Mike: I hope you all had a fine weekend. We NY Giants fans are a little disappointed this day, but you have to score to win and the Eagles did  so they were the better team on Sunday.  At least they still have jobs while many will be losing theirs this day. Let’s see how the jobs news is shaping up this morning:

 

 

Microsoft/Google/IBM News & Rumors

 

* For many IBM employees, last week was torture. Rumors have been swirling that jobs are on the chopping block and that close to 16,000 workers will become victims of a one-two combination punch from the economic downturn and IBM’s continual moves to lower its costs and extend its string of profitable quarterly reports.

As is its standard practice, IBM has nothing to say on the topic of layoffs. That includes any denial that this move is about to be made.

Information on the rumored job losses comes primarily from the Website of the IBM Employees Union, Alliance@IBM. (Yes, IBM does in fact have a union in the United States, which is a local of the Communications Workers of America.) Postings on the current job elimination status can be found on this Web page.

via The Four Hundred–Layoff Rumors Panic IBM Workers; Nothing Confirmed .

 

* According to the latest news on the web, Motorola is preparing a large number of layoffs as soon as this week. It seems that sources familiar with the company’s plans have stated that the handset division will suffer a massive workforce reduction, as nearly 50 percent of the employees might be given the pink slip. Knowing this, it seems that the financial turmoil has affected the mobile phone maker harder than expected.

The company is reported to plan on keeping all the people from its set top box, networking equipment, and enterprise device businesses. As the handset division could be dropped to only half of its personal, the company is rumored to plan on releasing only twelve phones per year. Moreover, it seems that the focus will be placed on smartphones based on Google’s Android platform, while other similar devices are expected to be left aside.

via Motorola Cuts Jobs, Focuses on Android – The company is reported to plan on releasing only about 12 phones a year – Softpedia.

 

* Phone Scoop has learned that Motorola’s handset division is expecting a large round of layoffs as soon as this week, according to someone familiar with Motorola’s plans. The layoffs are confirmed to be significant and may amount to 50% of the entire handset operation.

via Motorola’s Handset Arm Prepping for Massive Layoffs (Phone Scoop).

 

* IT In Action | 11 Jan 2009 : 

Microsoft is likely to employ cost-cutting measures in the upcoming months to help it maintain a strong position during the economic downturn, according to a fresh wave of reports.

The latest indications suggest that the firm will hold back on hiring new staff and not renew contract employees, rather than instigate a major lay-off operation.

Restructuring plans could be announced ahead of Microsoft’s second-quarter earnings statement due on 22 January.

via IT In Action Blog – Microsoft restructure rumours abound .

 

* s word of impending layoffs continues to spread among IBM workers, some job cuts started this week in the Hudson Valley, according to the New York Department of Labor.

Its Rapid Response Unit for displaced workers confirmed it received a notice Dec. 24 from Manpower Staffing in Poughkeepsie that 135 IBM contract jobs would be gone “commencing Jan. 5.”

Spokesman Doug Shelton said IBM was “not going to comment on specific actions.”

Big Blue has also remained mum on reports that 16,000 jobs worldwide will be cut Jan. 23, but information continues to trickle in from sources who have requested anonymity.

via IBM Notebook: Will IBM cut jobs after getting state aid? – RecordOnline.com – The Times Herald Record.

 

 

General Economic News

 

 

* NEW YORK – Officials at state unemployment offices say they’ve never seen anything like it: Layoffs are happening so fast that those seeking unemployment benefits are overloading state computer systems, jamming phone lines, and making it necessary for administrators to hire temporary workers.

In some states, it’s so bad officials suspect that only half the calls are getting through. Frustrated, the unemployed are e-mailing anyone they can find at the state agencies or are just hitting redial on their phones, sometimes hundreds of times. The problem will get worse before it gets better, say some officials.

via Jobless claims overwhelm state offices | csmonitor.com.

 

* Just as the recession is throwing people out of work at an alarming rate, the unemployment insurance system in New York and many other states will start cutting off benefits this week for thousands of people who have been unable to find jobs since early last year.

