February 27 – GDP contracts at a staggering 6.2% pace – Japan’s FDK Corp to zap 4,800 – GM cuts 1,633 jobs in BR – Layoff List exclusive: Up to 600 will be cut at Hamilton Sundstrand – GAP to close 100 more stores – 24 K-Marts to close – Sub-Zero Freezer cuts 350 – Latham layoffs at 440 – Sam’s Club Canada stores closing: 1200 jobs at risk – NiSource to cut up to 380 – Pilgrim’s Pride slashes 3000

via Microsoft delays temp cutbacks – TechFlash: Seattle’s Technology News Source.

* Microsoft may have just accomplished what the WashTech labor union tried to do for years — motivating its workers to band together and fight for their common interests. At least, that’s the aim of a new site called MSRateCuts.org, which objects to the pay cuts expected to result from Microsoft’s decision to reduce the rate it pays the agencies that provide many of its temporary workers.

* Microsoft on Thursday released a lengthy list of 36 improvements it plans to make to the release candidate (RC) for Windows 7, though the company did not provide any details on when that RC might actually be available.

The Commerce Department report released Friday showed the economy sinking much faster than the 3.8 percent annualized drop for the October-December quarter first estimated by the government last month. It also was considerably weaker than the 5.4 percent annualized decline economists expected.

via Economy shrinks even more than expected in 4Q – Yahoo! Finance.

Management-Chicago said on Friday its index of Midwest business

activity rose in February to 34.2 from 33.3 in January.

via TABLE-Chicago PMI index 34.2 in Feb vs 33.3 in Jan | Markets | US Markets | Reuters .

The Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said its final index reading of confidence for February fell to 56.3 from 61.2 in January.

via U.S. consumers’ mood sours in February: survey – Yahoo! Finance.

–Jobs are being lost in the service sector at the fastest rate in over ten years as the recession deepens, the latest CBI Service Sector survey reveals today.

The quarterly survey, conducted between 28th January and 11th February, covers 196 service sector firms – across business and professional services, such as accountancy, legal and marketing firms, and consumer services, including hotels, bars and restaurants, travel and leisure.

Sharp falls in business volumes and profitability were reported by companies for the three months to February, along with plans to scale back investments and jobs.

via Financial news, business, blogs, finance director jobs – Director of Finance Online.

* WASHINGTON – Companies that defrauded the United States and jeopardized American lives received new government work despite rulings designed to stop them from receiving federal contracts, government investigators report.

via Layoff notices go out to about 50 Redwood City School District employees – San Jose Mercury News .

* SPSA, the financially reeling regional waste authority, is laying off 29 employees this week and 13 more next month as part of an effort to cut costs and reduce its overall work force by 15 percent.

via Gap quarterly profit falls, to close more stores | Quotes | Company News | Reuters .

* Wal-Mart Canada announced a rare failure yesterday, confirming it will close down its six-store Sam’s Club wholesale division after five years of struggling against rival Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd…….

* A Honda supplier will permanently eliminate 200 jobs in Greenfield, a sign that Indiana’s weak economy could persist beyond 2010.

The insurance company and motorists’ club for Northern California, Nevada and Utah said the Las Vegas-area cuts are part of a plan to cut 17 of its 120 branch offices and reduce its workforce by about 250 positions.

Five of the affected branch offices are in Northern California. Eight are in Nevada and four are in Utah.

Besides laying off about 250 people, an additional 50 open jobs will not be filled.

via AAA announces layoffs, six offices to close – Las Vegas Sun.

via theleafchronicle.com | The Leaf-Chronicle | Serving Clarksville, TN.

* As expected, the Recording Industry Association of America, the lobbying group of the four largest music labels, has laid off between 30 and 40 people.

via Sources: RIAA cuts more than 30 jobs | Digital Media – CNET News.

* The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City laid off 37 employees today, according to Elizabeth Romanaux, vice president of communications.

via Hudson Reporter – News, Events, Classifieds, and Businesses in Hudson County, New Jersey.

* Cisco Systems eliminated nearly 30 jobs at its Research Triangle Park campus this week, part of a larger effort to reduce costs as sales slow at the technology company.

via Cisco Systems cuts fewer than 30 jobs in RTP – Business – News & Observer.

* Trubion Pharmaceuticals said today that it will lay off 25 employees, about one quarter of its work force, as the Seattle biotechnology company shrinks the number of product candidates it is pursuing.

via Business & Technology | Trubion lays off 25 as biotech sector struggles | Seattle Times Newspaper.

