Tag Archives: oil

“the economy went south.” : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 30 April 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

“Factories shed nearly 50,000 jobs in February and March, wiping out all of the gains recorded last year. The proportion of Americans in the active labor force remains depressed by historical standards, and more than 6 million workers say they are in part-time positions because they cannot find full-time work.”The New York Times, 28 April 2016

California: San Ramon based oil giant Chevron announced it will eliminate an additional 1-thousand jobs before the end of the year, for a grand total of at least 8-thousand jobs killed!

Connecticut: In Norwalk, Guckenheimer Bridgewater On-Site Commissary issued a WARN, 90 jobs gone by June.

Idaho: EastIdahoNews reporting there is no recovery in eastern Idaho. Their latest article explains what happened with a lot of home construction projects: “It was just one of those things where the economy went south.”-Dave Ogden, mayor of Sugar City

Illinois: Chicago State University announced the elimination of 3-hundred jobs!  It’s blamed on the fact that failed ‘elected’ state lawmakers withheld a year’s worth of funding from Illinois higher education providers by failing to come up with a budget!

Indiana: In Gary, after 70 years Esquire Men’s Clothing shutting down so the owner can retire.

Kansas: In Overland Park, Sprint revealed it eliminated an additional 113 jobs at its HQ!

Maine: In Portland, the new owner of pet medication maker Putney laid off 17 employees.  Putney is now owned by British empire  Dechra Pharmaceuticals, who still refuses to say what it has planned for Putney.  In Farmington, Franklin Community Health Network laid off a little more than 50% of its employees (mostly full time jobs), blaming $15-million USD in losses on ObamaCare!  Administrators say the losses would have been much bigger if they hadn’t received a one-time federal grant.

Minnesota: In Morris, employees of Aaron Carlson Architectural Woodwork (aka furniture) have been on strike since 11 April, and now the company says it’s shutting down for good.  The employees were striking because of what they claim are low wages.  Company administrators say there is no way they can increase wages and compete with the plethora of local and national furniture makers, so they’re shutting it down.

New Jersey: New York based Colgate-Palmolive issued a shutdown WARN for its Morristown ops, 3-hundred jobs gone by mid-June!

North Carolina: Germany based BASF laying off 190 highly educated employees at its Research Triangle Park ops by the end of Summer!  It’s part of BASF’s plans to eliminate 350 local jobs in total!

Ohio: Utility company Direct Energy laying off 50 people as it shuts down its Miamisburg location by October 2017.

Pennsylvania: In Smithfield, CalFrac Well Services issued a layoff WARN, 63 jobs lost by the end of June.  In Harrisburg, DST Health Solutions issued a WARN, 107 jobs gone by the end of June!

Tennessee:  The Trust Company Bank has been seized by the FDIC.  The bank of Fayette County is taking over the assets.

Texas: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; in Austin internet based business education service Amazing Academy (amazing.com) laid off 50% of its employees without warning!  The news came from the former employees.   In Fort Worth, after 36 years iconic Rig Steakhouse shutdown, the property is for sale.  In Arlington, after two years Super Chix sandwich shop suddenly shutdown last week, administrators said “We tried for two years, but not enough people came.”

Wisconsin: In La Crosse, oil contractor Chart eliminating 65 jobs next week, due to the oil industry BS.  Local news media reported that it’s the 6th round of Chart layoffs in the past 15 months!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

29 April 2016: “I don’t want to move again.”

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.”

150+ people, per day, sacrificed on the alter of Corporate America!

29 April 2016 (15:46 UTC-07 Tango 01) 10 Ordibehesht 1395/21 Rajab 1437/23 Ren-Chen 4714

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released damning data which shows that on average 150 people per day die working for unAmerican Corporate America!  And the AFL-CIO says that statistic is low-balled!

The deaths are a combination of dying on the job (accidents or workplace violence) and slow deaths over time due to exposure to hazardous materials. The AFL-CIO has compiled the data into a report called Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2015.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) points out that the government data does not include incidents involving government employees!  Not only that, but each state has a different reporting system for deaths or injuries on the job, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that as many as 50% of workplace incidents are not being reported!

“I don’t want to move again.” Sports Authority is dead! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 29 April 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arkansas: In Hot Springs, flea market Central Station Marketplace shutting down by mid-May.  The evil greedy Texas based property owner is kicking  all the mom-n-pop tenants out in favor of a national retailer.  Local news media says the property owner refuses to say who the new major retailer is going to be.

California: After 105 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) San Joaquin Lumber shutting down due to the economy not recovering.  The owners told local news media that before the 2007 recession began they had more than twice the number of employees they have now.  Their sales are so low they can make more money renting out their property to other businesses.

