Category Archives: Business/Economics

Boobies boost business! No Navy College? Bar industry in Death Spiral! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 11 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: City administrators of Stanton are suing to shutdown a thriving coffee shop.  What’s the problem?  GZ Cafe employs waitresses that wear bikinis (and even just pasties), however, there are reports that several customers complained to the city claiming some of the waitresses were showing off their ‘hardware’ to other customers. A next door barber shop owner praises GZ Cafe for greatly increasing his business!  Barnes & Noble shutting down their Mountain View College Bookstore, 40 jobs lost by May.  City National Bank shutting down an office in Los Angeles, five jobs lost by mid-May.  In San Jose, TiVo laid off 52 people.  In Sunnyvale, Imagine Communications issued a shutdown WARN, 50 jobs lost by April.  Investors Business Daily issued multiple layoff WARNs, at least 49 jobs lost in several cities by the end of April.  Sutter Central Valley Hospitals issued multiple layoff WARNs, at least 96 jobs lost in several locations by the end of April.  In Bakersfield, Xerox eliminating 15 jobs by the end of April.  Direct Energy issued a shutdown WARN for their Corona ops, 47 jobs lost by the end of April. Massachusetts based valve maker Circor shutting down their Corona ops, 64 jobs lost by mid-April.  Envoy Air  flying outta Palm Springs, 52 jobs lost by May.  In San Francisco, internet/tech company YourPeople-Zenefits officially revealed how many jobs they eliminated last month, 83.    In Tustin, Pacific Bell Telephone eliminating 121 jobs by May! Southern Home Care Services shutting down their San Leandro ops, 123 employees unemployed by May!  Memorial Health Services shutting down their San Clemente operations, 194 jobs lost by the end of May!  In Orange, National Oilwell Varco issued a mass layoff WARN, 232 people laid off by the end of April!  Illinois based drugs maker Baxalta issued several layoff WARNs, 239 jobs in three cities gone by May, due to being taken over by an Irish company!  Back in Sunnyvale, internet/tech company NetApp eliminating 376 jobs by the end of April!

Illinois: Starting next week 1-thousand Northeastern Illinois University employees must take one day off without pay, due to the Failed State ‘lawmakers’.  All Illinois universities are warning of massive layoffs if the Govna’s proposed budget is adopted.

Missouri: State ‘lawmakers’ have pledged $1.7-million in taxpayer funding to help the 850 people who lost their jobs when Tennessee based Noranda Aluminum went bankrupt.  In Saint Joseph, after 70 years wire maker WireCo laying off 49 people and halting production, blaming the oil industry for crashing sales.  14 employees will remain to close up shop over the next 12 months.  Local news reports say at one time WireCo (Wire Rope Co.) employed 1-thousand 5-hundred people!  After two years of booze and coloring books, ArtBar St. Louis shutdown without warning due to “circumstances beyond my control.”

New York:   Phillips Hardware shutting down their Colonie store, will focus on expanding their Altamonte store (which still needs approval from the city).  NYC based research company Nielsen says the bar industry is now in an official Death Spiral.  Every month an average of 334 new bars open across the U.S., but, that pales in comparison to the 609 per month that shutdown (and that’s why it’s a death spiral, more deaths than births)!  It’s blamed on jacked up rents, increasing competition from restaurants serving booze and increasingly restrictive laws.

Oregon: Bankrupt Washington based Haggen (assassinated by Albertsons-Safeway) shutting down two grocery stores, in Clackamas and West Linn, 138 jobs lost by May!

Pennsylvania: Last month SBC Building Systems WARNed they were shutting down two locations, today they revised that WARN to say “No longer closing”.  No explanation.

Virginia: In Norfolk, Empire Little Bar Bistro shutting down next month, can’t renew the lease.  The owners blame never ending construction and city trash dumpsters taking up precious space in the parking lot.

Washington DC: The U.S. Navy planning on shutting down its remaining 20 voluntary education program College offices saying they can no longer afford to offer courses ‘on base’.  Civilian employees will be relocated to a central call center.  Administrators say they’re trying to save everybody some money: “For every dollar I get to spend on college education for our sailors, I would like to see it go to their tuition assistance pot and not paying for overhead.”– Rear Admiral Mike White, Naval Education and Training Command

Wyoming: Kiewit Mining Group laid off 38 coal miners at their Buckskin mine last week.  Peabody Energy eliminated an undisclosed number of coal mine jobs in the Powder River Basin: “In response to market conditions and customer needs, Peabody has implemented a small number of job reductions at its Caballo and Rawhide mines…”  

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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.”

Haggen selling out to Albertsons-Safeway? ObamaCare kills mo non-profits & Med-Labs : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 10 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: After 20 years Birmingham based healthcare diagnostics lab Atherotech suddenly shutdown at the end of February, now chapter 7 bankrupt busted directly blaming ObamaCare for its death: “…Atherotech has worked hard to overcome numerous business challenges that resulted from adverse changes in the regulatory environment, increased pressure from commercial insurance payors and continued compression of profit margins….  ….we have been unsuccessful in convincing our lenders to cooperate so that we can extend the financing necessary to allow us to continue operations. As a result, we are now forced to close permanently.”

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Santa Barbara  based wireless company Sonos announced it will eliminate jobs (but refuses to say how many) as they shift focus from WiFi to Streaming.    And in Los Angeles, Fox Sports-digital suddenly eliminated more than 20 internet writer jobs through a loophole in their contracts.  Basically Fox Sports blaming low ratings of their internet ‘team news-letters’ on the writers.  After 22 years the Chula Vista Kmart shutting down, 103 jobs lost!

Colorado: Texas based Anadarko Petroleum confirmed it already eliminated dozens of jobs in The Centennial State, as it announced it will eliminate 1-thousand more jobs across the U.S. of A!  British empire Canada based Encana Oil & Gas also announce mass layoffs, which will affect jobs with their Colorado operations.

Connecticut: “We are going to be closing state facilities, I’m sure. We are going to be laying off state employees, I’m quite certain.”-Dannel P. Malloy, governor talking about the 1-thousand state jobs ‘lawmakers’ are about to kill, by June

Iowa: A couple of weeks after eliminating 1-hundred jobs,  farm vehicle maker Deere (John Deere) eliminating an additional 125 jobs at factories in Ankeny and Dubuque!

