International Veneer Company announced layoffs for 100 employees! The company is ending production in South Hill, Virginia. The company has been involved with criminal activity and the end of operations could be linked to the federal fines they’ve had to pay.  Back in February 2012 the veneer maker was charged with smuggling illegal wood products into Syria, and accused of doing the same in Iran.

Charleston, South Carolina, software company, Blackbaud, will lay off 150 employees across the country!  They blame stiff competition and the bad economy.

Missouri’s Saint Louis Post Dispatch laying off two people.  The owners did not respond to media inquiries.  In July 2012, 23 people were laid off.

International news service, Reuters, confirmed they were laying off employees around the world, but refused to give any details.

U.S. jet engine maker, Pratt & Whitney, announced the layoffs of 350 employees!  200 of those people are in Connecticut. Company officials say they’re trying to control their costs.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, ProQuest laid off 40 people, despite advertising 75 open positions. In 2012 the company was claimed to be one of the best employers to work for.  When pressed about the layoffs a company rep said the laid off workers could apply for any of the 75 open positions!

Battery maker, Energizer, notified the North Carolina Department of Commerce that they will be laying off at least 100 employees. Layoffs will start in March.  Company officials say they trying to make Energizer more efficient.

Semiconductor manufacturer, Atmel, laid off 200 people at their Colorado Springs, Colorado, factory!  They blame “weak economic conditions”.

State officials in Maryland have been notified that 78 people will lose their jobs with Veolia Transportation.  It’s because of a contract that ends in March.

Military contractor General Dynamics notified its employees that 139 of them will lose their jobs in Anniston, Alabama. They blame it on a reduction in purchases of their Stryker armored vehicle.

Brookstone notified the New Hampshire Department of Labor, that 71 people are now unemployed.  Some reports say the official 71 layoffs are less than the actual amount of layoffs.  The company says they need to “streamline”.

Hawaii’s Island Air airlines revealed they will lay off 245 people by March!  The new owners said they are “right sizing” the company.

Too big to fail bank, Morgan Stanely, is planning the layoffs of 15% of it’s Asia division, unnamed sources said.  It’s already known that Morgan Stanely wants to lay off 1,600 people around the world.

A Books-a-Million store will close in Charleston, South Carolina, in February.   Company officials did not respond to media inquiries.

A Blockbuster video store in Portage Park, Illinois, will close in February.

Design & Interiors of Los Gatos, California, closing.  Advertisements said it was due to consolidation of stores.

Crate & Barrel, in San Diego, California, closed.  Local media could not get a response from company officials as to why.   A San Diego State professor said unAmerican corporate America is closing down stores to become even more profitable, not necessarily because they aren’t making enough money: “Places like Best Buy, Crate & Barrel, they’re reducing the number of stores. In many cases they’re trying to be much more strategic, in terms of their location, in many cases they’re downsizing the stores.”-George Belch

Pastaworks specialty grocery store in Oregon, closing their North Portland operation.  They blame bad economy, saying that even a new condo complex in the area did nothing to increase sales.

The Weir Oil & Gas facility outside Washington DC, shutting down. Company officials blame drop in demand.

Brooklyn Public Libraries announced the possibility of closing branches in New York City.  It’s part of their strategic streamlining plans.

The largest publisher of law books in the United States, announced they are finished.  Matthew Bender is now in the process of closing down their New York factory, and laying off 220 people by the end of 2014!

The Wissahickon School Board, in Pennsylvania, will close the Mattison Avenue Elementary School in Ambler. Schools officials blame ongoing problems with the school.

Unnamed sources said a 130 years old grocery store chain in the Washington DC area (mainly Virginia and Maryland), could go out of business. Officials with Magruder’s Supermarkets deny such claims, however local media have revealed stores with empty shelves and employees who stated the stores were being closed down.

Save-A-Lot grocery store in Clifton Forge, Virginia, going out of business. The company is up for sale, and if they can sell soon enough the store might be saved.

Without warning, Pardon My French Bakery suddenly closed two Minnesota stores.  Company officials responded to angry customers by saying “Due to circumstances that are outside of our reach we are closing and we were just notified of the situation less then 48hrs ago.”

Cafe Polonia closed in Salem, Massachusetts. The owner says he must sell it.

Two Winn-Dixie grocery stores will close by March in Albany, Georgia.  Company officials cryptically said: “Business conditions occasionally force companies like ours to make tough strategic decision.” 

Canadian based Cirque du Soleil confirmed that major layoffs could be coming for their operations worldwide.  They blame the bad economy: “…Cirque is currently reviewing all its operations to ensure viable and controlled costs. As any other company would do. We have adjusted our production schedules and are operating close to 20 shows worldwide. Now we are adapting our workflow to this new reality.”-Renée-Claude Ménard