Colorado: Englewood based bankrupt Sports Authority announced it will shutdown all 464 stores, thousands of jobs lost!  Back in March they said they were shutting down 140 stores, but their financial situation is much worse than they originally thought.  In Denver, after 33 years Video One shutting down, the landlord found another tenant to pay higher rent. The store owner tried to keep the store open for those people who don’t have access to streaming video.  He also tried using internet crowd-funding to save the store, but it failed.

Florida: In Fort Myers, John’s Good Food popular BBQ joint shutting down tomorrow, due to a combination of the owner’s ongoing health problems and the greedy landlord kicking him out.   In Pinellas Park, Transitions Optical laying off 11 people by the end of June.  In Panama City, healthcare “revenue cycle” manager Navigant Gymetrix issued a WARN, 60 jobs gone by the end of June.

Illinois: Yet more massive shutdowns and layoffs for industrial vehicle maker Caterpillar.  Five factories in Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina are shutting down with some employees being transfered, but at least 820 people will become unemployed!

Missouri: University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Thomas George eliminating 85 jobs due to a shortage of $15-million USD!

New York:  In Elmira, after 94 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) Deister & Butler  jewelers shutting down so the family owners can retire.  In Ogdensburg, god powerless to stop the shutdown of 60 years old Wesleyan Church due to active membership dropping to 30 people (it’s TheRapture eyes tells ya, just kidding, or am I).  In Dewitt, Christopher & Banks shutting down their ShoppingTownMall clothing store.  Too Big to Jail Goldman Sachs issued a mass layoff WARN, 146 NYCers losing their jobs by the end of September!  Sears Holdings issued another WARN, this time 47 people in Rochester losing their jobs by mid-July.

North Carolina: In Concord, public transportation contractor First Transit lost their contract, 38 jobs lost by the end of June.

Ohio: Color additive and plastics maker Techmer Polymer Modifiers shutting down their Avon factory, affecting 26 jobs as they consolidate ops to Illinois and Delaware.

Oregon: In Portland, after 60 years Gordon’s Fireplace Shop shutting down, the owner tried to sell it but nobody was interested.  Local news reports say at one time there were 11 Gordon’s Fireplace Shops across the Pacific Northwest. More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; Veritas Software issued a WARN for their Springfield ops, 50 jobs lost by mid-June.

Pennsylvania: Gift store Hallmark announced the shutdown of six stores; Hazleton, Scranton, Shamokin, Bloomsburg, Lehighton, and Williamsport.  It’s blamed on lack of sales.  Some of the stores are more than 45 years old, local news media claimed that once word got out shoppers lined up outside the stores slated for shutdown. After 63 years iconic The Matey’s Crossroads Hotel Pizza & Steaks shutting down after a failed attempt to sell it.

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, after 31 years Kenton’s Shoe Repair shutting down due to the new property owner’s plans for the building.   The owner of the shoe repair shop, Reginald Cousin, said business was booming, but “The building’s been sold and I don’t want to move again. Me, being 73 years old, it’s time for me to retire.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

27-28 April 2016: “I can’t go on forever.”

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.”

“I can’t go on forever.” Kohl’s & Sport Chalet shutting ’em down in Cali! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 27 – 28 April 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise;  Mormon Glen Beck’s ‘news’ network The Blaze is warning at least 40 employees across the U.S. that they will lose their jobs.  This is at least the second round of layoffs for Glen Beck.  Back in February a Daily Beast report basically said former employees accused ‘christian’ Beck of being a backstabber.  It’s blamed on crashing ratings and the crashing numbers of people looking at Beck’s websites Glennbeck.com and TheBlaze.com.

Alabama: In Auburn, after 38 years Price’s Barbeque House shutting down sometime between May and December.  The greedy (and tired) owner admitted he decided to ‘join the crowd’ and sell-out to a property developer for a lot of money: “It’s a good living, but it’s a tough one as well. It’s something that I’ve had to think about for a very long time, and I can’t go on forever. The timing is just right, as sad as it is.”-Jeff Price

Arizona: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; California based Intel eliminating 560 jobs in Chandler, by the end of May!