Kentucky: Morehead State University notified employees of a pending furlough of five days without pay.  It’ll happen before the end of June and is the result of governor Matt Bevin’s $1.95-million USD in funding cuts.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise;  e-commerce and logistics company Innotrac shutting down their Hebron operation, 338 jobs lost by July!  There was no official reason given, but local news sources suspect it’s connected to a deal with Amazon.

Massachusetts:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Aspect Software now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, admitting it’s a “pre-arranged restructuring” to reduce its massive debt by 40%.  In Fairhaven, Sears Appliance & Hardware shutting down by mid-April.  Local news reports said the ignorant employees actually thought the shutdown notice was a joke! I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News.

New York:  Investor’s Business Daily eliminating a handful of jobs at their NYC publishing ops, by the end of April. Food service company HMS Host issued a layoff WARN for their JFK Airport ops, 134 jobs lost due to loss of contract!  NYC based Colgate-Palmolive announced that sales are so bad they’ll extend their ongoing job culling into 2017, and increase the layoffs to a new total of 3-thousand 8-hundred!

North Carolina:  In Winston-Salem, non-profit Community Care Center forced to shutdown their Med-Aid Pharmacy due to crashing donations and state taxpayer funding.  Yep, even with ObamaCare there are still at least 530 low income people not covered by insurance, who rely on Med-Aid, in the Novant Health Medical Park area!

Ohio:  Huntington Bancshares about to takeover First Merit and will shutdown 107 bank offices across Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Pennsylvania as a result!  The shutdowns will take place in the 1st quarter of 2017, if the takeover is approved.

Texas: In Abilene, Kids Village furniture store shutting down in May, the owner doesn’t want to renew her lease.  She indirectly blames the oil industry layoffs for slowing sales.  Houston based Tailored Brands-Men’s Warehouse-Jos A. Bank clothier announced it will shutdown 250 stores after 4th quarter 2015 holiday sales went down the crapper!

Washington: Bankrupt Haggen (assassinated by Albertsons-Safeway) shutdown two grocery stores, in Federal Way and Burein, 125 jobs gone!  Despite being killed off by Albertsons-Safeway, by being tricked into buying more than 1-hundred money losing Albertsons stores, Haggen is now attempting to sell 33 of its remaining stores to Albertsons-Safeway!  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; a week after Seattle based retailer Nordstrom eliminated ten IT jobs, they laid off an additional 1-hundred tech employees! 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

09 March 2016: “no longer economically feasible to continue”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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.”

“no longer economically feasible to continue” Taxpayers spend $5,555 to kill 1 wolf! Covert op to Dumb-U-Down revealed! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 09 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

24/7 compiled the top nine retailers shutting down a minimum of 1-hundred stores in the U.S.:  Wolverine World Wide; 1-hundred. Chico’s; 120. Sports Authority; 140. Finnish Line; 150. American Eagle; 150. Walmart; 154. Walgreens; 2-hundred. Children’s Place; 2-hundred. Office Depot; 4-hundred.

Alabama: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as at least four Ryan’s were suddenly shutdown in as many cities.

California: In San Jose, after 30 years the Silicon Valley Ballet shutting down due to a crash in donation funding.  In the Santa Cruz Mountains, God is powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Christian campsite in San Mateo County Parks Department’s Memorial Park.  It’s due to water supply issues.  The state water regulations concerning the campsite limits how many people can use the site at one time, apparently God’s minions have been overpopulating the camp.  God’s minions tried to build their own water well, but failed (remember, there is a drought): “We have our last group in here now and are closing down Thursday and I’m laying off staff.”-Reverend Larry Rice

Connecticut: In Wallingford, after six years Panacea a Boutique shutting down by the end of the month.

Florida: In Tallahassee, Gold’s Gym shutting down their 26 years old Apalachee Parkway Center operation next week.  The operators admitted that due to competition and increased costs they should’ve shutdown three years ago: “It was a good club for 10 years. And then you could start to feel it through the years that it became harder and harder to make it work.”-Doug Dickinson

Idaho: In Boise, public school officials are finally outing the so-called friend of education J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation for what it really is, a covert effort to Dumb Down Idahoans: “Why would someone want to undermine public education in Idaho? The motive is quite clear. At a recent Downtown Rotary Club meeting, the executive director of the Albertson Foundation stated that the goal of the Foundation is to increase charter school seats by 20,000 in the next few years. That will only happen if Idahoans lose faith in their public schools…..   …..Let’s be clear; this campaign promotes an agenda designed to undermine public schools. It is highly inaccurate. It offers no real solutions to increasing post-secondary readiness. It is a disservice to the work public school teachers, parents, and students do every day.”-Boise School District

Also in Boise,  Blind Bat News readers report that the Maverik convenience store (#175 on 1909 West Boise Avenue and Protest Road) has suddenly shutdown, the fuel pumps have already been removed.   As well as Boise Maverick store #206 (Franklin and Maple Grove)!  

And the Garden City Maverick store #4 on Chinden Boulevard!On the other side of the state, the Rexburg Maverik #169 shutdown by giving away free drinks. Company administrators told EastIdahoNews that they’re shutting down all older convenience stores/fuel stations that need upgrades, because under current economic conditions it’s not worth it.  It’s actually cheaper to build new stores, and they’re hoping to sell-off the old properties to help pay for the new ones!  And while businesses continue to shutdown and public schools flounder for lack of state funding, the state Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved $400-thousand USD to fund the killing of wolves.  Last year 72 wolves were killed under the program, if the same amount are killed this year that’ll cost taxpayers $5,555.55 per wolf!  This proves the majority of happy taxpayers are the ‘bitches’ of the extreme minority of farmers and ranchers!

Illinois: Kishwaukee College has decided to eliminate about 24 jobs due to Failed State ‘lawmakers’ failing to come through with funding.  Sycamore School District 427 approved an additional 18 layoffs, on top of the 56 approved last month.  Administrators blame it on a shortfall of $2.3-million USD, partly caused by Failed State ‘lawmakers’ failing to approve state funding.   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Chicago based internet coupon service Groupon conducting more job culling, this time 25 Breadcrumb employees were let go. Back in August 20 Breadcrumb employees lost their jobs.  News reports say Groupon has now cut in half the number of Breadcrumb employees it once had.  Inside sources say eventually Groupon will shutdown Breadcrumb altogether, despite adamant denials by Groupon administrators.

