Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.
British empire owned RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) will kill 30-thousand jobs around the world over the next five years, and that includes jobs in the United States. Last year, amid rumors that RBS would sell off it’s U.S. based Citizens bank (Citizens Financial Group), RBS began efforts to spinoff Citizens. At the end of 2013 RBS began selling off Citizens’ branch offices in the U.S.
Arkansas: Little Rock based telecommunications company Windstream announced it will kill 400 jobs across the country! Officials claim it is necessary to keep the company competitive. In Batesville, toothbrush maker Zila shutting down their factory. About 130 jobs lost! The Dental products maker was sold to Denmat Holdings in California.
California: Tax sucker Boeing continues to kill jobs, this time 24 Californians became unemployed. In Fresno, GAF continues killing jobs, this time two people let go. In Pico Riviera, Blue Chip Recycling killed 90 jobs. Who said tech jobs were recession proof? In Sunnyvale, computer networking company Juniper Networks warned of massive “personnel change” as it plans to cut operating costs by $160-million USD. Not sure if this is on top of the approximately 250 job cuts announced at the end of 2013, which was on top of the estimated 450 job cuts in 2012. Jupiter Networks is rumored to be sitting on $3-billion in cash, but the job cuts are being blamed directly on investors who are demanding that the cash be used to increase stock prices! In Banning, Kmart announced they were shutting down their 23 years old store in June. 91 jobs lost. In Truckee/Tahoe, after more than 50 years Porters Sports shutting down. In Orange County, after more than 30 years Anaheim Patio and Fireside shutting down several stores. The company’s attorney blames greedy property owners saying “The rent demands at those two locations are just too high for the business model right now.” In Pleasanton, ValleyCare Health System laid off 24 employees. Hospital officials directly blamed Obama Care and gave a warning for the entire healthcare industry: “Our financial situation is the same as everyone else’s. There are challenges in the viability of the industry, and it’s quickly evolving…”-Scott Gregerson, interim CEO
Connecticut: Stratford based tax sucking Sikorsky Aircraft announced it will kill 600 jobs across the country! It’s blamed on reduced military spending. In Westport, after 36 years Aldo and Raffaella Tailor Shop shutdown.
Kentucky: University of Louisville warned of massive layoffs. It’s blamed on disappearing students. School officials revealed that due to declining enrollments they’ve cut $114-million out of their operating budget over the past ten years. Now the Governor wants to slash state funding of higher education by 2.5%.
Massachusetts: After almost 30 years the South Face Farm restaurant announced that 2014 is its last year of business. It’s one of several restaurants operated by maple sugaring farms to be closed. It’s no longer economically viable to run a restaurant and make maple syrup.
Michigan: In Petosky, Kmart announced it will shutdown in June, 45 jobs lost.
Missouri: In Saint Louis, after 50 years the Gas House Car Wash shutdown.
New York: In Depew, after 47 years of weddings Hearthstone Manor shutting down in March. A member of the Buffalo Bridal Association said it was because the owners of the nuptial site were having problems getting operating capital (loans, debt financing), just like many small businesses. In East Greenbush, Kmart announced they will shutdown in June. What housing market recovery? In Amherst, mortgage company PHH Corporation to kill 135 jobs by the beginning of July! It was PHH that revealed concerns over a possible housing market crash.
Ohio: In Blue Ash, Kmart announced it will shutdown in June, 77 jobs lost.
Texas: In Dallas, Tom Thumb grocery store shutting down sometime this year. Company officials have given conflicting reasons, one being that they are moving into a bigger location, the other is that California based parent company, Safeway, is going to sell off their Tom Thumb division.
20 February 2014: Mortgage companies warn of new housing market crash!
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.
“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