Julio Ponce, who is seeking work as a chef, said he did not know how he would cover his rent after his unemployment benefits lapsed this week.

 

About 50,000 New Yorkers who had been collecting unemployment checks for 11 months — the longest stretch that benefits have been available since the last recession eight years ago — will stop receiving weekly payments this week, according to the State Labor Department.

via Adding to Recession’s Pain, Thousands to Lose Jobless Benefits – NYTimes.com.

 

* Seagate (STX) CEO Bill Watkins told Tech Trader Daily on Friday that December was “just terrible” in terms of disk-drive demand, due in part to a sharp drop in distribution channel inventories. Watkins said channel inventories for disk drives are the lowest he has ever seen, as low as four weeks, and notes that distributors are having trouble getting credit.

Watkins notes that the company will announce a restructuring sometime this month which will likely result in a reduction in production capacity and significant layoffs. The company currently has about 50,000 employees worldwide; it’s not hard to imagine there will be thousands job cuts.

via Seagate Says December Was ‘Just Terrible’ — Seeking Alpha.

 

* BASEL, Switzerland: The global economy will recover in 2010 from a sharp slowing this year as official steps to lift growth hit home, senior central bankers said on Monday.

The European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet, who chaired talks here on the world economy, said restoring confidence was crucial as emerging markets join the industrialized world in feeling the impact of the financial crisis.

via Central bankers expect global recovery in 2010 – International Herald Tribune.

 

* But after a rapid rise in health-care costs this decade, the economics of continuing on Cobra are beyond the reach of many, according to a study released Friday from Families USA. The average monthly Cobra premium for family coverage, $1,069, consumes 84% of the average monthly unemployment check, which is $1,287, the study found.

“If you’re subsisting on an unemployment insurance check and 84% of that check is what’s needed to continue family coverage, clearly it’s unrealistic to expect you can afford to do that and still have money left for food and rent and utilities and other necessities,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA.

via Health coverage takes big bite out of unemployment checks – MarketWatch .

 

* The green energy sector has a lot riding on 2009. Policymakers from Washington to Beijing have pledged billions of dollars in “cleantech” investment to jump-start the depressed global economy and create millions of new low-carbon jobs.

That should be a boon to the wind power industry, which is working to harness the world’s second-largest source of renewable energy after hydroelectric. As with the solar industry, wind power has been hit by a sudden slowdown in private sector investment as credit has dried up and the price of oil has fallen from its mid-2008 high. The industry hopes public spending will help fill the gap until the global economy gets back on its feet.

via A Chill Blows Through Wind Power – BusinessWeek.

 

 

Municipal News

 

 

* Two county health clinics and hundreds of county jobs are on the chopping block this week as officials wrestle with reduced income and higher costs to provide health-related services to county residents.

The Board of Supervisors in Tuesday will take community input on plans to close health clinics in Lindsay and Tulare, and then will consider staff recommendations to lay off more than 200 county employees.

via Tulare County eyes clinic closures, job cuts | county, health, tulare – Local News – Recorderonline.com.

 

* CHICO — Five city firefighters received layoff notices Saturday morning after the city and the fire union failed to agree on wage and benefit concessions.

via City lays off five firefighters: Vacant position also to be cut after bargaining talks fail – Chico Enterprise Record.

 

* Pemberton Township, also in Burlington County, is considering layoffs and issued a memo to municipal employees on Jan. 6 that cited difficulties posed by the tax-levy cap and that said the municipality would work with union leaders to minimize job losses, even as the “problem is a serious one.”

via Burlington Township, facing $1.6 million shortfall, plans layoffs | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/12/2009.

 

* Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Springboro Board of Education is scheduled to cut the custodians’ jobs as part of $467,000 in budget cuts designed to bring the district’s budget into balance.

 

 

US and some Canada News –



NAPLES — As part of a consolidation of its Florida operations, Centex Corp. has once again reduced its workforce in its divisional office in Naples.

Locally, more than a half-dozen employees have lost their jobs in the past month. More layoffs are coming.