Iowa: In Cedar Rapids, so much for creating jobs with your donations; Goodwill’s pre-vocational training program and sheltered workshop shutting down due to changes in federal funding.  Yep, that’s right, Goodwill’s job creation is mainly funded with federal taxpayer money, not your donations.

Kentucky: Convergys eliminating up to 1-hundred jobs at their Erlanger call center, due to the loss of a client.

Louisiana: Oil industry company Frank’s International announced it will conduct a third round of layoffs since Spring 2015, no numbers given at this time.  Last year more than 6-hundred employees were laid off, with about 250 in Lafayette.  In Baton Rouge, Xerox State & Local Solutions issued a layoff WARN, 84 jobs lost by May due to “a change in business condition”.

Maryland: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Hagerstown Ryan’s shutdown without warning or paychecks.   Bethesda based tax-sucker Lockheed Martin is pushing 1-thousand employees to suffer “voluntary layoffs”!  Most layoffs will take place in Texas and Georgia.  Administrators say it’s their only way of “staying competitive”, never mind that fact they’ve raped taxpayers for decades over their never ending ‘development’ of the grossly failed F-35 project! The at least 16 years old F-35 project has cost taxpayers $400-billion USD so far!

$400,000 helmet for F-35 pilots

If the Department of Defense finally decides to buy the plane it’ll cost and additional $85-million per plane, and the special helmet for the pilot will cost $400-thousand each!  The F-35 has continually failed to live up to it’s original billing, yet your ‘elected’ government continues to throw your money at it!     It should also be pointed out that Russia boasts that its current fighter aircraft can easily take out the F-35.

Massachusetts:  In Leominster, after 21 years Gear Works Cyclery shutting down by the end of the month.  It’s blamed on increased costs and decreased sales.  Yet again, Chipotle restaurants are being shutdown due to employees getting sick!  This time an employee at their Billerica location got sick with norovirus.

Michigan:  The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Battle Creek Old Country Buffet shutdown and is being auctioned off.

Minnesota: After ten years of paying for eye checkups, tutoring and giving teachers grants, non-profit Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation shutting down due to lack of corporate donations.

Missouri: In Maryland Heights, Belgium based Bellevue Pharmacy issued a layoff WARN, 150 jobs lost by May!  The parent company Fagron blames it on ObamaCare for causing crashing reimbursement rates for drugs, to the tune of a $248-million USD crash in 2015! Fagron also warns that if things don’t improve revenue wise, they’ll be forced to sell-off Bellevue Pharmacy.

New Jersey: In Middlesex, Impax Labs shutting down its manufacturing and packaging ops, 213 jobs lost over the next two years! Impax took over the site from CorePharma in 2014.  Impax is consolidating operations among all the competitors it took over in 2014-15.  It was also revealed that Impax is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney General for fraud.

New York: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Amherst Old Country Buffet was suddenly shutdown.

North Carolina:  Rite Aid shutting down their Charlotte distribution center, 270 jobs gone by the end of Spring, following the big trend this year of consolidating operations!

Ohio: Atwood Lake Resort and Golf Club shutting down: “Management informed us it is no longer economically feasible to continue operations due to the current economic state.”-Bob Wirkner, Carroll County Commissioner

Pennsylvania: In Duncannon, the ‘ancient’ Doyle Hotel shutting down in two weeks due to lack of revenues: “With no hikers on the trail during the winter season, the timing of the tax deadlines and mortgage deadlines just hits at the wrong time of year.”-Pat Kelly, co-owner

Texas: In Alvin, Dish Network eliminating 550 call center jobs!  Administrators said the lease was up and it wasn’t worth it to renew.   In Houston, hospitality contractor Compass Group-Eurest issued a WARN, 55 jobs lost by the end of April.  In Cleburne, Caddo Street Grill shutting down, the owners directly blaming the Affordable Care Act: “The Obamacare mandate has effected us in ways that do not effect other local restaurants, due to the various businesses we own. This forces us into an uncompetitive business environment and it is no longer viable for us to continue in the restaurant business.” 

Utah: Maverik shutdown their store #227 in Salt Lake City, claiming new stores are-a-comin’ for the old employees.

Virginia:  In Leesburg, Melodee Music shutting down their 40 years old store by the end of the month.  The owners are focusing on their Sterling shop.   

The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Old Country Buffet shutdown without warning or paychecks in Alexandra. Local news reports revealed the so called “asset inventory” is a cover for mass auctioning of kitchen equipment: “Each store contains everything from kitchen equipment and smallwares to furniture and decor. To be able to bid on the entire Alexandria VA Old Country Buffet is an amazing opportunity for anyone in the restaurant business!”-Jose Paz, vulture auction manager

Washington: Georgia based underground utilities “damage prevention” service Locating Incorporated issued a shutdown WARN for their Lakewood ops, 60 jobs lost by May.

Wisconsin: River Hills West Health Center shutting down, 144 jobs lost starting in May!

Wyoming: Maverik shutdown their store #308 in Gillette. (too bad, 308 [aka 7.62mm NATO] is a good caliber)

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

08 March 2016: “It hit me like a brick!”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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.”

WinCo: Conspiracy to destroy California’s economy? Oregonians nit-picky & moronic when it comes to zoning rules? Consumers still don’t get what ’employee owned’ means!

09 March 2016 (00:10 UTC-07 Tango 01) 19 Esfand 1394/29 Jumada al-Ula 1437/01 Xin Mao (2nd month) 4714

In Albany, Oregon, complaints about a new WinCo grocery store violating local zoning rules have been settled simply by changing the name of the type of ornamental windows to be used.  ‘Frosted glass’ has been changed to ‘spandrel glass’, what’s the difference? Nothing!  Even local news reports say the city council considered the terminology “synonymous”.  Everybody knows that frosted glass is opaque.  Here’s the definition of spandrel glass by glass maker PPG: “…spandrel glass is designed to be opaque…”.  This proves my assessment of many Oregonians as being obsessive compulsive about government rules, yet, they still can’t come up with a plan to deal with the approaching catastrophic Cascadia earthquake, 3-hundred years in the making.

