Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

British empire based British Petroleum (BP, formerly known as Anglo-Iranian Oil) boosting its January layoff announcement by another 3-thousand! Last month it said it would eliminate at least 4-thousand jobs around the world, now it’s 7-thousand jobs gone by the end of 2017, including within the U.S.  Low oil prices and lawsuit settlements caused BP to lose $5.2-billion USD in 2015 (its biggest loss ever).

Alabama: Birmingham based Regions Bank (aka Regions Financial Corporation) announced it will eliminate 260 jobs across several states!  The layoffs will take place by the end of March.

California: In Los Angeles, t-shirt shop Johnny Cupcakes shutting down by the end of April.  News reports say despite being popular sales weren’t high enough to justify the “overpriced lease”.  In Oakland, Outer Harbor Terminal now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. It’s the result of a major client shifting to other port operations along the U.S. west coast.

Connecticut: Hartford based health insurance giant Aetna is now accusing the federal government of not enforcing ObamaCare with martial law, saying current enforcement is “not sufficient”!  Greedy Aetna administrators blame low ObamaCare participation rates for their loss of revenues.

Florida: In Bradenton, after almost five years Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar shutting down by the end of the month, because of an evil landlord: “Our landlord has chosen not to renew our lease. Why? He states we are not successful. We have always paid our rent and a percentage of our sales to him on time, which has equated to almost $1.1 million in five years, and our initial investment of over $800,000 to build Tarpon Pointe.”-Facebook posting

Illinois: Eastern Illinois University quietly issuing layoff notices to non-instructional staff (latest reports say as many as 2-hundred!).  It’s blamed on the state ‘lawmakers’ failing to come up with a budget. The layoffs will start in March, university administrators say the state owes them at least $40-million USD.  Chicago Public Schools (CPS) warning of even more layoffs after the teacher union rejected their latest offer.  The Failed State system CPS claims it is lacking $500-million for its latest budget, but they’re actually $1-billion ‘in the hole’, structurally!  In Carbondale, after 32 years The Great Outdoors clothing store shutting down, the owner said his retirement is an “economic decision”.  Local news media revealed that three other Carbondale/Route 13 area businesses shutdown in January; KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), Show Me’s Restaurant and Advanced Auto Parts.  In Galesburg, after 21 years Casey’s Party Creations shutting down in March.

Kansas: In Wichita, payday loan shark Speedy Cash laid off 50 people at its HQ and call center.  Administrators blame a ‘slow’ federal tax return season.  However, Speedy Cash also shutdown ten offices in the British empire country of United Kingdom (can’t blame U.S. tax refunds on that).

Louisiana: In Lafayette, the Winn-Dixie grocery store, on Ambassador Caffery Parkway, shutting down.  61 jobs lost by March.

Michigan: Midland based Dow Chemical revealed it eliminated 1-thousand 2-hundred jobs and will eliminate another 1-thousand jobs, for a total of 2-thousand 2-hundred!  Administrators say they need to cut $300-million USD in costs this year.

Mississippi:  Chapter 11 bankrupt busted (for the second time in nine years) Baldwyn based Hancock Fabrics shutting down/liquidating at least 70 stores across the U.S.  

New York:  In Brooklyn, after seven years the owners of Bark Hot Dogs shutting down their Park Slope eatery this weekend, saying “…economics just weren’t working out.”  NYC based music event promoter SFX Entertainment now chapter 11 bankrupt busted after only two years on the NASDAQ.  In Yonkers, Sterling National Bank eliminating ten jobs by June.

Oklahoma: Non-profit Sayre Memorial Hospital shutdown without warning, due to “continual financial strain” caused by declining Medicare reimbursements, and the crashing-n-burning of the local economy.

Oregon: In Portland, California based logistics company UTi Worldwide issued a WARN, 41 jobs lost by the end of March.  After 36 years Sewick’s Dive Bar shutting down, to be replaced by a 46 unit apartment building.