California: Wisconsin state based department store Kohl’s issued mass shutdown WARNs for nine Golden State stores, 780 jobs gone by mid-June! La Cañada city based Sport Chalet issued mass shutdown WARNs for six Golden State locations, 367 jobs gone by mid-June! In Gonzales, Sonora Packing issued a shutdown WARN, 176 jobs gone by mid-June!  British empire Scotland based school bus contractor First Student issued mass shutdown WARNs for at least three Golden State locations, 212 jobs gone by mid-June!  In Gardenia, Normandie Casino shutting down by mid-June, 380 jobs lost!  Elitist Burke Williams Day Spa shutting down their Los Angeles location, 101 jobs gone by mid-June!  Montana based engineering company MSE Tech issued a layoff WARN for their Van Nuys ops, 205 jobs gone by mid-June!   In Torrance, Japan based Kubota Tractor shutting down, 72 jobs gone by mid-June.  Southern California Edison eliminating 46 jobs in Rosemead by June.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; in Irvine, Sage Software eliminating 26 jobs by the end of June.  In San Jose, Western Digital Technology eliminating 71 jobs by mid-June.

Florida: Netherlands based Louis Dreyfus Company Citrus eliminating 59 jobs and shutting down its Winter Garden ops by the end of May.  The orange juice maker sold its Winter Garden ops to a competitor (Peace River Citrus) who apparently has no plans to continue the operation.  In Orlando, Florida Connections Academy issued a WARN, 80 jobs lost between June and August.

Kansas: Too Big to Jail Shawnee Mission based Waddell & Reed Financial says it must eliminate 10% of jobs at its Overland Park location, due to ongoing crashing revenues.

Kentucky: A week after eliminating 61 jobs, Jefferson Community and Technical College notified 34 more employees of layoffs.

Louisiana: Texas based Union Tank Car WARNing that it will eliminate 224 jobs in Alexandria, by the end of June, due to the oil industry BS!

Missouri: Proof that the economy sucks; lack of tax filings!  Kansas City based tax filing preper H&R Block announced that there were so few filings this year that they must eliminate 250 jobs!

New Jersey: The Lacey Township School District eliminating 25 jobs and jacking up local taxes by 4.4.%!  Local news reports said school taxes are supposed to be capped at 2%!

New York:  Sodexo lost its food contract with Fordham University, 382 jobs gone by the end of June!  

The company behind those crappy entertainment shows like American Idol, NYC based CORE Media, now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Despite years of high ratings the company was not able to pay off massive debts, and now ratings for those BS shows are crashin’-n-burnin’.

North Dakota:  University of North Dakota suddenly laid off 20 people and halted admissions to several programs.  The school is short at least $5.3-million USD!  However, local news reports said the UND music therapy program, itself, is short $7-million USD!   

Pennsylvania: In Lansford, Our Lady of Angels Academy has gone from 8-hundred students to just more than 1-hundred, and god is powerless to stop the shutdown in July.  Administrators said the only way they could stay open was to jack up the fees, but christian parents can’t afford to pay more fees.

Tennessee: In Farragut, after 24 years the original Aubrey’s restaurant (originally called Aubrey’s Cafe) shutting down by mid-May.  The administrators blame the shutdown on the age of the building.

Washington DC: The Migration Policy Institute discovered that refugees get more help from taxpayer funded social programs than do poor U.S. citizens (30% vs 27%).  The report (Young Children of Refugees in the United States: Integration Successes and Challenges) is actually meant to praise the U.S. efforts at helping refugees, but inadvertently reveals it’s at the expense of citizens who also need help.

 Wyoming: Another mine layoff, this time bankrupt Virginia based Alpha Natural Resources laying off 37 coal miners at Belle Ayr and Eagle Butte mines.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

26 April 2016: “It just never came back after the recession.”

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.”

“It just never came back after the recession.” Tech bubble exploding! Company loses $4.18-billion in 3 months! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 26 April 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona: Despite reporting better than expected revenues, Phoenix based mining company Freeport-McMoRan says it will go ahead with plans to layoff 25% of its petoleum sector employees and sell-off assets.  Freeport-McMoRan’s ‘better than expected’ results were a loss of $4.18-billion USD for the first three months of 2016!  It’s blamed on the low prices of oil, gas, gold, silver, copper, etc.

California: Intel issued several WARNs, at least 565 jobs across The Golden State gone between now and 2017, due to crashing computer sales!  Insiders are reporting that Apple has laid off all its employee recruiters, more than 1-hundred employees!  Recruiting bonuses were also slashed from 40% to only 10%.  In Berkeley, Sutter Health shutting down their Alta Bates Summit ER operations.  But wait, don’t blame ObamaCare on this one.  It’s the result of a 1994 state regulation (SB 1953) requiring hospitals to meet tougher earthquake survival standards, by 2030.

Kentucky:  In Louisville, after 73 years grocery store First Link now up for auction.  The grocery section is shutdown, but the Liquor Store ops will continue until the auction, which is mid-May.  I have yet to find info as to why it’s being auctioned (other than the company needs the money).