By the way it was the anti-employee owned business group known as United Food and Commercial Workers Union that filed the complaint about the ‘frosted glass’!

And it’s possibly unions who’re behind the opposition to a new employee owned and operated WinCo in Mose Lake, Washington.  iFiber reported that United Food and Commercial Workers Union adamantly denies being behind the opposition.  Officially the group trying to prevent the new WinCo from moving in is called A Stronger Moses Lake.  This group’s new official complaint is that the new WinCo would pose a threat to pedestrians and bicyclists due to increased vehicle traffic in the area!  Previously they accused the city of not complying with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process regarding the approval of construction.

A commentator in Durham, California, revealed his ignorance when he used WinCo in an editorial about unAmerican corporate America executives jacking up prices at WinCo to pay for their personal assets: “The CEOs and the bankers can squeeze only so much profit from selling a Chevy or Chantix or a box of Cheerios or a mortgage. If the cash for their third houses and second yachts and political contributions has to come off the top, then they have to pay workers less, charge consumers more. And then the price-tags at Winco go up.

He obviously doesn’t understand what an employee owned business is.

Staying in California, it’s been revealed that the Sacramento property formerly housing an old Gottshalks, and supposedly to become a WinCo, has suddenly been sold to a company out of Los Angeles for more than $12-million USD.  My research shows WinCo has expressed a desire to move into that property since 2013!

In 2014 EDM Reality bought the property known as Country Club Plaza.  However, recently EDM sold-off the section that was supposed to be the site of a 92-thousand square foot WinCo to LA based Boma.H LLC ( a new REIT created in California in November 2015, keeping busy buying up commercial retail properties).  To make this even stranger I found reports that WinCo actually signed a lease for that property last year!   I also found reports from 2014 opposed to WinCo moving in.

According to KFBK radio “members of an Arden-Arcade community council” will fight WinCo every step of the way.  It makes you wonder, California’s economy is suffering (the Gottshalks space has been vacant sine 2009) and yet there are groups adamantly opposing businesses that want to move in!

New stores for Texas, Washingtonians & Oregonians want WinCo out!

“It hit me like a brick!” Romney style Vulture capitalist behind sudden shutdown of 166 restaurants, with no paychecks for thousands of employees! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 08 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Delaware:  In Newark, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ British empire based 23 years old Salvation Army Thrift Store (in the Park N Shop plaza).   Obviously money is the true god as the greedy landlord demanded more in rent!

Florida: The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues. This time reports that several Ryan’s Buffets shutdown without warning, or paychecks for employees, in Horry County. A local news report said as many as 3-hundred restaurants across the U.S. are affected by the sudden bankruptcy!    In Pensacola, after 28 years Dollarhide’s Music Center shutting down, the owners want to retire: “I turned 70, it hit me like a brick!”-Bill Dollarhide, co-owner

Idaho: East of Boise, after 73 years iconic Ben’s Crow Inn shutting down by September.  The owner admitted in the early years all he served was pizza and beer. Now it’s famous for seafood and steak.  The owner also admitted that the ever expanding metro of Boise has jacked up local property values so much that he couldn’t refuse an offer from a greedy property developer.

Illinois: In Naperville, after 3-million customers the 21 years old Zero Gravity Food-Dancing club shutting down mid-month.  Rumors say it’ll be replaced with a bigger operation.

Iowa: The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues.  This time a Ryan’s in Clive, and an Old Country Buffet in Des Moines shutdown without warning or final paychecks.

Maryland: Allen Harim Foods shutting down their 71 years old Cordova operations, 3-hundred jobs lost as the company consolidates ops to save money!

Massachusetts:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Boston Weak based sports app Fancred now for sale, all employees now unemployed!  It’s blamed on a failed crowd sourcing attempt.  After 47 years Johnny D’s Restaurant Music Club shutting down this weekend.  In Lowell, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’  108 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Franco American School.  It’s blamed on increasing costs and declining student enrollment.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) furloughed more than 3-thousand people at its Sterling Heights factory back in February! They were supposed to be back to work this month, but FCA has extended the furlough ’till April! FCA is ending production of its slow selling Chrysler 200.

Minnesota: God powerless to stop ‘his’ 70 years old mega-church North Heights Lutheran from shutdown. Local news reports say it’s due to a “civil war” inside the church!  Traverse City Area Public Schools shutting down the Interlochen Community School and the International School at Bertha Vos, blaming a $1.2-million USD shortfall.  Administrators will also not replace retiring employees (attrition) and reduce school bus service.

Nebraska: Schweser’s shutting down their 87 years old store (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) in Columbus, by this weekend.  Last year the Fremont based clothing retailer announced it would begin shutting down stores due to “…a dropoff in sales…over the past 3-4 years…We can come up with many excuses from the rise of internet shopping, reduced trips to physical stores, or changing demographics, but whatever the reason, we have not been able to overcome them quickly enough in some towns. Our expenses continue to rise….”

Pennsylvania: Joy Global Underground Mining conducted mass layoffs in Venango County, 382 jobs gone!  In Fredericksburg, after 28 years ‘natural’ food store The Pantry Self shutting down due to the death of the owner.  The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues. This time the Old Country Buffet in Summit Township suddenly shutdown, claiming it was for “asset inventory” and asking employees to return on Wednesday for an update.  Non-profit Historic Philadelphia Center shutting down, the bad economy is forcing the non-profit operator to focus on more popular Historic Philadelphia sites.

South Carolina:  The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues. This time six Ryan’s restaurants (in Columbia, Conway, Greer, Orangeburg, Spartanburg and Surfside Beach) suddenly shutdown, no warning, no paychecks for hundreds of employees! Local news reports say this is the third bankruptcy for Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC since 2008!  Nation’s Restaurant News reports that 92 restaurants across the country were shutdown over the weekend without warning! That’s on top of 74 restaurants shutdown last month, for a total of 166 in the past five weeks!  Not only did they shutdown the restaurants without warning, but they quickly removed cooking equipment and hauled it away (this must be what they mean by “conducting asset inventory”)!  Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC was taken over last year by Texas based FMP (Food Management Partners).   In the bankruptcy filing FMP claims their take over of Ovation Brands was a big money losing mistake as sales immediately crashed by 22%!  Nation’s Restaurant News discovered that FMP is a Mitt Romney-Bain Capital style vulture capitalist group that is responsible for the sudden shutdown of California based Catalina Restaurant Group’s Coco’s Bakery and Carrows restaurants last year!  “FMP has also acquired Don Pablo’s, Furr’s Fresh Buffet and Zio’s Italian Kitchen.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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.”