The division office now has an estimated 40 employees, excluding agents in its sales centers. That’s down from a high of about 250 at the peak of the real estate boom in 2005.

via Centex makes more job cuts, may shut down Naples office : Real_Estate : Naples Daily News.

 

* ATHENS – A financially-troubled poultry giant with several plants in northeast Georgia announces layoffs at one of them.

Channel 2 Action News reports that nearly 100 workers at the Pilgrim’s Pride poultry plant in Athens will lose their jobs early next month.

via Layoffs at Pilgrim’s Pride | AccessNorthGa.

 

* St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island announced Friday more employee layoffs for a total of 22 since October.

The news of layoffs at St. Francis Medical Center is coupled with news Friday that Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney has laid off 32 people in the past few weeks.

According to St. Francis Medical Center officials, the total layoffs in Grand Island include people affected by the closing of the Wood River and Cairo Primary Care Clinics and Wellness Works/Por Su Salud at the Conestoga Mall as well as various departments of the hospital. The clinics and Wellness Works are permanently closed.

via The Independent > Archives > News > Local > St. Francis announces layoffs.

 

* Update: Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. will curtail production and lay off at least 1,550 Morenci mine employees, according to an announcement from the mining company Friday.

As of Friday, about 3,300 people are employed at Morenci. The anticipated layoff will cut that work force by nearly half.

“Detailed plans for the curtailment are currently in development,” Freeport spokesman Richard Peterson said in an e-mail message to the Courier.

According to Peterson, the date of the first layoffs is expected to be in the 14-day period beginning March 16 and ending March 29. The majority of affected employees will be placed on a paid leave of absence starting Feb. 2.

via News : 1,500 laid off from Morenci mine – Eastern Arizona Courier.

 

* It is reported that Gerdau Macsteel will lay off 46 hourly workers at its Monroe mill with effect from January 16th 2009, largely due to the continuing auto industry slump. The plant makes bar quality steel mainly for automotive uses. It employs 452, so the layoffs affect about 10% of its total work force. The cutback represents about 14% of the 328 member hourly work force. No salaried workers are being laid off.

via SteelGuru – News.

 

* VICKSBURG, Miss. — LeTourneau Technologies Inc. has laid off 50 workers at its oil rig construction yard in Vicksburg.

via LeTourneau lays off 50, cites economy – Regional Wire – SunHerald.com.

 

* Reality of the situation is that the publishing industry is taking a beating in large part due to the the Internet and the failing economy. Even our parent company, Village Voice Media, isn’t immune to it, having just done a round of company-wide layoffs and cost-cutting measures. Still, it’s sad to see that a city so desperately in need of more quality publications lose one as good as MAP.

via Miami – Riptide 2.0 – MAP Magazine Folds After Only Six Issues.

 

* BOSTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) – Diversified U.S. manufacturer Kennametal Inc (KMT.N) said on Monday that its profit for the just-ended quarter would be lower than investors expected and that it planned to cut 1,200 jobs as it scrambles to respond to a deepening global recession.

 

* Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) — Christie’s International will cut jobs as the financial crisis damps demand for art.

The London-based auction house plans “a companywide reorganization which includes significant staff reductions,” Christie’s said in an e-mailed statement today.

“There’s a consultation process going on at the moment, so we’re not in a position to comment on numbers,” Alexandra Buxton, Christie’s European head of public relations, said in a telephone interview. She said that Christie’s employs about 2,100 people worldwide.

via Bloomberg.com: Arts and Culture.

 

* Tropicana told the Bradenton Herald via e-mail it plans to cut its workforce at the Bradenton plant.

According to spokeswoman Karen May, the plant will reduce 50 to 60 hourly positions in Bradenton, most by the end of March.

via Tropicana to cut local jobs – Top Stories – Bradenton.com.

 

* Book publisher Courier Corp. said Monday it will close manufacturing unit Book-mart Press Inc., which will result in the elimination of 72 jobs.

via Courier to close Book-mart Press, cut 72 jobs – Forbes.com.

