March 3 – Manitowoc Crane cuts 400 more jobs – BMW to cut 1,000 jobs – Vale Inco slashes 900 jobs – Toyota asking for $2 billion JN loan – Citi to lower some mortgage payments – BAE chops 500 TX jobs – Pending home sales at record low- Ford, GM sales halved – 4500 gone at Kühne & Nagel – Layoffs at Apple?

via Computing SA – Microsoft executive says layoffs offset by more R&D.

* Valleywag today posted an item which says that, according to a “tipster,” Apple (AAPL) is conducting “major layoffs” today. But don’t believe everything you read.

The Pending Home Sales Index, which measures the number of sales contracts signed each month, fell 7.7% to 80.4 from a downwardly revised reading of 87.1 in December. That’s the lowest level since tracking began in 2001.

via Pending home sales for January plummet to record low – Mar. 3, 2009 .

Toyota Motor Corp. said no details had been decided. Kyodo News and NHK TV reported earlier in the day, without identifying sources, that Toyota’s auto loan unit, Toyota Financial Services, had asked for a 200 billion yen ($2 billion) government loan.

via Toyota in talks for Japan government loan – Yahoo! Finance.

* NEW YORK (AP) — Struggling bank Citigroup Inc. said Tuesday that it will lower mortgage payments for some homeowners to an average of $500 a month for three months as part of a new program to help the unemployed.

The struggling bank makes the move as President Barack Obama looks to lenders to adjust the way loans are handled.

via Citigroup to lower some mortgage payments – Yahoo! Finance.

* CHICAGO (AP) — The number of people who were late making their mortgage payments shot up 53 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 from the same period in 2007, according to data provided by TransUnion LLC.

The credit reporting agency said its database shows delinquencies — or the percentage of mortgage holders at least 60 days behind on payments, considered a precursor to foreclosure — jumped to 4.58 percent nationally, from 2.99 percent for the 2007 fourth quarter.

via Mortgage delinquencies up for 8th straight quarter – Yahoo! Finance.

* Part networking opportunity, part therapy group, jobs clubs are is rapidly emerging as hot spots for job hunters in America. The clubs, which are springing up in large U.S. cities as well as small towns, act as places to share fears over depleted savings accounts, polish resumes, practice 30-second personal pitches and hone survival strategies.

via Offering Help, Hope, U.S. “Job Clubs” See Surge – Domestic News: The Post Chronicle.

Tom Toles - Mar 3

* March 3 (Bloomberg) — Bankruptcy filings in the U.S. surged 37 percent in February from a year earlier, with more Americans seeking protection from their creditors as the economy sank into its deepest recession in at least a quarter century.

via Bloomberg.com: U.S..

via Fall River announces layoffs, salary cuts | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal .

* JONESBORO, GA (AP) — Clayton County’s school board unanimously voted to cut 200 teaching jobs and effectively slash salaries for administrators and other employees. But the teachers that stick around will get a 1 percent raise.

The Toronto-based miner said it will cut 900 jobs worldwide, mainly from its corporate, management and business support functions. “The declining nickel price and reduced demand for nickel make it clear that continuing to operate in our current fashion is simply not sustainable,” stated Vale Inco president and chief executive Tito Martins.

via The Canadian Press: Nickel miner Vale Inco to cut 900 jobs globally, 350 in Canada.

via More job cuts announced in Shelby County – Memphis Business Journal: .

* Manitowoc – Canceled orders have led a Franklin County crane manufacturer to lay off 400 workers.

The cuts affected 100 positions at the company’s operations in Oak Hill, 75 jobs at its 1601 S. Mopac Blvd. location and 54 jobs at its campus at 7700 W. Parmer Lane in Williamson County.

via Freescale discloses job cuts | Statesman Business Blog.

via Bloomberg.com: U.S..

* “Berkshire’s operating companies have taken and will continue to take cost reduction actions in response to the current economic situation, including curtailing production, reducing capital expenditures, closing facilities and reducing employment to partially compensate for the declines in demand,” the firm said in a regulatory filing yesterday.

* In a staff meeting Monday, L.B. White Company in Onalaska announced they are laying off 18 workers, or about 20 to 30 percent of their workforce, according to a company source.

L.B. White Director of Human Resources Dan Todryk says the layoffs are due to a downtown in the company’s market. Todryk says they hope to bring the employees back to work in June.

via WKBT La Crosse, WI-NewsChannel 8-More Layoffs Hit La Crosse Area.