Profiteering corporations avoid taxes! Mo massive restaurant shutdowns & no final paychecks! Healthcare provider kills shopping mall! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 07 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence only 28 corporations made 50% of all profits in the U.S. in 2015, and 27 avoided paying U.S. taxes due to pro-corporation tax laws! The 28 profit stealers are: Apple, Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase, Warren Buffett’s job killing Berkshire Hathaway, Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo, drugs maker Gilead Sciences, Verizon Communications, Too Big to Jail CitigroupAlphabet-Google, despite low oil prices Exxon Mobil, Too Big To Jail Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, Walmart (who recently announced mass store shutdowns and layoffs), AT&T, IBM, Intel,  Microsoft, Cisco Systems, General Motors (GM), Oracle, Disney, Procter & Gamble, Comcast, Dow Chemical, American Airlines, United Technologies, Ford Motor,  Coca-Cola, and United Continental.

Alabama: In Huntsville, the now shuttered non-profit Sci-Quest museum is officially chapter 7 bankrupt busted.

California: The once Sears Holdings owned Orchard Supply Hardware shutting down their stores in Watsonville and Folsom.  The Watsonville store is apparently being kicked out by the landlord, who wants them out by January 2017, 40 jobs lost.  The Folsom store will shutdown during Summer.  These shutdowns come after Orchard Supply donated $5-thousand USD to the McClellan Ranch Preserve, and revealed they’ve been building new stores.  In Watsonville, the owner of the Crossroads shopping center served eight tenants with eviction notices! Yep, it’s the same landlord that’s kicking out the Orchard Supply store.  The eight mom-n-pop tenants being kicked out in the next 30 days are Crossroads Books, Arcadia Hair Salon, Wild Rose Artists’ Supplies & Custom Framing, Jansen Music, The Gamer’s Den, Queen’s Shoes & More, Trop-Aquarium & Pet Center and Claudio Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Some of the tenants have been there for the past 22 years!  You can blame this on the  Crossroads property owner signing a more lucrative deal to allow healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente to move in.  City administrators are pissed at the uncouth healthcare provider and greedy property owner, who gave no warning of the deal: “It’s not a good way for them to come into the community, by kicking out eight businesses with eviction notices. I am going to make sure they know that the mayor is opposed to the 30-day eviction…..!”-Felipe Hernandez, mayor

Connecticut:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise;  Hartford based healthcare provider Aetna eliminated 26 jobs with its iTriage App in Colorado.  Aetna then announced plans to merge iTriage App with WellMatch App.  No word on how many more IT jobs will be lost.

Florida: In Miami, food service contractor Boykin Management issued a mass layoff WARN, 119 jobs lost by May!

Illinois:  In Chicago, after two years critically acclaimed restaurant Tete Charcuterie shutdown without warning over the weekend, due to lack of sales.  In Frankfort, Burger King shutdown their Town Center location without explanation.

Michigan: What construction industry recovery? Germany based WKW Roof Rail Systems shutting down their Battle Creek factory, 130 jobs eliminated to “reduce costs and improve competitiveness”!

Minnesota: State Department of Employment and Economic Development reports that in 2015 The North Star State lost 1-thousand 990 mining jobs!  And in what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL), another 4-thousand 7-hundred suppliers and contractors lost their jobs as a result!  Employment administrators also admitted that not all those who lost their jobs registered with the  Department of Employment and Economic Development (one reason why official unemployment rate is down).

Missouri: In Saint Louis, Peabody Energy revealed it eliminated more jobs, but would not say how many.  Reports say creditors are pushing for bankruptcy.

New York: In NYC, after five years Team Gallery shutting down its space on Wooster Street due to the greedy landlord wanting to double the rent to $50-thousand USD per month!

Pennsylvania: In Wilkes-Barre Township, two Old Country Buffet restaurants shutdown without warning, leaving almost 1-hundred people without a job or a paycheck!  It’s connected to the sudden bankruptcy of Ovation Brands (see South Carolina below).  Weis Markets shutting down its 56 years old Manchester Township grocery store by the end of the month, claiming it’s too small: “Given the age and size of the building, it was no longer possible to operate a full service supermarket in this location.” 

   

South Carolina: Greer based restaurant operator Ovation Brands (formerly known as Buffets) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, affecting restaurants Country Buffet, HomeTown Buffet, Ryan’s, Ryan’s Family Steakhouse, Granny’s, Tahoe Joe’s, Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse, Soup ‘N Salad Unlimited, Roadhouse Grill and J.J. North’s Grand Buffet.  Already local news reports say 74 restaurants have been shutdown across the U.S. without warning.  Two Ryan’s restaurants suddenly shutdown in Upstate South Carolina leaving 80 people without a job or paycheck!  (a warning shutdown took place in Moline, Illinois, the day before)

Texas: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; in Austin after moving into new HQ, 10 years old internet based wholesaler network Bazaarvoice announced it will eliminate 50 jobs in order to remain successful “…in the coming year and for many years to come.”  Invista Victoria issued a WARN, 50 jobs lost by May.  What automotive industry recovery? In Grapevine, Standard Motor Products issued a WARN, 93 jobs lost by the end of April. In El Paso, Bruce Foods shutting down, 171 jobs lost by May!  The Forever 21 clothing store in Dallas shutting down, 68 jobs lost by the end of April.  San Antonio based Palmaz Scientific now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to being “…seriously impaired by a negative campaign of false information disseminated by certain individuals about the company. Litigation involving these false charges was brought by and against the company in 2015.”

Washington: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise;  Redmond based Microsoft announced it will shutdown two game development studios, one in United Kingdom the other in Denmark.  In Bellingham, Albertsons-Safeway shutting down their 56 years old store on Birchwood Avenue, 66 jobs lost by May.