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh based Horsehead Holding now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Administrators blame the low prices of zinc, however it also sounds like financial incompetence as the bankruptcy attorneys could only guess that the company had between 1-thousand and 5-thousand creditors!

Virginia: In Fredericksburg, after 27 years The Cat’s Closet shutting down in late Spring. The family owners will rent out the building to somebody else.   Huntington Ingalls Industries eliminating 738 jobs at the crashing-n-burning Newport News shipyards!  It’s blamed on the completion of construction of new USN aircraft carriers, and reduced taxpayer spending by the federal government.  In Richmond, God refuses to get involved with the scandal with ‘his’ Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board (IMB).  The so called Christian organization began laying off employees without warning, drawing criticism from fellow Baptists: “Unexplainably, IMB planned no announcement about eliminating its entire communications department. Nothing was to be said about jettisoning about 10 percent of its staff or about how IMB would tell its missions stories going forward.”-Bob Terry, editor The Alabama Baptist

Washington DC: The Federal Reserve Bank about to go the way of Japan and officially charge negative interests rates.  Essentially Too Big to Jail banks would actually be paid to ‘borrow’ money from The Fed.

Wisconsin: Sussex based Quad Graphics announced it will shutdown two printing ops, one in Pennsylvania and one in Kansas.  The newspaper insert shutdown in Pennsylvania will cost 150 jobs, that’s on top of 4-hundred Pennsylvania Quad Graphics jobs lost at the beginning of January!  About 1-hundred jobs lost in Kansas!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.” 

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Florida: Preferred Medical Plan eliminating 18 jobs in Coral Gables, by the beginning of April.  At Patrick Air Force Base two contractors, GCR and InDyne, issued mass layoff WARNs for 209 people by the end of March!

Illinois: Peabody Energy’s Arclar Mine Complex eliminated 75 coal mining jobs due to crashing demand for coal.  In Evanston, Montoya Fiber Studios shutting down after 13 years of tying up locals in yarn.  The owners said it’s time for them to travel.

Maryland: C&S Wholesale Grocers shutting down their distribution ops on Lums Road, about 2-hundred jobs lost by April!  A county administrator said she was surprised because C&S was recently advertising to hire more employees!  C&S administrators told county officials they could not stop the shutdown due to the sudden loss of a major contract.

Massachusetts: In Somerville, after five years Sabertooth Vegan Bakery shutting down so the owner can get the hell outta Boston Weak Massachusetts and go on “permanent vacation”: “…things here just haven’t been working out. It’s always been my dream to live in California and work on an animal sanctuary and I was offered an amazing opportunity to do that.”-Evie Noël   

Missouri: Doe Run Company announced it must eliminate 75 mining jobs as a result of complying with Environmental Protection Agency lawsuits.

New York:   New York Life Insurance is shutting down their IT & Finance office in Sleepy Hollow, layoffs will take place between April and December. Administrators indicated they were moving the jobs elsewhere, but didn’t say where.   Principal Service Solutions-Global Foundries revealed they laid off at least 28 people in Hopewell Junction due to loss of a maintenance contract.    Brach’s Supermarket issued a shutdown WARN for their Lawrence grocery store, 127 jobs lost by the first of May! Administrators blame the bad economy.

Despite a grand opening send-off by U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Constantino’s Market in Rochester’s College Town shutting down after less than one year in business!  It’s blamed on lack of sales: “Unfortunately, Constantino’s was ultimately not supported at a level that allowed them to be profitable.”-Randy Ruttenberg, Fairmount Properties

North Carolina: Flex Global shutting down their Charlotte logistics operation, 255 jobs lost by April!

Ohio: Key Bank shutting down their Canton office by the end of April.

Oklahoma: Oil company Unit Corporation confirmed to local news media that it laid off several Tulsa employees in the past week, no numbers given.   In OKC, Texas based Spaghetti Warehouse suddenly shutdown, with no explanation why: “After more than 30 years in the community, we have made the difficult business decision to suspend operations and announce the closure of the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant in Oklahoma City. The closure is effective on Tuesday, February 2nd. ….we are hopeful that in the near future we can reopen Spaghetti Warehouse….”