* SAN FRANCISCO—Test-equipment supplier Keithley Instruments Inc. plans to discontinue its S600 Series parametric testing product line and cut 6 percent of its workforce due to lack of demand amid the economic downturn.

via EETimes.com – Keithley cuts more jobs, halts product line.

* Medical-devices giant Medtronic Inc. (MDT) plans to freeze its workers’ base salary and trim compensation for its executive team in an effort to control costs while it faces economic and market pressures.

The Minneapolis-based company is also considering layoffs, although no specific decisions about how many employees could be cut, or from which areas, have been made, spokesman Steve Cragle said Thursday. Reductions would start in the 2010 fiscal year that begins May 1.

via Medtronic Freezing Pay, Eying Layoffs Amid Econ Pressure.

* Akeena Solar Inc. said Thursday lost $9.2 million, or 32 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, and would cut 20 jobs, or about 10 percent of its total staff.

via Akeena Solar loss widens, 20 jobs cut: bizjournals.com Business News – MSN Money.

* For the second time in a year, a Rubbertown chemical plant is closing and dismantling its facilities.

Closing the OxyVinyls plant will cost about 75 jobs, said Stacey Crews, a company spokeswoman.

via Rubbertown OxyVinyls plant to close | courier-journal | The Courier-Journal.

* WETUMPKA, Ala. (AP) — Fruit of the Loom has announced it will close its carpet yarn plant in Wetumpka, cutting 138 jobs.

via Fruit of the Loom to close Wetumpka yarn plant, idling 138 workers – WHNT.

* Sears told employees today that it will close a Kmart store at 300 Summit Drive in Lockport as part of its latest announcement that it will close another 24 stores due to poor sales.

via Sears to close Lockport Kmart store :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Business.

* Chrysler LLC will lay off as many as 150 people next month for an indefinite period at its Kenosha engine plant in response to slowing sales.

via Chrysler will cut up to 150 jobs at Kenosha plant – JSOnline.

Mike Luckovich - Feb 26

* Archer Daniels Midland announced Thursday that it will lay off an undetermined number of workers at its Jackson plant within the next few months.

via Food processing plant to cut jobs | jacksonsun.com | .

* KOLKATA: As part of cost cutting measures to tackle global economic downturn, IT major TCS today said job cuts are possible and also ruled out salary hikes next year.

via TCS freezes salary, may cut jobs – Software & Services-News-Indiatimes – Infotech.

* Dell has posted a slump in profits for the full year ended 30 January, and it now plans to make a further $1bn in annual cost savings by 2011.

The firm is already conducting a $3bn annual cost savings programme by 2011, which has led to thousands of axed jobs. Dell now says the cost saving target is $4bn annually, meaning more jobs will go.

via Dell plans more job cuts as profits slump | 27 Feb 2009 | ComputerWeekly.com.

* Stantec Engineering joined the parade of mining sector layoffs by handing out 11 pink slips in North Bay and six in Sudbury this week.

It was the second round of workforce reduction blamed on the industry’s worldwide slowdown for the company formerly known as McIntosh Engineering. There were 11 layoffs split between the two centres in December.

via Stantec cuts 11 jobs in city – The North Bay Nugget – Ontario, CA .

* SEATTLE—Seven people were laid off at the University of Washington’s contemporary art museum last Friday, the Seattle alternative weekly The Stranger reports.

via Layoffs at University of Washington Museum – ARTINFO.com.

* JW Peters Inc., a Burlington manufacturer of precast and prestressed concrete, has informed state officials that it plans to cut 81 employees in what management believes is a temporary layoff.

via JW Peters sets temporary layoff of 81 – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: .

* UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) – A day after it was revealed that re-organization efforts at Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield would result in layoffs, NEWSChannel 2 now learns that the total number of employees being let go will be 8.

via 8 layoffs at Excellus; employees given opportunity to apply for other positions | NBC-WKTV News Channel 2 | Local News .

* Sub-Zero Freezer/Wolf Appliance, a builder of refrigerators, freezers and cooking appliances with facilities in Madison and Fitchburg, announced Thursday it plans to lay off up to 350 local employees on or after May 1.

via Sub-Zero Freezer/Wolf Appliance cuts 350.

* More than 25 percent of the staff at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City was laid off today, officials there confirmed this morning.

via 37 layoffs at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City – Hudson County – NJ.com .

* The Augusta Chronicle reduced its workforce today according to Don Bailey, president of the newspaper. The positions were eliminated across a variety of departments. Mr. Bailey attributed the reductions to difficult economic conditions.

via Chronicle announces layoffs 022609 – The Augusta Chronicle.