Wisconsin: In New Berlin junk food maker Mexican Accent issued a WARN, 155 jobs lost by the end of April!   In Yorkville, Publications International eliminating 50 jobs by April.  In Watertown, Eaton Corporation eliminating 91 jobs starting in June.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

05-06 March 2016: “We don’t pay well!”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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.

“This sudden decline in demand was unexpected.” Idaho’s youth get the hell outta Dodge! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 05 – 06 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona: In Phoenix, Fuego Bistro shutdown its CityScape location.  In Glendale, after 46 years restaurant La Peria shutdown due to not being able to pay its rent.  In Scottsdale, Stingray Sushi shutdown.  RT O’Sullivans sports bar-eatery shutdown on U.S. 60.

California: Illinois based drugs maker Baxalta eliminating 1-hundred jobs in Thousand Oaks by May, due to being taken over by an Irish company.  In Stockton, S-Mart grocery store shutting down mid-month, 50 jobs lost due to lack of profits.

Connecticut:  More proof of Depression; the city of Bridgeport eliminated 24 jobs due to lack of tax revenues.  Administrators warned “There may be more than that.”  And here’s another reason why tax revenues will continue to go down,  battery maker Duracell warns it will move its Bethel HQ to Illinois due to being taken over by job killer Warren Buffett.

Florida: Tomato Land Farmers Market store-restaurant shutting down next month, due to the property being sold-off.  In Tampa’s Ybor City, after 33 years The Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant shutting down on Wednesday. No specific reason was given, but in 2010 the Church of Scientology became the new landlord.

Idaho:  Good news if you hate loan sharks, bad news if that’s how you make your living; according to the state Department of Finance the number of ‘licensed’ payday loan business crashed by 34% in 2015!  More will shutdown as new tougher federal laws go into effect: “What we are hearing and reading nationally is the lenders are saying they cannot afford to stay in the business.”-Mike Larsen, Idaho Dept. of Finance Consumer Finance Bureau

The Idaho Department of Labor admits that many Idahoans born between 1980 and 2000 are fleeing the Right to Work (you over) Gem State, and the biggest reason is the same reason I’ve heard since arriving in 1997, not enough good paying jobs: “People want to stay here, but there aren’t many options or much industry available in Idaho.  We’ve been avoiding this issue for a long time, because our employers don’t like to hear it: We don’t pay well!”-Ken Edmunds, Idaho Department of Labor

Back in 2003 I interviewed several Idaho State University Alumni who graduated in 1973.  They all stated they were making more money back in the 1970s.  One social sciences graduate stated he continued working at his loading dock job because he was making more money than what he would get with his sociology degree, but once Idaho became a Right to Work state (in the 1980s) everything went to hell.  As a dock worker in Pocatello (on Garrett Way) he was making $15.00 per hour in the 1970s, and that’s not adjusting for inflation!  He wasn’t married and his rent, utilities and food was so cheap by today’s costs that he felt like he was living in luxury.  By 2003 most of the distribution/warehouse jobs left the city, and at his age he was lucky to find a job that paid him $7.00 per hour.  He said the only reason why he wasn’t homeless was because he paid-off his cheap mobile home in the late 1970s and was still living in it.  Many of the older Pocatellans I interviewed wondered how young adults were surviving financially.   For decades local and state level politicians promised to bring god paying jobs to the state.  In Pocatello and Chubbuck there is a covert push to make the area a warehousing/distribution hub again, but the average starting wage for such jobs is between $10 and $15 per hour.  When adjusted for inflation that’s way less than what the same jobs paid in the 1970s!

Illinois: In Moline, Ryan’s Steakhouse shutdown without warning, pissing off employees.  The restaurant was shutdown officially for an “asset inventory”, but then, the employees were told they could pick up their final paychecks!  A local TV news report said one employee was told of the layoff after she clocked-out to go home.

Kentucky: An example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL), Carmeuse Lime and Stone eliminating 76 jobs in Maysville, blaming it on a customer who suddenly announced it will shutdown a coal fired power plant in Pennsylvania: “FirstEnergy is the largest customer for Carmeuse’s Maysville Operation and the idling of the Bruce Mansfield power generation capacity has caused a significant and abrupt decline in demand for our products. This sudden decline in demand was unexpected.”    

Minnesota: Stillwater School District shutting down three elementary schools. Interestingly administrators blame increasing enrollment!  They claim they’re shifting children out of older schools into new buildings designed to handle more students.

New York: In NYC, after 29 years never ending building remodeling by the landlord killed-off Cardiology gift store: “We lost all the morning business. It’s a struggle every month to make the rent.”-Richard Barbosa

Pennsylvania: FirstEnergy suddenly shutting down its Bruce Mansfield power generation plant, after asking PJM Interconnection to grant a surcharge rate increase to its utility customers, and after claiming it spent $450-million USD on upgrades last year.  The news of the sudden shutdown was revealed by a major supplier in Kentucky.  385 jobs threatened! 

Texas: Aluminum maker Alcoa announce more layoffs, this time a second round of layoffs at their Howmet Castings ops in Wichita Falls.  They already laid off 60 people back in January, no numbers given for this section round of job culling.

Virginia: In South Richmond, after less than six months White Horse Tavern shutdown due to lack of dinner sales.  News reports say yet another restauranteur is about to take a whack at opening an eatery in the same location.

In Richmond, low income daycare Southside Child Development Center shutting down in June: “Funders are saying that they just can’t continue to support us without us being able to support ourselves, which is a hardship when you deal with the families that we serve.”-Sheila Pleasants

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

03-04 March 2016: “unsustainable”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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.”

Potential Presidential candidate kills 1,000 jobs! 2016 kills big sales for Kroger! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 03 – 04 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: Saddleback Memorial Medical Center shutting down in May.  Administrators say ObamaCare has driven away so many patients that it’s now “unsustainable”.  Japan based video game maker SEGA (SEGA was created in the U.S. territory of Hawaii in 1940, where it made slot machines) revealed they eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs from their San Francisco SEGA Networks ops.

Colorado: Russia based steel oil pipe maker EVRAZ expanding their job destruction to Pueblo, 70 jobs lost to low oil and steel prices.  This is on top of the 230 jobs in Oregon.