Texas: Houston based Southwestern Energy issued a mass layoff WARN saying 376 people will lose their jobs by March!  National Oilwell Varco has begun laying off 129 employees!  And yet another of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL) as Argentina based steel oil pipe maker Tenarus shutting down their Houston factory, 166 jobs lost by the end of March!   Forth Worth based bankrupt Quicksilver Resources will eliminate 164 oil industry jobs!   Retailer Kohl’s shutting down their Plano store by mid-February, supposedly the 80 employees are being transferred to other Dallas area Kohl’s.

In El Paso, Airline International Luggage shutting down their Westside brick-n-mortar shop, blaming people who buy luggage over the internet.  The owners of Airline International Luggage should know about the shift to internet shopping, they began selling on the internet in 1995! They continue to operate their Eastside location which includes their online shop and warehouse.

Washington: Cardinal Health issued a WARN for its Auburn ops, 59 jobs lost by the end of March.

West Virginia: Kingston Mining laying off 89 coal miners, blaming declining demand for coal.

Wisconsin: In Sheboygan, after five years restaurant Weimann’s Sports Center shutting down this weekend, despite being voted best sports bar.  The owners blame constant road construction projects among other issues: “We fought a battle we just couldn’t win and ultimately felt it would be a lot less stressful for our family to not be in business. It’s a tough business.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.” 

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alaska: Taxpayer funding cuts (caused by the crashing & burning oil industry) are forcing University of Alaska Fairbanks to shutdown the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory.   It’s the only soil testing lab in the state and is not only helpful to gardeners but is used to help pilots land on unprepared runways: “That lab has been responsible for saving the aviation industry probably millions of dollars in aircraft damage. The closing of the lab has so many ripple effects that are just hard to calculate.”-Steve Brown, Agricultural Extension agent

California: San Ramon based Chevron confirmed it eliminated 3-thousand 2-hundred jobs in 2015, and that another 4-thousand oil jobs will be destroyed in 2016!  Administrators say they lost so much money in 2015 that they need to cut more than $9-billion USD in operating costs!

More proof the internet is not recession resistant; Foster City based Live365 internet radio officially shutting down, analysts are blaming the Copyright Royalty Board.  Back at the end of December it was reported that Live365 was laying off the majority of its employees, no word on how many people will lose their jobs.  Health insurance company Blue Shield of California eliminating at least 99 jobs at their Lodi call center, apparently forcing people to buy ObamaCare insurance isn’t generating enough captive audience profits.

Georgia: In Garden City, Daylight Donuts shutdown due to problems with the building and low sales.

Illinois: Jake’sTavern shutdown after 78 years in Galesburg, the current owner refused to say why. 

  Here’s three fine examples of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL);  Illinois base heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar issued a press release stating they will eliminate 10-thousand jobs between now and 2018, due to the crashing mining-oil industry!   In Danville, Germany based ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft eliminating 48 jobs due to declining sales caused by the declining heavy vehicle industry, which is the result of the declining mining-oil industry.  Also in Danville, Freight Car America eliminating 180 jobs by mid-February, blaming the declining railroad industry, which is the result of the declining mining-oil industry!

Missouri: In Clayton, after five years Coastal Bistro & Bar shutdown, no comment from owners. In Chesterfield, Miller’s Crossing Pub & Grill shutdown with no warning or explanation.  In Krikwood, after five years Petra Restaurant shutdown, no further info.

New Jersey: In Freehold, Top Tomato grocery store shutdown, a manager of another Top Tomato store told local news media that relative to sales volume the Freehold store is “too big for them”.    However, on Facebook the owner of the Top Tomato chain straight up blamed the greedy landlord: “…due to circumstances with our landlord that could not be resolved and were out of our control, we were forced to close our Freehold sister store.”

