms milk packager in Waco, Texas, laid off 150 employees! Production is being consolidated, a few months ago they closed their Louisiana plant.
What booming oil industry? Texas based Enerflex Limited shut down its Casper, Wyoming, natural gas operations. 89 people unemployed. It’s blamed on a market shift from coal-bed methane to shale gas.
Edinboro University, in Pennsylvania, warned of layoffs due to declining student enrollment, for the first time in decades. And Kissel Hill closed its North Cornwall Township store. 11 people out-o-work. The owners said the store was an experimental operation opened last year.
In Cheshire, Connecticut, Bovano’s Retail Store closed. Seven people out-o-work. In Fairfield, Cargo Bay clothing store shut down. The owner is taking a break.
Local finished arts & crafts store Sarida, in Maine, closed up shop. The owner said her first year was great, but by the Autumn of 2012 business crashed: “We started panicking in November.”-Tammy Cook
In Wisconsin, Oshkosh Defense laid off 700 employees! It’s blamed on reduced government spending. More layoffs are expected. In Holman, Blue Cup Coffee House restaurant shut down after ten years of operations. The owner blames the bad economy: “It’s been a tough couple of years. Last year was significantly down…..Different marketing techniques did help, but at the end of the day, it was too little, too late.”-Kim Granum
In Oregon, Georgia Pacific announced it will layoff 100 people over the next three years. The paper product maker is replacing them with machines.