Connecticut: In Stamford, after 50 years Pat’s Hubba Hubba restaurant shutting down by the end of the month.

Illinois: In Lake Zurich the Sears Appliance & Hardware shutting down by the end of April.  John A. Logan College eliminating 55 jobs claiming to be short $7-million USD.  Protesting students pointed out that certain departments are not suffering job losses and that school executives refused to say why.   Computer Systems Institute shutting down campuses across the state, eliminating 172 jobs between now and September!  In Chicago, Computershare issued a layoff WARN, 56 jobs lost by the end of April.  Food giant Tyson issued a shutdown WARN, 170 frozen food jobs eliminated between April and August!  In Elk Grove Village, food service company Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN, 54 jobs lost by the end of April.  Also in Elk Grove Village, Arrow Plastics shutting down after being sold-off, 165 jobs lost by mid-April! In Westmont, IlliCare Health shutting down due to loss of contract, 68 jobs lost by the end of this month.  In Bensenville, Tek-Cast issued a shutdown WARN, 119 jobs lost by mid-April! Deer Run Mine issued a layoff WARN, 84 jobs lost between March this year and January 2017 (blamed on a “natural disaster”).  Joliet Generating Station eliminating 94 jobs between April and October.  Bankrupt Sports Authority shutting down their Romeoville store in April, 66 jobs lost (for a list of all the Sports Authority stores being shutdown as part of the bankruptcy, click here).  TDC Filter shutting down their Bolingbrook factory, 91 jobs gone by the the end of this month. In Rochelle, Ryder truck rentals issued a shutdown WARN, 2-hundred jobs lost by the end of April!  The Kewanee child prison being consolidated with other prison ops, 203 jobs lost by July!

Maryland: In Amherst, beef eatery White Hut shutting down by the end of the month.  The family owners say sales have only been “modest” and not enough to justify renewing the lease.  They hope their flagship Great Depression era restaurant in West Springfield doesn’t meet the same fate.

Massachusetts: Framingham based, Mitt Romney (yep, the very same Mormon guy who’s threatening to run against Donald Trump) co-founded Staples announced it is shutting down an additional 50 stores.  Mitt Romney’s Staples has shutdown 242 North American stores in the past two years, and eliminated 1-thousand jobs between November 2015 and January 2016!

Minnesota: Dow shutting down their warehousing ops at their GMO seed factory in Olivia, 25 jobs lost.  However, GMO “Research and Development (R&D) activities will continue at the site.” 

New York: Solar equipment supplier Direct Energy shutting down their Henrietta operations, 53 jobs lost in May.  Too Big to Jail Goldman Sachs eliminating 43 jobs in May, they accuse the employees of being “under-performers”!   Berkley Publishing Group revealed they eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs last week, blaming crashing paperback book sales.  News reports say the book publisher has been eliminating jobs since Summer 2015.

Ohio: Grocery store giant Kroger warning investors that same store sales crashed in the last three months of their fiscal 2015 (for the entire year their sales were still up)!  Kroger owns stores that sell more than just food, but administrators warn that across the board sales will be down for 2016, which breaks Kroger’s record of more than 12 straight years of sales increases!  Kroger administrators blame competition, and deflation which will kill profit margins.

Oregon: The Kroger owned  Fred Meyer distribution center in Clackamas is threatening 2-hundred jobs, as Kroger decided to find a new contractor to provide the labor!

Texas: God powerless to stop ‘his’ 30 years old Central Christian Academy from shutting down. Church leaders blame The Rapture, I mean declining church membership for forcing them to sell the school property (told you before, this proves money is the true god).

Utah: British empire United Kingdom based Rio Tinto eliminating about 2-hundred jobs at their Kennecott mine, blaming low prices for metals!

Vermont: Entergy eliminating 97 jobs at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant due to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission eliminating the ten mile emergency evacuation zone.

Virginia: After 89 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) clothier Young Men’s Shop shutting down.  The owner said that despite most of his clothing being made in the U.S. more and more people buy off internet.

Washington: Seattle based retailer Nordstrom’s revealed they eliminated ten IT jobs, last week.  This is despite the fact that Nordstrom’s internet sales have gone up.

Wisconsin: OEM Fabricators laying off 34 people in Baldwin as the company shuts down in April.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

02 March 2016: “We have to remove ourselves from what once was.”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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.” 

“We have to remove ourselves from what once was.” No help for those who work for God? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 02 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

What housing market recovery? “…under the new federal real estate settlement procedures that took effect late last year, an unexpected problem is taking shape: Many lenders and title companies are refusing to provide copies of the final closing documents to real estate agents representing home buyers. That, in turn, is threatening to jeopardize one of the traditional services agents perform for their clients: scrutinizing closing statements for inaccuracies that could cost them money or delay the settlement unnecessarily.”-The Washington Post

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Palo Alto based ‘cloud’ computing company SurveyMonkey eliminating 1-hundred jobs, saying “The products and solutions in place were not going to generate long-term value for SurveyMonkey.”  

Colorado: Just a few days after Blind Bat News was told by an unnamed Kmart employee of pending shutdown, Sears Holdings confirmed they will shut down the Fort Collins Kmart, 33 jobs lost in May.    Englewood based Sports Authority now officially chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Last month I wrote that they were shutting down 140 stores, on top of the shutdowns already conducted.

Illinois: Troubled drugs maker Abbott Laboratories about to fire U.S. workers and replace them with migrants from India: “-You have given 180 U.S. employees 60-days notice, and their last day of employment at Abbott Labs will be April 22, 2016.

-To add insult to injury, the Abbott Labs IT staff who will be laid off will first be forced to train their replacements.

You have awarded Wipro Ltd, a large Indian outsourcing firm, with a contract to take over the jobs of these American workers.

-You are offering the U.S. workers severance of a week’s pay for each year they spent at the company, but in order to receive this severance you are requiring these employees to sign away their right to sue or disparage the company. The severance packet you gave your workers contains a full-page ad listing jobs at Wipro.