 

* (Marietta, Ohio) – Plastics manufacturer Americas Styrenics will shut down six of its ten production lines here and permanently eliminate 63 positions. The layoffs will start March 7, according to a notice filed with the state of Ohio.

via Ohio Plastics Maker American Styrenics to Shut Six of 10 Production Lines, Layoff 63 – Manufacturing & Technology eJournal.

 

* Bankrupt manufactured-home builder Patriot Homes Inc. will close a Middlebury plant that employs 125 workers, according to a notice filed with the state.

via – IBJ.com – Indianapolis Business Journal – Story Det

 

* Update – Boeing: Hence, net orders during 2008 were down more-than 53.1% from 2007. Even so, during 2008, Boeing booked 287 more orders than deliveries (2008 deliveries consisted of 290 737s, 14 747s, 10 767s, 61 777s and 0 787s, for a total of 375 shipsets); consequently, its commercial ship-set backlog continued to rise during 2008. But, alas, that does not bring good tidings!

Boeing announced Friday that employment at its Commercial Airplanes business unit is expected to decline by approximately 4,500 positions in 2009 as part of an effort to ensure competitiveness and control costs in the face of a weakening global economy. The reduction will bring Commercial Airplanes’ employment to approximately 63,500, similar to the level it was at the start of 2008.

via Boeing Cutting 4500 Jobs.

 

* MADERA — Pacific Ethanol announced Friday that it will temporarily suspend operations at its production plant in Madera County beginning today, blaming “unfavorable market conditions” for ethanol production.

via The Modesto Bee | Ethanol plant closes; 40 employees laid off.

 

* Eight Dominos pizza stores are closing the Reno area, according to franchise owner Brandon Jones.

Jones said the latest closures leave 120 to 130 people out of a job.

via Dominos Stores Close; More than 100 Laid Off / Northern Nevada, Reno, Lake Tahoe, News Now, Live Streaming Darren Mack Trial .

 

* DOVER — Production at ElectroCraft’s Dover facility is expected to shut down at the end of April, but that comes as no surprise to the company’s local employees.

Officials at ElectroCraft bucked the trend of same-day pink slips last spring when they gave workers nearly a year’s notice that production would cease.

via ElectroCraft to shut down at end of April – Fosters.

 

* GreenFuel Technologies, the Cambridge, MA-based algae farming company that was seemingly rebounding from technical setbacks and massive layoffs in the summer of 2007, has this morning laid off close to 50 percent of its staff. We received a tip about the layoffs this morning, and they were confirmed by CEO Simon Upfill-Brown in a telephone call.

“We’re still in the middle of this,” Upfill-Brown said. “The facts are it’s about 19 people, just under half” the total staff.

via GreenFuel Hit By Big Layoffs—Nearly Half Staff Let Go This Morning | Xconomy.

 

* WILMINGTON — ABX Air Inc., the contractor which operates DHL’s U.S. freight hub at Wilmington, is laying off an additional 84 employees by Jan. 23 as DHL prepares to transfer the hub’s work to United Parcel Service at Louisville, Ky.

via ABX Air cutting 84 more jobs at Wilmington.

 

* UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Officials at the Mohegan Sun casino say they will be reducing the pay of all 9,800 employees but will avoid layoffs in new cost-cutting moves spurred by declining revenues.

via Mohegan Sun cutting workers’ pay | turnto10.com.

 

* Automated Conveyor Systems in Lynchburg laid off 17 workers last week, about one month after having a similarly sized layoff.

via Automated Conveyor Systems lays off 17 more | Lynchburg News Advance.

 

* Courier Corp. is closing its New Jersey book manufacturing facility, citing the economic troubles plaguing the publishing industry.

The North Chelmsford, Mass., book manufacturer and publisher (Nasdaq: CRRC) said Monday it was closing Book-mart Press, consolidating the subsidiary’s one-color printing operations into its other facilities. Book-mart press employs 72 people and generated approximately $7 million in sales.

via Courier Corp. closing unit – Triangle Business Journal: .

 

* The unexpected closing of a new automotive wheel plant in Sarnia has prompted Mayor Mike Bradley to renew his call for an economic summit into Ontario’s loss of manufacturing jobs.