Maine: After 110 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) the last of the Brooks Brick factories is shutting down.  News reports say they were down to a “handful of employees”.  In Portland, Mercy Hospital shutting down its outpatient addiction treatment center this Friday.  It’s blamed on ObamaCare reduction in funding.  Mercy is joining with other organizations, including local police, in forming the Greater Portland Addiction Collaborative as a way to provide addiction recovery services for those with little or no health insurance.

Massachusetts:  Baystate Health is demanding $10-million taxpayer dollars to avert the layoff of 2-hundred people, due to ObamaCare.  Administrators say that’s just for starters, calling it “bridge funding”, if the ObamaCare situation continues then additional taxpayer funding will be needed!

New Jersey: British empire United Kingdom and Netherlands based Unilever issued a WARN for their Englewood Cliffs operations, 106 jobs gone by the end of June!  It was also revealed that Unilever is getting almost free money from the European Central Bank, as the ECB bought $339-million USD worth of Unilever bonds, at a piddly 0.08% interest.   The “consumer goods” company is also shutting down a call center in Canada.

New York: Iconic New York Times announced it will shutdown its Paris, France, printing ops. 70 jobs lost due to consolidation of operations.  Despite reporting a ‘strong’ first quarter, elitist clothier Coach announced it will eliminate 3-hundred jobs!  Even though Coach made its first quarterly profit in the past three years administrators say they must become more “efficient” by 2017.

Oregon: California based Intel issued a mass layoff WARN, 784 jobs gone by the end of May!

Pennsylvania: It’s been revealed that Texas based petroleum contractor Halliburton secretly laid off 2-hundred employees near Montgomery, last week!  In a fine example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL), the impact is immediate as locals are reporting that mom-n-pop shops in Montgomery are already shutting down: “The layoffs are hurting people and its hurting our economy.  A lot of store fronts are closing up and small business people can’t survive. Its not a good thing.”-Allen Bean, resident

“Its hurt us financially, when you have a large company like Halliburton pull out of an area and let a lot of people go it’s a lot of lost revenue.”-Rick Sanguedolce, owner of Riverside Campground

Vermont: Ski resorts Jay Peak and Q Burke Mountain forced to shutdown due to a federal fraud investigation.  The owners of the ski resorts are being accused of frauding investors out of $200-million USD!

Washington: California based Intel shutting down its DuPont location (according to the mayor of DuPont), killing 350 jobs!   DuPont Mayor Michael Courts says Intel administrators did not tell him when the plant would shutdown.   In Browns Point, after 24 years the Ace Hardware shutting down sometime next month: “Business has gotten a little bit quiet. The cost of business has gone up. The amount of money it takes day-to-day; we are just not able to make that number. We’re down 15% over the year. It just never came back after the recession. The years 1991 to 1996 were the best brick-n-mortar retail years.”-Mark Wenner, owner

Washington DC:  After 41 years Bistro Français shutting down so the owner can retire.   What housing market recovery?  The U.S. Department of Commerce reporting that new homes sales have fallen for three months in a row (January to March).  Declining new home sales are falling fastest in the western United States.  The U.S. Navy is shutting down 16 Navy College offices in October.  The Navy hopes to save money by consolidating College offices onto the internet, and eliminating soon to become redundant jobs.

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.”

“I’m losing everything….This is what puts food on my table.” Corporations secretly kill 13,300 jobs in 3 months! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 25 April 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona: More proof higher education is a waste of your time and money; the state Department of Administration says the fastest growing sector of the Grand Canyon State’s job market (by 27.7%) are jobs that don’t even require a high school education!   The next biggest job sector is that which requires only a high school diploma.  You should note that the ‘elected’ state leaders have been focusing job promotion on sectors that require higher education.  The city of Nogales is bemoaning the planned shutdown of the money making Kmart in July.  It’s a money making store because the city collects boo-koo sales tax off it, and city managers don’t know what they’re going to do after the Big Kmart (it’s also sells groceries) shuts down!  The Big Kmart is a money maker because many of its customers are Mexicans who shop on the U.S. side of the border, because the variety is better in the U.S. than in Mexico. Christopher Teal, U.S. Consul General in Nogales, Mexico, said “They’re shopping, they’re at the malls, they’re out buying, they’re out doing activities. It has a huge impact for our economy in Arizona and our economy in the United States, I can’t speak positively enough really about that part of the relationship.”  In other words, Sears Holdings’ Eddie Lampert is shutting down a profit making international store!