-The people you are laying off have stellar experience, credentials, and performance reviews, and some have been with your company for 15-20 years.”-Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator

Maine: In Portland, God is powerless to stop economic warfare within ‘his’ own church! Non-profit Good Cause Thrift Shop being shutdown by its owner, the Catholic girls only Catherine McCauley High School, which claims it’s an economic decision.  According to Maine’s employment law, if you work for God’s non-profits you do not qualify for unemployment assistance!  A local news report revealed the employees were ordered by ‘christian’ leaders not to reveal the shutdown, but the employees basically said ‘bullshit on that’!  (that’s why we know about it)

Maryland: After 58 years Harbin Farms shutting down due to A-Hole zoning rules which will impose at least $375-thousand USD of property upgrades upon the family owners: “We’re probably going to move. We have to remove ourselves from what once was.”-Kim Taylor

Minnesota: Ferrara Candy shutting down their Winona factory and consolidating to its factory in Illinois, more than 120 Minnesota jobs lost!  

Nebraska:  In Lincoln, after 21 years Doozy’s sandwich shop shutting down: “There are a number of reasons….We have other jobs and other things happening.”-Tafe Sup Bergo, co-owner

New York: New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott hotel coming under new management, 191 jobs threatened by the end of May!  Japanese company Canon Solutions lost their contract with New York Life, 38 jobs lost by the end of May. In Saratoga Springs, after only seven months restaurant Spa City Trifecta shutting down tomorrow “Due to the fact that the restaurant is no longer permitted to use its smoker on the premises…”  Germany based Siemens Dresser-Rand eliminating jobs at their Wellsville factory, so far they won’t say how many.  

Reports that Armonk based IBM began eliminating more jobs, just a month after reducing their six month severance plan down to just one month.

Oregon: Pinnacle Workforce Logistics issued a WARN, they’re eliminating 190 jobs in Clackamas by April!

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh-Post Gazette warned unionized employees of mass layoffs, apparently due to efforts to bribe (voluntary buyouts) more than a hundred people to quit have failed.

Tennessee: Kroger shutting down their Memphis grocery store on South Perkins, admitting they built too many Kroger stores, several within a mile of each other!

Washington: Apollo Education-University of Phoenix shutting down their Seattle operations, 46 jobs lost by the end of April.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

01 March 2016: “Our outlook for 2016 reflects the weakening in the industrial economy that began broadly impacting our businesses late last summer.” 

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!  Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”  

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.”

Mo layoffs with no final pay! Mo oil industry BS! GEICo Gecko shafts you with Green Weenie! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 01 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Delaware: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; software company SevOne revealed that it eliminated about 50 jobs last week.

Florida: In Fort Lauderdale, “notorious” Tropicana Motel shutting down after 60 years.  It’s being replaced with a giant expensive hotel.

Georgia: In Albany, after five years Christian owned (Flint River Presbytery) non-profit Bare Bulb Coffee shop shutting down due to road construction that killed customer traffic.

Illinois: Chicago Public Schools laid off 62 people on Monday.  The village of University Park eliminating 50 jobs due to “Mismanagement of funds, borrowing and never paying it back. Now we have a poor rating, and we can’t borrow money.”

Indiana: Texas based Trinity Containers shutting down their Quincy ops starting in May.  72 jobs lost due to a sudden decline in demand for their propane tanks.  It should be noted that Trinity reported a record 4th quarter 2015 profit of $200-million USD!  However, administrators said despite the 2015 profit “Our outlook for 2016 reflects the weakening in the industrial economy that began broadly impacting our businesses late last summer.”

Maryland: Plastic container maker Graham Packaging shutting down its Baltimore operation,  79 jobs lost by the end of Summer.

Massachusetts: 79 jobs lost as the Fall River Kmart shuts down in May.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; software company Avid Technology eliminating $68-million USD in jobs and services, blaming bad management decisions such as failing to keep up with new technological developments!

Mississippi: In Quitman (yep, that’s the city’s name), Solvay Biomass Energy revealed it laid off 32 people last week.  They can’t compete with cheap oil prices.

Nebraska: Omaha based job killer ‘christian’ Warren Buffett says vehicle insurance rates are going up due to increased accidents.  He should know, the insurance industry is his forte.  Buffett got his start with GEICo, which stands for Government Employees Insurance Company, in a ’round-a-bout way making his first fortune off taxpayers.

New York: In NYC, Iowa based marketing company Meredith Corporation revealed they laid off 29 people last Friday.  EmblemHealth Services shutting down their Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 82 jobs lost beginning at the end of May.   It’s blamed on a lost contract.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Manifest Digital shutting down its Saratoga Springs office, as a result of its merger with McMurry/TMG.

Ohio: 78 jobs lost as the Lancaster Kmart is shutting down in May. 18 jobs lost as the Dixie Highway Sears Appliance & Hardware shuts down this Friday.

Oklahoma: D&L Oil Tools laid off 78 people, blaming low oil prices.

Pennsylvania: After suddenly laying off ambulance technicians in New York, with no final paychecks, TransCare suddenly shutdown their Monroeville facility, 120 people out of work and with no paychecks!  Local TV news reports reveal even more bad news for employees. 

Rhode Island: Memorial Hospital announced it must eliminate an undisclosed number of employees, and shutdown a birthing center, a surgical department and intensive care unit.

South Carolina: 61 jobs lost as the North Augusta Kmart is shutting down by May.

Texas:  Investor’s Business Dailey issued a WARN saying at least 14 people in Plano will become jobless by the end of April.  Luminant Mining Company issued multiple WARNs, 80 jobs lost by the end of April.  Denmark based Maersk Drilling laid off 35 people in Houston. Also in Houston, Boeing plans to layoff at least 15 people by the end of April.  Grapevine based oil field service company Green Hunter Resources now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Virginia: In Radford, after 17 years Wade’s Foods shutting down, the owner blames skyrocketing costs and competition with big corporate stores, more than 50 jobs lost.  Local news says plans to shutdown were made last year.

Washington DC:  U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) reporting that despite the tens of thousand of U.S. oil industry layoffs and hundreds of rig shutdowns, U.S. oil production in the Gulf of Mexico will hit record levels in 2017.  The EIA expects Gulf of Mexico production to hit 1.9mbd (million barrels per day), and that’s separate from the Obama regime’s plan to authorize a 45 million acre expansion of oil operations in the Gulf!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

28 -29 February 2016: “took a knife and cut my heart out”

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.”