Ube Automotive has announced it is shuttering the massive plant it opened along Highway 402 in 2002, putting 200 out of work. The first 100 were let go last Frida

via London Free Press – Local News- Bradley renews summit call.

 

* PITTSBURGH–HFF, Inc. announced today that during fourth quarter 2008 it completed a top-to-bottom review of each of its business lines and support functions in light of the current global and capital market conditions. This action was taken to ensure HFF is producing superior value-added services for its clients as efficiently as possible while repositioning select lines of business to take advantage of opportunities that are unfolding in the current global credit and liquidity crisis facing the commercial real estate sector. As part of this process, HFF has reduced its operating costs and expenses which include a reduction in its workforce by approximately 12% equating to 57 positions nationwide.

via dBusinessNews :: Daily Business News Delivered to Your Desktop.

 

* Jan 12 (Reuters) – EpiCept Corp:

* Discontinues drug discovery operations and reduces workforce

* Says actions expected to reduce annual expenses by at least $5.5 million

* Says implementing an approximate 65 percent reduction in its workforce

via BRIEF-EpiCept slashes 65 pct of workforce – Forbes.com.

 

* GMAC said its closing Nuvell Credit Co., its Jacksonville-based subprime lending subsidiary, following its decision to stop funding loans for customers with bad credit.

Nuvell stopped writing new business Jan. 7 in preparation for the closure, which will affect 348 employees in Florida, Arkansas and Texas. A GMAC,spokesman told trade magazine Automotive News that 136 employees will take jobs at GMAC and the other 212 will be laid off.

via Nuvell Credit to close; layoffs coming – Jacksonville Business Journal: .

 

* USA Technologies Inc. said Monday it has laid off 22 people who worked at its Malvern, Pa., headquarters, as part of a cost-saving effort.

via USA Technologies lays off 22 to meet cash requirement – Philadelphia Business Journal: .

 

* Quad/Graphics Inc., the nation’s third-largest privately held printer, said Monday that it will cut back on production, resulting in the layoff of 550 workers in five states, to better match print demand that has softened because of the economy.

via Quad/Graphics scales back production, lays off 550 – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: .

 

* Those rumored layoffs at Tomb Raider: Underworld developer Crystal Dynamics have been confirmed by studio owner Eidos, with the company telling Joystiq that this was a result of “increased the focus on the Tomb Raider franchise at Crystal Dynamics.”

Roughly 30 employees were laid off, including Tomb Raider: Underworld creative director Eric Lindstrom. It is not known if Crystal Dynamics was working on any non-Tomb Raider games–the studio is believed to be wrapping up the 360-exclusive TR:U downloadable content, and doing tentative work on the next Tomb Raider.

via Tomb Raider Dev Sees Layoffs Amidst Increased Focus on Series, Looking at Batman-like Redesign – Shacknews – PC Games, PlayStation, Xbox 360 and Wii video game news, previews and downloads .

 

* SAN FRANCISCO—California State University officials are freezing salaries and hiring to control costs in the face of the state’s budget crisis.

Officials with the 23-campus system announced Friday that salaries would be frozen for senior administrators, including campus presidents and the chancellor.

via CSU officials freeze salaries and hiring – San Jose Mercury News.

 

* AMR Research is reducing its workforce about 10 percent as it retrenches in a poor economy, the company confirmed Monday.

The Boston-based supply chain technology research company said reductions would be across all departments, including a handful individual analysts. The company employs about 200 people.

via AMR Research makes layoffs – Boston Business Journal: .

 

* About 500 Best Buy Co. (BBY) workers, or about 12.5% of headquarters employees, have agreed to voluntary layoffs, including enough company officers that one Wall Street analyst said the move could create a “slight ‘brain drain'” at the consumer-electronics retailer.

via 500 Best Buy Workers, Or 12.5% At HQ, Take Layoff Package.

 

* Cessna Aircraft officials told employees today they plan to cut 2,000 positions from the planemaker’s work force.