California: In Milpitas, family owned Raley’s is shutting down their 28 years old Nob Hill Foods grocery store by the end of May.  50 jobs lost due to lack of sales, Raley’s administrators say they wanted to shutdown their Milpitas location three years ago.

Colorado: In Denver, Firefly Furnishings shutting down their Firefly Kids store in the Cherry Creek North plaza.  No reason given.  Firefly Furniture got new owners in 2014 who told local news media they wanted a brick-n-mortar operation to complement their internet business pillow.com.

Connecticut: Norwalk based Xerox revealed it eliminated 4-thousand 8-hundred jobs in the first quarter of 2016!  Xerox has been slashing jobs since 1991.

Hawaii: In Hilo, after almost 65 years food joint Kawate Seed Shop shutting down this weekend.  The family owners blame the landlord for jacking up the rent!

Illinois:  In Chicago, after 34 years Bel-Port Liquors forced to shut  down by the greedy landlord who made a better deal with a coffee shop: “I’m losing everything. ….This is what puts food on my table.  All of a sudden, he [landlord] turned 360 degrees on me! I’ve never seen him like this before.”-Joe Barbari, liquor store owner who says rents everywhere are too high for him to open a new store

Indiana: It’s been revealed that the Castleton Perkins restaurant was forced to shutdown by the greedy landlord, who then tore it down for ‘new development’: “We did everything we possibly could to talk them into letting us stay, but the landlords had other ideas. Our lease was up in February, and we were forced to closed.”-Gail VonHolten, former restaurant owner

Maine: The British empire’s christian Salvation Army shutting down their 102 years old (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) Alder Street Family Thrift in Portland, calling the shutdown “the most responsible choice.”  

Massachusetts: In Burlington, Texas based jungle themed Rainforest Cafe shutting down.  Local news sources think it’s being replaced with a furniture store.

New York: Insiders and union members are reporting that iconic New York Times will eliminate “hundreds” of jobs by November!   This comes after the CEO of New York Times saw his income skyrocket to $8.7-million USD last year!

Ohio: Columbus based restaurant chain Bob Evans conducting a second round of mass restaurant shutdowns.  Last year they shutdown 20 eateries, this year it’ll be 27 with at least 1-thousand 1-hundred jobs lost!  The overwhelming majority of those restaurants being shutdown are ‘owned properties’ of Bob Evans and the plan is to try and raise $20-million USD by selling them.  State ‘elected’ leaders are giving five companies big tax breaks to bring in a piddly 444 jobs (some companies will only have to maintain their current employment levels).  The five companies are Ball Metal Food Containers, Genco, Everything but the House, Rotex Global and SportsBrain.

Texas: Halliburton revealed it eliminated 6-thousand oil industry jobs in the first quarter of 2016!  Schlumberger revealed it eliminated 2-thousand 5-hundred petroleum industry jobs in the first quarter of 2016!

Washington DC:  The tax-draining U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is asking for permission to conduct yet another round of base shutdowns.  Leadership with the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force now claim they have more posts (bases) than they really need!  But wait, don’t think this is going to save taxpayers money, the DoD wants to use the money saved by shutting down bases, and laying off thousands more personnel, on buying even more outrageously expensive high-tech weapons (like robots to replace human personnel).

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.”

“losing your job could mean losing your health insurance.” More ObamaCare lies! Idaho hospital violates U.S. Medical Leave Act! 76,000 cases of worker discrimination! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 24 April 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: In San Diego, iconic record store Off The Record shutting down: “It’s a number of reasons: Finances, gentrification of the neighborhood, the raising of rent, the fact that this neighborhood has transitioned from a place to shop to a place to drink…”-Paul Russe, manager

“Licensing can become a powerful tool to limit innovation and competition and act to limit upward mobility.”Occupational Licensing: Bad for Competition, Bad for Low-Income Workers

Delaware: Governor Jack Markell is blaming high unemployment on the fact that more than 25% of jobs require some kind of license.  The cost and time needed to get those licenses is a major barrier for many people interested in those jobs.  Markell ordered a review of employment (occupational) licensing regulations in Delaware.

Idaho:  In Boise, christian healthcare scammer Saint Luke’s Regional Medical Center has been found in violation of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  In 2015 an employee reported to the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) that Saint Luke’s was not ‘coding’ certain time off as FMLA.  The DoL reviewed two years worth of “hundreds” of employee records and concluded that Saint Luke’s “…failed to ensure that all employees on FMLA-covered leave received all the protections…”  Interestingly the DoL determination, and resulting Saint Luke’s resolution actually took place in November 2015, but only now is being made public!  In February I reported how Saint Luke’s was caught stealing local property taxes! 