* SOUTH KINGSTOWN — South County Hospital trimmed its work force yesterday and cut $100,000 in pay for seven top administrators after running up a $2-million budget shortfall from October to January, the first quarter of its fiscal year

“Today we laid off 20 employees,” Louis Giancola, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer, said yesterday in announcing the cost-cutting measures.

via 20 jobs cut at South County Hospital | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal .

* Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. has acquired Smart Papers LLC’s uncoated paper brands, a move that will cut more than half of Smart Papers’ employees at its Hamilton mill.

via Smart Papers sells brands to Mohawk; will lay off 200 – Business Courier of Cincinnati: .

* MYRTLE BEACH (AP) — The Sun News newspaper has announced it will eliminate 20 positions and reduce pay and work hours for its remaining staffers.

via The Sun News announces layoffs, other cuts | SCNow.

Ben Sargent - Feb 28

* OMAHA, Neb. (AP) The Omaha World-Herald has laid off 38 employees, about 5 percent of its work force

via Omaha WorldHerald lays off 38 employees | KXNet.com North Dakota News.

* Edwards & Associates and its subsidiary, Aeronautical Accessories, laid off five and 45 employees, respectively, company spokeswoman Carolyn Ferrell said in a news release issued Monday.

via Edwards & Associates Announces Layoffs | TriCities.

* The job cuts are part of Intel’s standard practice of finding ways to make its manufacturing process more efficient.

Shipley would not say exactly how many people were notified, but she said it was “significantly lower” than the 100 to 200 layoffs Intel announced in January.

via El Paso/Las Cruces News, Weather, Sports and Entertainment – KDBC 4 – We are CBS! | NM Intel plant trims work force.

* The RIAA is currently laying off dozens of employees in what’s been described as a “bloodbath” at the lawsuit-happy organization. Could this be the end of the RIAA?

Hypebot, the site that reported the layoffs, says that the “RIAA as you know it is probably history by Tuesday.” And yes, that means tomorrow. Offices are closing and over 100 people are being shown the door, so this is clearly a serious move.

via Inevitability: RIAA Layoffs ‘Bloodbath’ May Be the Beginning of the End for the Evil Organization.

* Equistar Chemicals LP said it anticipates cutting the workforce at its Chocolate Bayou plant by 229 positions. The plant is located in Alvin, south of Houston.

via Dallas-Fort Worth economy watch Blog | The Dallas Morning News .

* It’s not a sunny day for the staff at Entech Solar, which plans to lay off 40 percent of its employees as it retools itself.

via Greentech Media: Green Light » Blog Archive » New Strategy Forces Entech Into Layoffs.

* The United Way of Salt Lake serving Davis, Tooele and Summit counties has announced a reduction in staff, including Lynne Shaffer who has been serving as a regional coordinator for Davis County.

via United Way lay offs mean new director for Davis – Standard.NET – Standard-Examiner.

* “The entire economy is shutting down now,” said Gregory Brown, an associate professor of economics at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn. “So you are having huge segments of our production groups that are going to be shutting down because there is no demand there for the product.”

via 250 more Middle Tennessee workers to lose jobs | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean.

* Glen Nardi, president and publisher of Whatcom County’s daily newspaper, announced the cutbacks on Monday, March 2, in the newsroom. There will be eight full-time equivalent positions eliminated, totaling 10 people. Salaries for most of the remaining workforce will be reduced by 2.5 percent or 5 percent, depending on the employees’ salary range.

via The Bellingham Herald / News Update / Bellingham Herald to cut staff, reduce salaries .

* His once proud news operation at WTVH-CBS 5 was devastated Monday March 2, when its owner merged the CBS affiliate with WSTM-NBC 3 and its sister station WSTQ-CW 6. More than three dozen WTVH news and production staffers were laid off.

via Cnylink Local News: WTVH 5 lays off news staff; merges with WSTM 3 .

* Inspire said it will eliminate about 20 jobs as it reallocates resources to late-stage programs. The positions are mainly being cut from early and preclinical stage research.

via Inspire sets 2009 revenue outlook, cuts jobs – Forbes.com.

* March 3 (Reuters) – Home Shopping Network operator HSN Inc (HSNI.O) cut about 250 jobs during the fourth quarter, and cancelled merit increases for 2009 to contain costs.

via UPDATE 1-HSN posts Q4 loss on charges, cuts 250 jobs | Markets | Markets News | Reuters .

*FORT WAYNE — BAE Systems is adding 200 new jobs in Fort Wayne, but eliminating 500 in Texas.