* Kulicke & Soffa Industries Inc. plans to let go of 215 employees, according to a filing the company made with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday.

via Another 215 layoffs planned at Kulicke & Soffa – Philadelphia Business Journal: .

* OXFORD — Seventy-three Miami University employees will be informed next week their jobs will be eliminated as the university scales back 216 positions between its campuses.

A total of 216 classified and unclassified positions will be eliminated as Miami cuts its $22 million budget deficit, Miami President David Hodge told staff and faculty this week in a letter.

via Miami University to cut 216 jobs; 9 at Middletown campus.

* FootJoy will go the route of other shoe-related companies in Brockton as it falls victim to the dismal economy and shrinking demand for its products.

–FootJoy is closing its manufacturing operation here, leaving 103 people without jobs.

via FootJoy plant that makes golf shoes in Brockton is closing, sunk by weak economy – Brockton, MA – Wicked Local Brockton.

* But Brinkley officials say it’s what’s keeping many families there. It’s been the backbone of the town for more than 35 years. It accounts for the majority of the sales tax and supports 48 jobs, making it the biggest business in the city of 3,900.

Mayor Barbara Skouras says, “That old saw that Wal-Mart ruins towns, maybe they did 35 years ago, but they certainly have been an asset to our community in recent years.”

via Wal-Mart Closing Its Brinkley Store – todaysthv.com | KTHV | Little Rock, AR .

* Hartford-based Phoenix Cos. said Friday it will cut more than 250 jobs — about 25 percent of its staff — and reported a net loss of $424.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 and a $772 million loss for the year.

via Phoenix To Cut 250 Jobs — Courant.com.

* US firm Latham & Watkins is to lay off a total of 440 employees across its global network.

Earlier this morning managing partner Bob Dell emailed the entire firm announcing a plan to shed 12 per cent of its associate ranks, the equivalent of 190 people, and 10 per cent of all paralegals and staff.

The firm’s London office will lose 15 employees.

via Latham to cut 440 jobs as workloads plummet – 27 February 2009.

* SAC Capital Advisors is the latest hedge fund firm to cut jobs, with the Connecticut hedge fund giant laying off back-office employees.

No investment staff are affected by the staff reductions, according to published reports. But between 30 and 40 operations support staff will lose their jobs.

via SAC Cuts Back-Office Jobs | FINalternatives.

* In order to return to profitability, Sotheby’s announced it would cut 15% of its workforce, or around 245 employees, in 2009.

via Dividend Stocks – The Dividend Daily » Blog Archive » Sotheby’s Swings to $8.45 Million Q4 Loss, Cutting Jobs (BID).

* Amarr Garage Doors on Thursday laid off another 18 employees in Lawrence, less than three months after the manufacturer cut 100 jobs amid a weak national housing market

via Amarr Garage Doors lays off 18 more workers – KTKA.com.

* SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — J. Crew Group Inc. said Friday it will cut 95 jobs, or about 10% of its workforce, to reign in costs. Most of the job cuts will affect the retailer’s New York offices. J. Crew also said it will suspend matching contributions for employees’ 401(k) plans, and eliminate merit based wage increases.

via J. Crew to cut 95 jobs, or 10% of workforce – MarketWatch .

* Energy holding company NiSource Inc. on Friday said its business segment, NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage (NGT&S), will slash 370 to 380 jobs, across its 16-state operating territory over the course of 2009.

via NiSource to cut 370 to 380 jobs in 2009 – Forbes.com.

* Univera Healthcare said today it has cut 17 employees in its case management division, as it reorganizes the unit to cut costs and operate more efficiently.

via Univera cuts 17 jobs in Western New York : Latest Local News : The Buffalo News.

* Standard Solar Inc. has laid off 14 percent of its staff, and chosen not to renew two consultant contracts, citing a down economy as the reason for not growing as fast as anticipated.

via Standard Solar lays off nine people – Washington Business Journal: .

* COSHOCTON — More than 30 employees of Coshocton Ethanol, LLC were officially laid off Friday as the trend continues for production of the renewable fuel to be unprofitable.

via Ethanol plant lays off employees | coshoctontribune.com | Coshocton Tribune.

* Workers at Fargo`s Case-New Holland plant have been told of layoffs.

The company confirms 140 workers will be laid off next month and describes the layoffs as indefinite.

via KFYR-TV North Dakota’s NBC News Leader.