New Mexico: Illinois base heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar eliminated 50 jobs without warning when it suddenly shutdown its Santa Fe factory.  Caterpillar took over the factory from CleanAir Systems in 2010.  In Albuquerque, after 18 years stationary and gift shop Gatherings shutdown, the owner blamed competition with the internet.

New York:   RCS Capital (Realty Capital Securities) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Back in December they WARNed they were shutting down their NYC office by March.  The bankruptcy filing will somehow provide the failing investor $150-million USD and take it ‘private’.  No wonder big companies like to file bankruptcy so much, who knew it was just another way for them to make money?   That Which CanNot Be Named refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘its’ 51+ years old kosher bakery Monsey Kosher Bake Shop (aka Frank’s Family Bakery).  Yehuda Frank began crying when he told local news media that “circumstances made that we close”.   Those “circumstances” include the health and age of the owners.

North Carolina: In Greenville, Fitgerald’s restaurant shutdown without warning less than two years after opening.  Local news media report that the building now has a sign that says “Do not enter, no one”.   Asheboro Elastics shutting down their Narrow Fabrics military fabrics factory.  The vice president of AEC Narrow Fabrics admitted that selling products to the military is not as profitable as they thought, 90 jobs lost between March and April.

North Dakota:  In Fargo, Eloise Boutique & Gift shutting down by the end of March.  The store owner is also the property owner and she admitted she could make more money just being the landlord instead of the tenant.

Ohio: In Columbus, after 29 years Patrick J’s Food + Drink shutdown, apparently the owner could end up in prison for 20 years after pleading guilty to charges of ‘interference with commerce by threats’.

Oregon:  For the second time in one week,  Aequitas Capital Management announced layoffs.  This time 1-hundred people, almost all the remaining employees, will be laid off! Company bosses blame significant financial problems after it was revealed their debt/investment agency was involved in questionable student loans.

Wisconsin: Illinois base heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar eliminating 220 jobs at its factory in Prentice!  What automotive industry recovery?  Milwaukee based iconic Harley-Davidson dropped its expected 2016 shipments of motorcycles from 3% to 1%!  Profits were down 43% for 2015!  Lack of sales means they’re stuck with a 31% increase in leftover inventory compared to 2014.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

29 January 2016: Governor kills state jobs claiming lack of money, then Senator reveals $400-million+ cash surplus!

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.” 

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama:  What automotive industry recovery?  Brazil based brake parts maker Fras’le eliminating 50 jobs at its Prattville factory, by the end of February.  Administrators blame crashing sales in Brazil and China, which are being exacerbated by international currency wars.  In Fairfield, residents are lamenting the loss (before the end of this week) of the only major employer in town; Walmart.  Local news reports say 264 jobs will be lost as a result!  City councilman Darnell Gardner bemoaned “We’ve got a money problem! It’s going to be devastating once they close those doors. And I mean devastating!”

California:  In Cathedral City, after 40 years restaurant El Gallito shutting down.  The co-owners admitted their sales have been declining for some time saying “We were not ready to close 10 years ago, but we’re ready now.”  In Arcata, after 67 years the Sierra Pacific sawmill shutdown, 123 jobs lost due to decreased consumer demand and increased costs of supplies: “When you have a facility that runs at only 50% capacity…..Then with your log supply being more expensive than it is in other areas, that’s just kind of a double whammy.”-Mark Lathrop

Colorado: In Denver, after a little more than three years Park House-Peacemaker’s Cajun Kitchen shutting down next week.  The facebook posting didn’t explain why.   Clothier GAP shutdown stores in Aurora and Loveland, as part of its ongoing plan to shutdown 175 stores.

Delaware:  Wilmington based DuPont warning that it must eliminate as many as 6-thousand jobs by the end of the year due to crashing revenues!  Administrators are blaming most of their revenue losses on international currency wars.

Florida:  More layoffs by Coca-Cola, this time their Brandon finance office will lose about 70 jobs by the end of the week.   In Naples, Keolis Transit eliminating 81 jobs by the end of March.