Illinois: Local news reports say Harper College in Palatine, and College of Lake County in Grayslake, laid off about 49 employees due to the failed ‘elected’ lawmakers’ budget battles.

Louisiana: The A-Hole Jefferson Parish Council was pushing to outlaw their own parish appointees and attorneys from having a second job!   Their paranoia was put to rest when parish president Mike Yenni revealed there are already regulations prohibiting such behavior.

Michigan: In Coldwater, after 44 years Taylor’s Stationary shutting down this week, the building has a new owner.

Nebraska: In Hastings, a former manager of the local Holiday Inn is paying a $5-hundred USD fine and serving one year of probation after being caught employing an illegal immigrant as a supervisor.  The case involves another hotel run by Kearney Hospitality.  The illegal immigrant left Kearney Hospitality after it was discovered that the U.S. Social Security Administration (SS) was investigating the employee’s legality.  Federal prosecutors say an administrator with Kearney Hospitality told the manager of the Holiday Inn to change the name of the employee on the employment records because of the SS investigation.  The administrator with Kearney Hospitality will be sentenced next month.

New Hampshire:  Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine laying off 30 people, and conducting restructuring that will affect 285 employees!  The 285 are being considered for transfer to Dartmouth-Hitchcock.  In Milford, Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) shutting down their Elm Street electric station.  This has people upset as Eversource claims demand for power is doubling and has proposed bringing in electricity from British empire Canada, as well as jacking up utility rates to pay for natural gas.   Eversource is also dealing with numerous lawsuits.

New York: Quantum Medical Imaging shutting down their medical instrument factory in Ronkonkoma, 83 jobs lost between July and November.  NYC based EmblemHealth warning of “several hundred” layoffs in their Information Technology (IT) department!  The IT jobs are being outsourced to cheap-o contractors as part of ObamaCare “modernization” of the healthcare industry.  Sears Holdings issued a WARN for the shutdown of the Irondequoit and Plattsburgh Sears stores, 154 jobs lost by the end of July!  In Plattsburgh, Nova Bus/Prevost eliminating 70 jobs, apparently due to reduction of taxpayer funding of public transportation (administrators called it a reduction in “market demand”).  In Sidney, tax-sucker Amphenol Aerospace laid off at least 90 employees blaming a sudden ‘stop order’ by U.S. Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime.  In Albion, after almost six years the owners of Bindings Bookstore suddenly announced it’ll shutdown this week.  Sales are good, but not good enough for the owners and they’re trying trying to sell it off.

North Dakota: In Mandan, after 17 years the Dollar Store shutting down, the building was sold to a chiropractic clinic.

Ohio: In Toledo, after 40 years pawn shop Standard Loan shutting down when the inventory is gone.  The owner told local news sources that he’s financially broke.

Pennsylvania: In Hazleton, after 65 years Fierro Furniture shutting down.

South Carolina: In Orangeburg, Regional Medical Center laying off 33 employees, cutting hours for 27 and eliminating 30 vacant jobs. Because of ObamaCare the hospital needs to cut $4.9-million USD in expenses!

Texas:  Massive oil industry layoffs have revealed a major lie about ObamaCare.  One of the promises of the Affordable Care Act was that people who were not employed, or who lost their jobs, would still be covered for healthcare under ObamaCare.  A Houston Chronicle investigation found that most oil industry survivors have learned they don’t qualify for ObamaCare: “In the U.S., losing your job could mean losing your health insurance. Most other countries don’t do this.  …The ACA, if anything, entrenched our dependence on employer-provided health insurance…..  That’s the hole. It is contrary to the spirit of the law.”-Jessica Roberts, University of Houston’s Law Center

Washington: A little more than a month after killing 120 IT jobs, Seattle based retailer Nordstrom announced it must layoff an additional 4-hundred employees!  Administrators blame it on crashing sales.

Washington DC: The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) is trying to push two changes with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); discrimination and how workers are paid. At the same time the U.S. Congress is trying to block those changes, accusing the DoL EEOC of failing to investigate 76-thousand cases of employer discrimination of employees!   In a connected case, the U.S. Census Bureau has admitted to intentionally discriminating against ‘minority’ citizens with criminal backgrounds.   The Census Bureau is settling a lawsuit accusing it of refusing to employ ‘minorities’ who have completed prison sentences after being convicted of a crime.  The amount it will cost taxpayers has yet to be revealed, but it is being called a “landmark” case of discrimination by a federal government employer.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

22-23 April 2016: “It makes zero sense”

Sears Kmart update 21 April 2016 : “A lot of customers don’t even believe this”

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.”