* BRIGHAM CITY — ATK Launch Systems has put its employees on alert, saying it plans to lay off 300 employees from the company’s three Utah locations by the end of March.

via Deseret News | ATK to lay off 300 by end of March.

* MURFREESBORO, N.C.—Metal Tech cut more than a fourth of its workforce Thursday, citing slow business.

“I didn’t lay off 20 employees; I laid off 20 family members,” said Ray Felton, who owns the company with his son, Brock. “It was the toughest day of my life.”

via Tidewater News | Metal Tech lays off 20.

* Holland, MI — Without orders to fill, Tiara Yachts is laying off 3/4 of its workforce.

“These people are not being terminated. We just don’t have the work for them right now,” Dave Walsh, marketing director, said.

via Tiara Yachts laying off 300 – Holland, MI – The Holland Sentinel.

* FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Eleven employees will be laid off and another nine positions will be eliminated, under a plan to be submitted to the state, township officials announced Thursday.

via 11 will be laid off in Freehold Twp. | APP.com | Asbury Park Press.

* Lowenstein Sandler laid off about 8 percent of its attorneys on Thursday. The Roseland, N.J.-based law firm let go of 21 lawyers and 32 staff employees and reduced its incoming associate class size by three spots.

via Law.com – Lowenstein Sandler Lays Off 8 Percent of Attorneys .

* McCann today confirmed cutting 40 people, or 5 percent of the staff, in its San Francisco. The cuts were made yesterday. The San Francisco outpost works on Microsoft, Microsoft Xbox, Hewlett Packard’s global computers business and Cathay Pacific.

via More Cuts: McCann S.F. Trims 40.

* Castle & Cooke Hawaii has laid off 50 people at its Oahu and Lanai operations over the past six months, citing the slowdown in tourism and the real estate market.

via Castle & Cooke Hawaii cuts staff – Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

 

 

– International News –

 

* General Motors Corp (GM.N) said on Thursday it would lay off more than 1,600 workers at one of its plants in Brazil and had put another 900 workers on paid leave for 30 days.

via GM to cut 1,633 jobs in Brazil, puts 900 on leave | Markets | Markets News | Reuters .

 

* BOART Longyear has posted a rise in annual profit but reduced its capital spending, suspended dividends and cut its global workforce by 20 per cent amid the sector downturn.

The drilling services contractor, which has axed more than 2000 jobs since late last year, warned of further job losses in the calendar year as it looks to reduce costs.

via Boart Longyear cuts workforce | The Australian.

 

* FDK Corp, an affiliate of Japanese electronics firm Fujitsu Ltd, said on Friday it will cut 4,800 jobs or 40 per cent of its workforce at home and abroad to cope with a steep business downturn.

via Japan’s FDK Corp to cut 4,800 jobs.

* Responding to speculation that a restructure of its sales and operational arm had led to some job losses, the firm issued the following statement: “Bailey Teswaine can confirm that it has recently entered into a period of consultation, which has resulted in a small number of redundancies.”

via Bailey Teswaine confirms redundancies – 26 Feb 2009 – CRN.

* A LIGHTING company has confirmed it is to cut 85 jobs – less than a month after the official opening of its £28m plant.

Thorn’s factory and training academy, in Spennymoor, County Durham, was welcomed by, among others, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson who heralded it as creating a “durable legacy”

via Thorn to cut jobs after opening £28m plant (From The Northern Echo).

* The Kent Messenger Group, which runs newspapers, radio stations and websites, has announced plans to cut 159 jobs – with 32 at risk in editorial.

The Folkestone and Thanet district offices could close in the cost-cutting proposals, with staff moving to Ashford and Whitstable.

via More than 150 jobs to go at Kent Messenger Group – Press Gazette.

 

– Hiring News –

* JACKSON, Miss. – A furniture manufacturer says it will add 125 new jobs at a north Mississippi plant as part of a consolidation of its North American operations that includes a Michigan facility closing.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour announced the expansion of United Chair in Bruce at a news conference Thursday in his capitol office. A chair made by the company was on display.

via North Mississippi furniture plant to add 125 jobs — chicagotribune.com.

Mike: More news as the day develops………..

If you have information on layoff announcements that haven’t reach the eyes and ears of main stream media, or if there are announcements that I have missed, pass them along and I’ll be sure to post them Mike@layofflist.org.

Mike: I’ll try and put together a Weekend Update, but with family visiting, it may be short and sweet. With a busy week of layoff news and disappointing economic reports behind us and the weekend upon us, let’s try and forget those sour notes for a more sweet sound.