Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
Analysts at Challenger, Gray & Christmas says September 2015 saw a 93% increase in layoffs compared to September 2014!
U.S. manufacturing declined for the third year in a row in September, according to the purchasing managers index (PMI).
Failed State Alabama: The gov’na shutting down an additional six National Guard armories, on top of the previously announced 15, due to lack of money: “The lack of state matching funds resulted in investment of Federal match funds to be allocated to lower priority and fully federal funded facilities rather than armories. This funding shortfall in deferred investment also forces the deliberate closure and consolidation of armories…”
Arkansas: The Wall Street Journal claims Walmart will layoff hundreds more employees at its Bentonville HQ! New reports say 450 people!
California: Valencia based drugs maker MannKind announced third round of layoffs across all its U.S. operations due to lack of an expected economic recovery, saying sales were “different” than expected. Oil service company CRC says it laid off “less than 50” people. In Los Angeles, after three years award winning restaurant Alma shutting down by the end of the month due to ongoing lawsuits and a failed crowd-funding campaign.
Connecticut: In Southbury, the relatively new LaBonne’s Market IGA grocery store shutting down by the end of the month. The owners blame lackluster sales and increasing costs like utilities,taxes and ObamaCare insurance benefits saying “We just could never get it off the ground.”
Florida: What housing market recovery? Real-estate foreclosure law firm Daniel C. Consuegra laying of 150 people! In Fort Lauderdale, Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) forced The Recovery Place to issue a WARN saying 125 healthcare workers will become jobless right before Xmas! In Miami Lakes, Affordable Care Act forced Outpatient Services to issue a WARN saying 28 healthcare workers will become jobless before Xmas.
Georgia: HVAC company Mechanic’s Heating & Air Conditioning shutdown after its executives were caught boldface lying about positive customer reviews, supposedly violating state law 263 times!
Illinois: Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar continues job killing, now 230 people in Peoria will become unemployed starting mid-month! Colorado based Orca Mining Equipment laid off 15 people due to “a volatile and uncertain operating market”.
Iowa: In Davenport, the Ichiban Sushi & Steak House restaurant shutdown. Local news reports say Davenport city administrators are concerned because their tax revenues are crashing and burning because of all the shutdowns. In Clinton, Rail One eliminated 36 jobs due to crashing sales. In Garnavillo, after 38 years Bob’s Food Store IGA shutdown: “…it just seems like a let down, you know, the bottom fell out and it’s over with, you know?”-Bob Bente
Kentucky: The Forest Hill Military Academy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Apparently the private school hasn’t paid its debts since 2014!
Louisiana: What hurricane recovery? Yet another New Orleans business shutting down, this time 50 years old Maple Street Books by the end of the year. The current owner said “…sales are just not enough for us to operate on a break-even basis.” It’s been revealed that Stone Energy laid off at least 1-hundred oil industry workers since 2014, the ceo said “we do what we have to do.”
Massachusetts: Canton based Dunkin’ Brands revealed they’re losing one of their franchise operators (Speedway) which will result in 1-hundred Dunkin’ Donut stores shutting down across the U.S.! Administrators with Speedway claim they misjudged the economy and expanded their franchise ops too fast.
Michigan: In Lansing, after more than 30 years the last Video To Go store shutting down when the inventory of 35-thousand videos is gone.
Nebraska: As I warned days ago, now ConAgra makes it official and will kill-off 1-thousand 5-hundred jobs! Interestingly, even though previously ConAgra said they were moving ops from Nebraska to Illinois, 7-hundred of the layoffs will take place in Chicago.
New Jersey: In Newark, after eight years SAS Cupcakes shutdown, the owners didn’t say why.
New York: In NYC, law firm Milberg issued a layoff WARN saying 32 people will become unemployed right after Xmas. The Gotham Chamber Opera shutting down supposedly because it was discovered that the theater had a huge, and apparently hidden, unpaid debt. SCRATCHbread shutting down due to greedy property owners, the pissed owner said “…it’s bullshit I have to destroy the most important thing in my life.” More austerity; Rockland County is pushing a new budget that will eliminate 326 jobs and jack up taxes!
North Carolina: State Department of Commerce reported that 1,450 people were told in September that they would become jobless!
Texas: Once based in Tennessee, but recently moved to Houston, oil service company Miller Energy Resources now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. It’s blamed on the collapse of a private loan for $165-million USD, and the fact that it owes two bigger companies (Baker Hughes and Schlumberger) more than $2.6-million.
Virginia: Home Retention Services shutting down their Chesapeake call center and eliminating 255 jobs before Thanksgiving!
Wisconsin: Mining equipment maker Joy Global shutting down and eliminating 113 jobs!
30 September 2015: Alabama is a Failed State!
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed
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.”