Company spokesperson, Lisa Albiston says BAE is refocusing processes at the Irving, Texas facility.

via BAE Systems adds 200 jobs in Fort Wayne, eliminates 500 in Texas.

* TYLER, Texas — Chicago Bridge and Iron Co. plans to close its two fabrication operations in Tyler, a move that will cut 300 jobs.

via Tyler plant loses 300 jobs | Business news | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle.

* One of Somerset’s oldest and best-known firms has sold off its furniture division in a deal which will lead to the loss of 20 jobs and the closure of a distribution centre.

Shepton Mallet based Haskins says the deal will safeguard the future of the firm and jobs both in Somerset and Bristol.

via Bristol News | This Is Bristol | Job cuts at Haskins to secure Somerset firm’s future | Western Daily Press.

* Watson & Chalin Inc., a North Texas manufacturer of auxiliary truck suspensions, has sent a letter to the Texas Workforce Commission informing of plans to lay off up to 42 employees at the company’s two McKinney facilities.

via McKinney company cutting up to 42 jobs – Dallas Business Journal:

* CNL Financial Group Inc. slashed 10 percent of its workforce, or about 30 to 35 positions.

via CNL cuts 10% of workforce – Orlando Business Journal: .

* Citing poor sales, a Decatur powerboat maker has laid off 225 employees, 62 of them last week. They’re expected to be out of work at least six months.

Porter Inc., maker of Thunderbird and Formula powerboats, notified the state of its plans last week, but the Indiana Department of Workforce Development didn’t post the notice on its Web site until Monday afternoon.

via Powerboat maker idles 225 in Decatur | The Journal Gazette.

* It’s official: Macy’s has told the state that it will be laying off 375 employees at its Florida corporate headquarters on East Flagler Street in downtown Miami.

via Macy’s Fla. headquarters to layoff 375, close – Triangle Business Journal: .

* TORONTO – CTV Television Inc. is slashing 118 jobs at the newsroom operations of its A Channel television stations, and cancelling morning shows in some cities.

via CTV slashes 118 jobs at A Channel stations, cuts morning shows | 610 CKTB.

* The San Francisco-based law firm is laying off approximately 100 lawyers and 200 staff workers from its 21 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe. That is equal to 12 percent of its legal ranks and 14 percent of staffers.

via Orrick laying off 300 more – San Francisco Business Times: .

* Standard Motor Products, a New York-based auto replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, will be closing its Wilson facility and laying off all its 36 employees

via SMP Standard Motor Products closes Wilson plant: Plant’s work to be outsourced to Asia.

* FirstEnergy Corp. Tuesday cut 335 managers and support staff, including 216 in Ohio.

The cuts came after a two-month organizational study aimed at streamlining the management of the Akron-based utility’s operations that sprawl over three states and include seven operating companies.

via FirstEnergy Corp. cuts 335 managers and support staff, including 216 in Ohio – Business – cleveland.com.

* Information technology provider Securas Consulting Group LLC laid off eight employees Monday and cut salaries company wide by 10 percent, sources familiar with the company said.

via Layoffs, salary cuts at Securas Consulting Group – Memphis Business Journal: .

via Kühne & Nagel, the world’s largest sea-freight company, has announced up to 4,500 job cuts worldwide in 2009 swissinfo.

via BMW to cut 1,000 jobs.

* British aerospace company Meggitt (MGGT.L) said 2009 revenues would come in around the same as last year as it battles a tougher civil aviation market, while up to 750 jobs will go as it seeks to cut costs.

* Sandvik (STO:SAND) Mining and Construction intends to immediately initiate negotiations with the personnel organizations regarding closing of the manufacturing of mobile crushers, screens and stationary feeders in Arbra, Sweden. The notice of termination of employment affects all personnel employed at Sandvik SRP AB in Arbra, 53 persons.

When job losses were announced last week, presentations were given to surviving staff detailing a much more frugal employee benefits package.

The Carphone Warehouse “Beer Bust” has been running since 1989. Staff at head office and call centres stay after hours for free beer, while shop workers are given an allowance for a trip to the pub.

via Office booze-up battered in CPW cutbacks • The Register.

* Speculation is rife that Bausch and Lomb is set to announce more than 100 lay-offs.

via Nova cancels planned job cuts after IPIC deal | Industries | Industrials, Materials & Utilities | Reuters .

* Thirty previously laid-off hourly workers at General Motors Corp.’s Tonawanda engine plant were recalled Monday.

Mike: More as the day develops………..