“It makes zero sense.” Less jobs = more homelessness = more police state-ism! GM shuts down U.S. factories! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 22 – 23 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: In Huntsville, after 20 years the Tai Pan Palace restaurant shutting down on Sunday.

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; San Louis Obispo based e-commerce company Kibo (Shopatron) suddenly laid off an undisclosed number of people (reports vary from eight to 25), blaming it on Kibo’s merger with two other e-commerce companies.  The A-Hole nazi Oceanside city administrators want to shutdown iconic Municipal Pier at night, claiming it’s because of ‘security’ issues caused by the increasing number of homeless people using the pier as a place to sleep.  Local fisherman Roger Adams calls bullshit on the city’s plans saying “It makes zero sense. I come here everyday. There is nothing that bad that it warrants closing the pier.”  Here’s an idea for Oceanside, why not create a better economy so there aren’t so many homeless people?   In North Oakland, after 90 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) Genova Delicatessen shutting down by the end of the month, due to disagreements over the rent: “We’ve always felt the prices should be reasonable and the food really good quality which we have been able to manage, but the cost of doing business is to the point now where it became uncomfortable.”-Patti DeVincenzi

Idaho: Yet another hospital manager is condemning Idaho’s version of ObamaCare; Your Health Idaho.  Michael Baumann, of the Mountain Division of the Hospital Corporation of America, said “…those who are not getting the care that they need, by the time they show up, it’s even more costly. So why don’t we provide the access up front through Medicaid expansion?     ….You know I’m actually fairly conservative, but when it comes to healthcare…..I’m just really open to the fact we need change.”

Louisiana:  Oklahoma based Helmerich & Payne shutting down Gulf of Mexico oil rig operations after contracts were canceled, 50 jobs lost. 

Michigan:  What automotive industry recovery?  Detroit based General Motors (GM) announced it will shutdown three U.S. factories and one Canadian factory starting Monday, using the excuse that there’s going to be a parts shortage caused by the recent earthquake in Japan.  Thousands of people ‘temporarily’ laid off (furloughed).

Nebraska: Downsizing by the world’s largest uranium mining company, British empire Canada based Cameco, will result in 85 layoffs at the Crow Butte uranium mine.  It’s blamed on five years of low commodity prices for the radioactive rock.

New Jersey: The Clifton Board of Education approved the outright elimination of 49 jobs and also notified 5-hundred non-tenured employees that they will not be considered for re-hire next school year!

New York: In Lower Manhattan NYC, ‘tasting-menu’ restaurant Recette shutting down.  The owner is consolidating the concept with one of his other restaurants, in an attempt to save money on escalating rents.

North Carolina:  The 3rd largest cigarette maker in the U.S. International Textile Group (ITG Brands) confirmed it will layoff 375 employees in Greensboro, in June!  It’s blamed on crashing cigarette sales.

North Dakota: In Williston (a place I remember to be a true ‘Mayberry RFD’, but now a hell-hole no thanks to the oil boom), less than three years after opening, the Home Depot shutdown due to the oil bust.  The oil bust is so bad for Williston that the Home Depot was down to just five employees before they shut it down!

Oklahoma: The state Department of Human Services warning of layoffs and “catastrophic cuts” to services due to $150-million USD shortage in tax funding!

Texas: Dallas based AT&T is now offering poor families internet service for as little as $5 per month!  This is because the federal government (FCC Lifeline program) is finally recognizing that there are now more poor people than ever before and that the overwhelming majority of employers now do hiring through the internet only (no more walk-ins like when I was younger).

South Carolina: What housing market recovery?  In Fort Mills, California based Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo eliminating 91 mortgage jobs, blaming crashing demand for home loans.  In North Charleston, Boeing is pushing 2-hundred employees to take bribes to voluntarily quit!

Wisconsin: Texas based oil-gas fracker EOG Resources eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs without warning, blaming “market conditions”.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

20-21 April 2016: “We are in a battle with our landlord”

Sears Kmart update 21 April 2016 : “A lot of customers don’t even believe this” 

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.”

Fracking sets Australian river on fire!

Coal seam gas mining (fracking) causes the Condamine River to become flammable with methane!  To prove the point an Australian Member of Parliament set the river on fire!  The methane contamination was first noticed in 2012.

Fracking Food Crisis: Idaho, Oregon, Washington hit by contaminated water, coincides with oil industry Fracking! 

