Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
Japan based legal drugs maker Eisai announced it will eliminate more than 2-hundred jobs within the United States! Eisai has ops in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Administrators blame the job cuts on a 47% drop in profits.
Bermuda based booze maker Bacardi announced it will layoff about 80 people in North America, including the United States. It’s blamed on crashing booze sales.
California: In San Jose, NYC Food and Beverage issued a shutdown WARN for June, 144 jobs lost! In Burbank, Deluxe 3D-Stereo D issued a mass layoff WARN saying 227 people will become jobless in June!
Connecticut: The Carmen Anthony Restaurant Group shutdown two steak restaurants, one in Waterbury and one in New Haven. At least 70 jobs lost. The Carmen Anthony Restaurant Group blames Mother Nature, ongoing road construction and the suck-ass economy: “The challenges of this relentless downturn of our fragile economy, in addition to Phase I of road construction that lasted approx 28 months on Chase Avenue, directly in front of my Waterbury Steakhouse, has caused me a tremendous hardship and substantial unrecoverable financial losses. Phase II of this road widening construction has started up again in April 2015 and is projected to last approximately another two years or more to complete this project. I cannot afford another two years of substantial losses. These challenges alone were very difficult to manage but adding this year’s disastrous winter was the last straw that I could not overcome. January, February and March are normally difficult months but this year’s extremely cold weather and snow storms, most of which fell on weekends where I do 30 to 40% of my sales, was devastating.”
Florida: After 40 years the Siesta Market shutdown in Sarasota.
Illinois: Deerfield based legal drugs pusher, commonly known as Walgreens, announced they will shutdown 2-hundred U.S. stores between now and the end of 2017, in order to cut $1.5-billion USD from their budget. Walgreens shutdown 76 stores in 2014. This comes after Walgreens spent $16-billion to merge with United Kingdom based Alliance Boots, it’s now officially called Walgreens Boots Alliance. More cuts will follow: “These American markets are ready for more consolidation…..We will be at the forefront of consolidation…..we should every year review all the stores and if every year we have to close ten stores…do it.”-Stefano Pessina, acting CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance
Indiana: Administrators with Marsh Supermarket announced they will shutdown stores in Lafayette, Mooresville, Fishers and Indianapolis! They claim the grocery stores “do not meet our business requirements regarding sales or future growth potential”.
Iowa: In Davenport, the Paul Mitchell beauty school shutdown. The owners blame low enrollment.
Maryland: What housing market recovery? Lumber distributor American Forest Products (AFP) issued a WARN saying they will layoff 74 people in the Baltimore area by June. Administrators say they are prepping the company to be sold-off. AFP has operations in several states including Indiana, California and Connecticut. The sell-off will affect jobs around the country.
Missouri: In Springfield, after 42 years the owners of Lawrence Photo and Video announced they will shutdown in May.
New Jersey: The American Boychoir School in Princeton now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, saying they don’t even have any money to finish the school year: “The board has been compelled to consider several drastic alternatives, including closing the school immediately and ceasing operations.”-Rob D’Avanzo, Chairman of the Board
New York: In Buffalo, PolyUrethane caster Fenner Precision contacted state employment administrators saying they’ve been laying off employees since January, and will shutdown by the end of April. Sears Holdings issued a WARN saying their New Hartford Sears & Auto Center will shutdown in July, 109 jobs lost! Cable TV giant Viacom issued another WARN saying at least 21 people will be laid off by July. In NYC, financial brokerage Jefferies issued a WARN saying they’ll shutdown their Bache Division between July 2015 and April 2016, at least 120 jobs lost! Legal drugs maker Forest Laboratories reminded state employment administrators that they’ve been sold to Ireland based drugs maker Actavis, and that Actavis plans to move New York ops to New Jersey, 5-hundred jobs affected! The Tuxedo Union Free School District announced they will layoff 20 people for next school year, they say it’s that or shutdown the George F. Baker High School. Albany based legal drugs maker Albany Molecular Research announced it will shutdown its United Kingdom ops by the end of the year. Last year they shutdown their Syracuse, New York, ops. In 2012 they shutdown their Hungary ops.
Ohio: What automotive/aerospace industry recovery? North Canton based bearing maker Timken announced they will layoff 20 employees at its Lebanon factory.
Pennsylvania: News reports say after 14 years McFadden’s restaurant in Philadelphia shutdown. In Lancaster, after seven years Little Pine Traditional Crafts shutdown.
Tennessee: Coal miner Xinergy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. It’s blamed on crashing demand and increasing government regulation. The bankruptcy will affect mines in Virginia and West Virginia.
Wisconsin: AnchorBank says it must eliminate 167 jobs and shutdown seven offices. Administrators say it’s all about increasing their profit margin: “…to improve business delivery and customer service, streamline operations, and improve overall profitability for the company.”-Chris Bauer, president
04 – 08 April 2015: “A lot of the smaller stores are being wiped out!”
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”