“These reductions will affect all pay categories,” Cessna vice president Jim Walters said in a memo to employees today.

via Cessna cutting 2,000 employees | Business Updates | Kansas.com.

 

* Oracle has apparently ushered in the new year with a bit of a bloodletting. Thomas Weisel Partners analyst Tim Klasell says the company has sacked some employees in sales and marketing. “Our sense is that the current reduction was well planned and not a hasty reaction to an unplanned event,” he claims in a research note issued today.

via Oracle Layoffs: Hundreds, Not Thousands | John Paczkowski | Digital Daily | AllThingsD.

 

* Well, we may have to get use to this kind of announcement… Hearts on Fire laid off a number of employees last week; truly a sign of the times. CEO Glenn Rothman just sent me the following statement…

via Layoffs at Hearts on Fire – Cutting Remarks – Blog on JCK Online.

 

* GUELPH — There is early word of layoffs of some 60 workers at the Hitachi plant on Woodlawn Road.

The city lists Hitachi Construction Truck Manufacturing has having about 300 workers in Guelp

via GuelphMercury.com – BreakingNews – Layoffs at Hitachi in Guelph .

 

* Portland’s PCC Structurals Inc. — a division of Precision Castparts Corp., the second-largest publicly traded company based in Oregon — will cut 10 percent of its salaried workers, a PCC spokeswoman confirmed today.

Eileen Drake, PCC Structurals vice president for administration and legal affairs, said the manufacturing company has a little over 400 salaried workers, meaning that about 40 would be let go

via Precision Castparts division laying off workers – Business – Oregonlive.com.

 

* BOISE – A Boise area hospital is laying off employees.

Jennifer Krajnik, St. Alphonsus hospital spokesperson, says 66 employees have been laid off. The hospital now has laid off more than 100 employees in the past year. In March, about 40 employees were let go.

via St. Alphonsus lays off 66 employees | KBCI CBS 2 – News, Weather and Sports – Boise, ID Boise, Idaho | Local & Regional .

 

* EAST FLAT ROCK — General Electric Lighting Systems is adding to its layoffs figure announced in 2007 with a new round of job losses, employees said Monday.

The East Flat Rock plant is expected to lay off about 47 people as a result of an ever tightening economy, the workers said. It is unknown exactly when the layoffs will take place, but the company observes a general rule of last hired, first fired, they said.

via GE to layoff 47 workers | BlueRidgeNow.com | Times-News Online | Hendersonville, NC.

 

* TRENTON — The Hinckley Co. announced Monday that it will be laying off approximately 25 workers at its Trenton facility.

The company stated in a press release that the layoffs are due to “the continued and deepening slowdown in the U.S. economy in general and the marine industry in particula

via The Ellsworth American – Hinckley Announces Layoffs at Trenton Facility.

 

* The severe slowdown in the construction business has triggered 45 layoffs at a Harleyville cement-making plant.

via Giant Cement lays off 45 Dorchester County workers.

 

* TORONTO, Jan 12 (Reuters) – Bell Alliant (BA_u.TO) said on Monday it will cut about 500 management jobs, or about 5 percent of its total workforce, to reduce costs and help it make decisions more quickly.

via UPDATE 2-Bell Aliant to cut 500 management jobs | Industries | Technology, Media & Telecommunications | Reuters .

 

* Evergreen Shipping Agency (America), agent for Evergreen Marine Corp., will consolidate some North American offices and reduce staff in the face of the downturn in the global ocean shipping business.

“The worldwide economic turmoil has created a situation we have not seen in our lifetime,” the company said in a statement to its North America employees. The measures being taken will reduce costs and put the agency on a more sustainable structure moving forward, it

via Pacific Shipper Online — Evergreen to cut US jobs.

 

* Potash and fertilizer producer Mosaic Co. has issued layoff notices to a total of 1,000 workers at two locations in Canada.

Mosaic, headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, said Monday the layoffs affect 700 people in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan and 300 at its Cononsay, Saskatchewan operation.

via Mosaic laying off 1,000 in Canada.

