Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns.

Alabama:  In Dothan, Wayne Farms kills 560 jobs!  The poultry processing company made a deal with its largest customer to supply chicken without deboning it.  Turns out the number of people it takes to debone chicken made up more than half its employees!

Arizona: The city of Phoenix wants to shutdown 13 community centers!  City officials say they are $38-million USD in the hole and also plan on cutting funding for firefighting and other services.  They want to raise parking meter and water rates, and impose a tax on plastic grocery bags, among other costs imposed on the cash strapped public.  But wait, there’s more!  Local news media revealed that city leaders gave themselves a pay raise, including a $58-thousand raise for the new city manager!

California:  United Airlines killed 242 jobs in Los Angeles and San Francisco!  Redwood Regional Medical Group killed 261 healthcare jobs across the not so Golden State!  In Mountain View, El Camino Hospital laid off 48 employees.  In Los Angeles, Menzies Aviation laid off 102 people!  What automotive industry recovery? In Chino, automotive parts maker Senior Operations/CAPO killed 131 jobs!  In Antioch, Stonyfield Farm laid off 58 employees.

Connecticut: Reports to state officials reveal that NStar lied about not making any “significant” layoffs due to a merger.  More than 155 people have lost their job since the merger with Northeast Utilities two years ago, and more layoffs are planned!

Delaware: In Dover, Kmart shutting down in July, 100 jobs lost!

Georgia: In Athens, after 28 years Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother gift shop shutdown.

Illinois: In Urbana, maker of plastic eating utensils Dart Container Company laid off 36 employees.

Iowa: In Iowa City, after more than 20 years the Tobacco Bowl shutdown.

Kansas: Newman Regional Hospital laid off 15 employees. Hospital officials stated to local news media that the “Negative financial impacts of The Affordable Care Act.” will cause them to lose $3.5-million in 2014!  In Wichita, the OfficeMax will shutdown in May.  It’s blamed on the merger with Office Depot.

Louisiana:  IberiaBank Corporation laying off 97 Teche Federal Bank employees.

Maryland: The Sheraton Baltimore City Center warned city officials it will kill the majority of its positions by the end of May.  110 employees will become unemployed, and if the hotel shuts down for good then 160 people become unemployed!

Massachusetts:  Reports to state officials reveal that Northeast Utilities lied about not making any “significant” layoffs due to a merger.  More than 300 people have lost their job since the merger with NStar  two years ago, and more layoffs are planned!   In Leominster, HealthAlliance Hospital laid off four employees, and hospital officials warned there will be more.  Hospital officials say Obama Care cut their revenues by 4%, just in the last quarter of 2013: “We’re trying to keep up…with lower payment rates. We are trying to stay with it so we don’t slip into larger losses.”-Michael Cofone

Minnesota: In Mankato, after 33 years Mexican Village restaurant shutting down in May.

Missouri: In Saint Louis, after 53 years property speculators killed the Majestic Restaurant and Bar.

Montana: In Bozeman, after 42 years Zig’s Electric & Plumbing Supply shutdown.  The decision to “pull the plug” is blamed on a number of factors including increasing government regulations and the bad economy.

New York:  In Long Island, All American School Bus shutting down in June, 990 jobs lost!  In Brooklyn, Allied Transit/Empire State laying off 78 bus employees in June.  In Bronx, 3rd Avenue Transit/Canal Escorts shutting down in June, 91 jobs lost.  In Rochester, Eastman Kodak continues to layoff employees, this time about 13 people being let go in June.  In NYC, InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel shutting down in June, supposedly for remodeling, 447 people unemployed!  Kaye Scholer law firm warned of an undisclosed number of layoffs to take place by July, due to the law firm moving to Florida.  Who said internet newspapers are dominating the old school print? Digital First Media laying off 100 employees!  It could be blamed on its merger with MediaNews Group.  Entertainment Weekly laid off seven people.  Schenectady Regional Orthopedic Associates shutting down in June, 79 jobs lost.  In Gouverneur, Kinney Nursing Home shutting down by July, 61 jobs lost.  Pissed off officials blame Obama Care for the final death blow: “Unfortunately, the harsh realities of today’s healthcare economy prevent a small nursing home like this, in a rural area like ours, from remaining viable any longer. The challenges faced by Kinney Nursing Home are like those confronting nursing homes across the country…..The payments Kinney Nursing Home receives for providing care are far below its operating costs….”-statement from board of directors

North Carolina:  Elizabeth City State University laid off 34 employees.  ECSU eliminated 46 positions last school year.  School officials say disappearing students caused the university to lose $4.2-million in the 2013-14 school year!  Family Dollar stores laid off 135 people at their headquarters in Matthews! Company officials pointed out they’ve been hiring over the past three years, but they expect a bigger slow down in the economy and are preparing by laying off employees.  In Chapel Hill, after 40 years Roses variety store shutting down in June.  Company officials blamed it on the landlord, for “a huge increase in rent”!  In Robbinsville, Stanley Furniture Company halting production of its Young America furniture brand, 400 jobs lost!  Company officials say their economic outlook for the country is not good and they need to make cuts now: “After a thorough review of both our own operations and the current marketplace for nursery and youth furniture, management and the Board concluded that the Young America business could not achieve an acceptable level of revenue within an adequate time frame to assure sustainable profitability…..”-Glenn Prillaman, CEO

Ohio: In Conneaut, 32 years old Kmart shutting down in June, 43 jobs lost.

Oregon:  New York based medical device maker Welch Allyn laying off 84 employees in Beaverton.  Ever since Obama Care went into effect medical device makers have been slashing and burning jobs, due to the new tax imposed on them by the Affordable Care Act.

Pennsylvania: Education Management Corporation killing 200 jobs across the country!  Most of the layoffs are taking place at its Art Institutes.  It has also sold off its Art Institute of Pittsburgh building.  The company also revealed  that an undisclosed number of employees were laid off last year.  By September of last year Education Management was $1.3-billion in debt!   It’s blamed on disappearing students.

Texas: Macy’s shutting down one of two Houston stores, 136 jobs lost by June!

Vermont: Burlington School District plans to layoff 23 employees for the 2014-15 school year.

Washington: Video game maker Airtight Games laid off 14 employees.

28 – 31 March 2014: Massive job losses!

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