Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
Who said internet businesses are making money? British empire based Future Publishing announced it will layoff employees as part of a restructuring program. The internet publishing company operates in Australia, United Kingdom and United States.
California: In Oakland, Sutter East Bay Hospital laid off another eight employees.
Illinois: Rockford School District shutting down nine schools, and tearing them down to created “green space”! It’s not clear why, even a local news source stated “parents expressed extreme curiosity in the district’s plans”.
Indiana: What housing market recovery? After 56 years Oakbrook Homes shutdown. The owner said before the 2009 recession he was building 100 homes per year, since then he’s been lucky to build 25 homes per year! On Ball State University campus, Hiatt Printing shutdown. The owner blamed University officials.
Iowa: Genesis Health System laid off 80 employees. Company executives even cut their own pay. Yes, they blame Obama Care: “We agree that health systems across the country are facing increasing challenges from changes in reimbursement levels…”
Kentucky: Northern Kentucky University laying off 20 employees for the upcoming school year. It’s blamed on “financial challenges”.
Maine: University of Southern Maine shutdown Dickey Wood Hall. It’s blamed on disappearing students. The Hall was designed to accommodate 360 students, but this past spring there were only 40 living in the dorm! In Gardiner, Too Big to Jail Key Bank shutdown its branch office. The 139 years old building is being sold off.
Michigan: The Hamburg Historical Museum shutdown. The operators said they can no longer pay the $20-thousand USD in yearly utility and insurance costs. In Lapeer, Sears Holdings announced the Kmart will close in July, 56 jobs lost. In Saline, after 22 years The Drowsy Parrot coffee shop shutdown without notice. Local news reports said employees were just as shocked as customers. There was no explanation from the owner, only confirmation via text message (the owner didn’t even have the guts to tell employees in person).
Mississippi: In Jackson, after 68 years elitist golf course Colonial Country Club seized by the banks. The operators blame the bad economy.
New York: What housing market recovery? In Garden City, Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase killing off 161 mortgage industry jobs in July!
North Carolina: Raleigh based medical diagnostic company LipoScience laid off 22 employees, due to a lost contract.
Ohio: After 57 years Bargar Jewelry shutdown.
Pennsylvania: In Pittsburgh, U.S. Steel announced it will kill an undisclosed number of jobs across the United States. Company officials say it’s part of their cost cutting operations called Carnegie Way Initiative. According to company officials, U.S. Steel has lost money five years in a row! And coal miner Consol Energy laid off 188 people, despite spending $24-million upgrading operations at its Buchanan Mine!
Tennessee: In Chattanooga, after 63 years Grant’s Auto Glass shutdown. The owner’s daughter said “They’re going to miss us when we’re gone.”
Texas: In Austin, after 36 years the Tamale House shutdown, the owner died. The global leader of geosynthetic linings, Houston based GSE Environmental, is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The bankruptcy does not affect the company’s operations in Chile, Germany, Thailand, China and Egypt. Company officials say the U.S. bankruptcy is needed to help it “restructure”. Is that code for massive offshoring of U.S. jobs? In Fort Worth, taxsucker Bell Helicopter laid off another 325 people! It’s blamed on crashing orders for the controversial V-22 Osprey. Bell Helicopter laid off 115 engineers in March, and more than 300 employees in 2013! In Georgetown, health clinic operator Lone Star Circle of Care laid off 65 employees. Company officials would not elaborate as to why. The CEO also quit. The company provides services to underinsured people, so maybe Obama Care is to blame. The company relies on donations to operate.
Virginia: In Fairfax County, dry cleaner Max Cleaners shutdown without notice, and locked up all their customers clothing in the stores! Turns out the store owner was evicted by the property owner after legal battles.
Wisconsin: In Berlin, the Grede Foundry laying off 77 employees in July. Company officials blame the bad economy for crashing sales.
01 – 02 May 2014: “a kick in the gut!”
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.
“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013