Massachusetts: Farmingham based Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples just eliminated “hundreds” of HQ jobs!  Exact numbers were not given but unnamed sources admitted they were “preparing” for the possibility their merger with Office Depot will be blocked by the federal regulators.  (never mind that hundreds to thousands will be laid off if the merger is approved)   In Clinton, after 87 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) the Old Timer restaurant shutting down this weekend.  It’s been for sale ever since a co-owner died in 2013, obviously nobody wants to buy it.

Michigan: Beecher School District needs to cut costs and will do so with layoffs, pay cuts and even contracting out jobs that are currently in-house.  Local news reports say the school district has less than 1-thousand students.

Minnesota:  Maker of snowmobiles and ATVs, Medina based Polaris eliminated 1-hundred salaried jobs without warning, blaming unpredictable weather for crashing sales.  Vacant positions will not be filled.  Administrators admitted they had been trying to cut labor costs through attrition, but down sales forced them to conduct outright layoffs.

Missouri:  Georgia based Printpack shutting down its Hazelwood food packaging factory, 115 jobs lost starting in March!   Local news reports say the Hazelwood Printpack factory employed at least 3-hundred people at its peak in the late 1990s.  Administrators did not say why they were shutting it down.  In Amazonia, after 45 years Hunt Orchards shutting down. The current operators say they’re too old to carry on and hope somebody will lease the orchard, otherwise the property owner will sell to commercial developers.

New Hampshire: God’s River University is so desperate for students they are now offering a guarantee of employment upon graduation!  If the student can’t get a job after six months of graduating from a bachelors program (undergraduate) then the university will pay for their masters program (graduate)!

New York:  In NYC, Restaurant Associates lost their food service contract with Germany based Deutsche Bank, 59 jobs lost by April.   Georgia based CNN shutting down their NEP Imaging ops in NYC, at least 12 jobs lost by the end of April.

North Carolina:  In Cary, Connecticut based Xerox confirmed it laid off 178 people without warning!  Administrators said it’s the result of losing a major client.

Ohio: Two banks merged, now local news sources are warning of major layoffs as a result of the Huntington Bancshares take-over of FirstMerit.  The layoffs would take place by the end of the year.  The city of Niles conducted “emergency” layoffs; at least 12 city employees now jobless after an official declaration of fiscal emergency.  The mayor is now begging cash strapped local taxpayers to approve an increase in local taxes!

Oregon:  Local news media discovered that Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems is quietly laying off employees, and employees ordered not to talk about it.  Local businesses providing logistical support to Climax are confirming the layoffs. An unnamed former employee said employees are being forced to sign a severance agreement which says they’ll lose their severance if they reveal the layoffs!  The company was taken over by a California based Industrial Growth Partners in 2013. Local news media are speculating that the layoffs are being kept quiet in an attempt to keep a multi-year tax break, which states they must maintain employment levels at the time of the awarding of the tax break!

Pennsylvania: Reports say layoffs with GE Transportation being expanded to include salaried employees.   Back in November, General Electric said 1-thousand 5-hundred train builders would be let go in 2016!  The latest reports say GE admin refuses to give an exact number regarding the salaried employee layoffs.  In Allentown, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Saint John Vianney parish, in April.  Parish administrators admitted they are $3-million USD in debt, and the church needs $1-million in repairs.

Rhode Island:  Pawtucket based Microfibres shutting down three factories; one in North Carolina, Mississippi and Rhode Island.  At least 3-hundred jobs lost!  Administrators blame international currency wars for crashing sales in Russia and China.

Texas:  Houston based Halliburton confirmed it eliminated an additional 4-thousand jobs during its 4th quarter of 2015!  News reports say at this point the oil field service company has eliminated 22-thousand jobs!

Virginia: Norfolk based railroad transportation company Norfolk Southern is warning that it could layoff as many as 2-thousand employees! Believe it or not, the mass layoffs are part of their plan to ‘invest’ $2.1-billion USD into the company!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”