“We are in a battle with our landlord” “We have to be realistic” : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 20 – 21 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: In Auburn, after 20 years The Chocolate Shoppe & Gift Emporium (and art gallery) shutting down by the end of May, the owners want to retire.  In San Francisco, clothier San Franpsycho shutting down their brick-n-mortar store this weekend.  Rent is too high in the Golden Gate city so the store owners are shifting to events and internet sales only.

Florida: In Ave Maria, Beckner Jewelry and Repair shutting down in May.  The owners say they love their community so much that they are shifting to much needed “social work”.

Georgia: In Hephzibah, a Food Lion grocery store suddenly shutdown this past weekend, administrators say they couldn’t renew the lease.  In Augusta, a Kroger grocery store shutting down soon.  Kroger reps blame the shutdown on crashing sales, 110 Kroger employees will become jobless by June!   Kim Hines of G.R.O.W. Harrisburg has an ominous warning: “A ‘food desert’ is a lack of access to fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy foods. So it’s a dependency on a community on convenience store foods and processed foods, or in some cases no food at all.”  

Illinois:  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign warning of mass layoffs due to the incompetent ‘elected’ state lawmakers.  The mass layoffs would take place by the end of August.  OfficeMax shutting down their store in Crestwood, by mid-May.

Iowa: Button maker Blumenthal Lansing shutting down their Lansing factory, 80 jobs gone by July.  It’s the result of the company being taken over by Pennsylvania based greeting card and novelty maker CSS Industries.

Kentucky: Jefferson Community and Technical College eliminating 101 jobs (61 ’employees’ & 40 ‘instructors’) due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome (DSS)!  Since 2010 student enrollment has crashed by 4-thousand 3-hundred!  What automotive industry recovery? Powertrain maker Dana Corporation shutting down their Glasgow ops, 203 jobs lost by mid-2017!

Louisiana:  Oil contractor Gulf Island eliminating 227 jobs by the end of June, due to lack of oil contracts!  After 29 years fracking supplier Carbo Ceramics shutting down, 61 jobs gone by mid-June.   Despite reporting a $23-million USD profit last year Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino began laying off 2-hundred people!  That’s according to state politician Dustin Miller as the administrators of the race track (Boyd Gaming) refuse to give any info, in fact administrators downplayed the whole thing.  Boyd Gaming says the mass layoffs are not due to the economy but is their attempt at “fine tuning the operations”, which is code for greatly increasing their profits. In Baton Rouge, after seven years Truly Free Bakery & Deli suddenly shutdown by greedy landlord who refuses to properly fix the sewage system: “We are in a battle with our landlord over a very serious and quite frankly, disgusting issue. We have had major sewer problems for over 3 years, and to our frustration, this problem was never fully fixed—only temporary ‘band aides’ were attempted. This issue has persisted and has been more problematic over the last year.”– Erick and Ainsley Coughlin, owners

Maryland: In College Park, after 42 years Pianoman Superstore shutting down due to crashing sales: “It’d be great if there was enough interest to keep it going, but there isn’t.”– Nick Margaritas, owner

Michigan: Pittsford Area Schools Board of Education approved the layoff of five employees.  It’s blamed on what I call DSS, the school board even stated that families are moving away from the state of Michigan.

New York: Japan based Too Big to Jail Nomura Holdings issued mass layoff WARNs,  235 people jobless in July!  It’s because Nomura was tricked into buying the already failed Lehman Brothers.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; Amazon halting its clothing line, 94 MyHabit jobs lost in NYC and Brooklyn, in July.  In Sidney, tax-sucking military contractor Amphenol Aerospace suddenly laid off 1-hundred people when the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) suddenly cancelled an order for electronics parts!  A-Hole politician Charles Schumer blames it on Pentagon “red tape”, however, there are indications from the DoD that the parts are faulty. After four years the Fort Greene General Store shutting down by the end of the month, due to outrageous rent: “When I sat down and really looked hard at the numbers, I just couldn’t deny the effects of rising costs…. We have to be realistic and focus on other businesses with less overhead….”-Adriana Spence, owner

North Carolina: In Charlotte, after 19 years expensive Italian shoe store Via Veteto shutting down, the owners say they’re retiring.

Ohio: Iron foundry Columbus Castings about to go outta business, 799 jobs lost due to debts, and fines caused by violations of state and federal pollution regulations!   After announcing the shutdown of their Youngstown ops (137 jobs killed), Parker Hannifin now says it will also shutdown its Akron pneumatic cylinder factory, 75 jobs lost. 

Washington: In Tacoma, Cablecraft Motion Controls issued a WARN, 39 jobs lost starting mid-June.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

19 April 2016: “Sometimes we have to pull the Band-Aid off quickly.”

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.”