Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
California: Safeway announced they will shutdown one of their Vons grocery stores in Hemet by January 2015, at least 55 jobs lost. Only a year after ‘expanding’, Berkeley founded Peet’s Coffee & Tea shutdown all six Ohio shops, plus three in Pennsylvania and two in Michigan, without warning! 70 jobs lost, company administrators said only that those stores “…are not performing to our sales expectations and didn’t have a promising future…” Peet’s also shutdown seven former Caribou Coffee House stores in August, killing off 150 jobs!
Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? In Ann Arbor, the 51 years old motorcycle/snowmobile dealer Nicholson’s announced they are shutting down. Local news reports said no reason is being given, and they’re confused because sales reps claim vehicle sales have “been great!”
Minnesota: After only nine months Boneyard Kitchen and Bar shutdown, some customers told local news that they were not happy with the menu items.
Missouri: Aramark Healthcare Support Services warned they will render 100 people jobless at the Saint Louis University Hospital in February 2015!
New Hampshire: Eastern Mountain Sports warned it will eliminate 41 corporate-call center jobs, and relocate other employees by May 2015. The bad economy is forcing them to consolidate corporate and warehouse jobs.
New Jersey: Commercial light bulb maker Kurt Versen issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Westwood factory beginning February 2015, at least 102 jobs lost! Company administrators blame the property owner for refusing to renew the lease.
New York: In Bronx, education evaluator Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in March 2015, at least 44 jobs lost.
Ohio: After 60 years Ruppel’s Art & Paint Supply shutdown on Xmas eve. The owner said he can no longer compete with ‘big box’ stores who actually carry less of a selection than he did, nor the internet. The city of Brook Park continues to kill jobs. 16 people will become unemployed by January 2015, and city officials warn the city could go bankrupt. Apparently the general fund is $3-million USD in the hole! The article I read never once explained why the city is so broke, but quoted a former mayor as saying “In all my years, I’ve never seen such incompetence in council members.”
Oregon: In Portland, after 35 years the Hunan Restaurant shutdown “Due to personal health issues”.
Pennsylvania: Manitowoc Crane Care revealed they laid off under 100 people at their Antrim Township factory. Back in February they laid off 260 employees! Company administrators blame crashing sales: “The continuing decline in the rough-terrain and boom truck markets in North America and Latin America have continued to negatively impact our crane segment performance.”
Tennessee: After 17 years the GollyWhoppers sandwich shop announced they’re shutting down the day before Xmas. ServiceMaster laid off 61 people from its Memphis HQ. Dickson Quad/Graphics issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in March 2015, at least 115 jobs lost! They blame it on the death of the USA Weekend newspaper. Hemlock Semiconductor announced they will finally kill off their less than six years old Clarksville polysilicon factory. The factory was idled in 2013, eliminating 400 jobs! Company administrators blamed the same things that Hoku administrators in Pocatello, Idaho, blamed for their ‘death’: Crashing polysilicon prices and Obama regime imposed tariffs on U.S. polysilicon products sold to China! Free market advocates said it’s proof that giving corporations huge tax incentives don’t work: “The Hemlock debacle is living proof that corporate welfare has no place in Tennessee. Taxpayers should not be forced to unwillingly invest in private companies, especially those in volatile markets, through corporate welfare schemes.”-Justin Owen, Beacon Center
Washington: Spokane based Spokane Rock has laid off 45 people from its asphalt division. Spokane Rock also has operations in Idaho.
13-15-december-2014: Two Great Depression survivors killed off by this ‘recovery’!
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.