 

*Mercy Health Partners is laying off 31 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) next month and will no longer employ nurses with that level of education, hospital officials said Monday.

via Mercy laying off 31 LPNs, will only hire RNs at West Michigan facilities – Muskegon News – The Latest News, Blogs, Photos & Videos – MLive.com .

 

* Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise announced 66 layoffs on Monday and said its patients’ skyrocketing bad debt and charity care are to blame.

via Saint Al’s says it will lay off 66 people, citing skyrocketing bad debt | Business | Idaho Statesman .

 

* GRAND RAPIDS — Steelcase Inc. has warned 300 more factory workers in the Grand Rapids area they may lose their jobs by Feb. 27.

The office furniture manufacturer already issued warnings to another 300 local workers, and, last week, extended expiration dates for those warnings by a month to Feb. 13.

via Steelcase warns 300 more Grand Rapids factory workers may lose jobs by end of February – Grand Rapids, Michigan Business News – The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com.

 

* ING Groep NV said it will cut 72 Des Moines area workers, part of 750 employees who will lose jobs nationwide.

via ING to lay off 72 in D.M. | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register.

 

* About 260 people will lose their jobs when the J.C. Penney call center in Carmichael closes its doors on March 20.

Citing changes in customer-ordering habits, the Plano, Texas-based retailer confirmed last week that it would shutter the center at Fair Oaks Boulevard and El Camino Avenue.

via 260 layoffs at J.C. Penney Carmichael call center – Latest News – sacbee.com.

 

* Boise Cascade will close its plywood mill in White City, Or., March 13, eliminating 110 positons.

“At this point in time, we consider this a permanent closure,” said spokesman Robert Smith. “We have already experienced numerous temporary curtailments during the past several months in 2008. In fairness to our employees, we don’t think it is appropriate to continue these repetitive curtailments when our market outlook remains dim.”

via Building-Products.com.

 

* In a Form 8-K, Hutchinson Technology (Nasdaq: HTCH) today announced that its workforce reduction will actually total approximately 1,380 or approximately 30% of its workforce.

via StreetInsider.com – Hutchinson Technology (HTCH) to Cut 1,380 Jobs, or 30% of Workforce.

 

* Battle Creek Health System today reported recent staff cuts.

The hospital eliminated 27 staff and 10 open positions from its total workforce of about 1,500 in late 2008 and already this year.

via Hospital announces workforce reductions | battlecreekenquirer.com | The Enquirer.

 

 

International News

 

 

* The Financial Times Group is making another 80 redundancies worldwide after opting for further online/print integration and to eliminate overlaps with recently-acquired businesses, which include FTB, Money Media, OCO and Executive Appointments. CEO John Ridding, in a staff memo reproduced below, said the restructure runs across several departments and staff consultation begins today.

via FT Doing 80 New Layoffs: Online/Print Tie-Ups, Ridding’s Memo | paidContent:UK .

 

* Jiangsu-based photovoltaic cell and module manufacturer Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP) plans to cut a total of 4,000 employees, or roughly 30% of its staff, and has stopped production in about half of its factory lines, reports China Business quoting a former Suntech employee.

via JLM Pacific Epoch – Rumor: Suntech to Dismiss 4,000 Employees, Slash Production by 50%.

 

* Zlín/Mladá Boleslav – There is no doubt about it. The first quarter of the new year will bring a wave of layoffs and people without jobs.

Employment agencies are especially worried about this because their employees tend to be the first to go when there are layoffs. And most of the time the people in question are foreigners, for whom losing a job means a very problematic situation.

via Thousands of foreigners losing jobs, legal status – Czechnews – Aktuálně.

 

* IXI Mobile Inc. (Bulletin Board:IXMO) will lay off 30 employees. The company, which is developing the Ogo that is intended to be a mass market BlackBerry, with telephone, e-mail, Internet surfing, and instant message applications, has been plagued by problems over the past year, which was marked by two previous rounds of layoffs.

via IXI lays off more employees.

 

* U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc. said Monday it’s cutting 556 sales jobs in Italy as part of its global reorganization plans.

The layoffs, from Pfizer’s total workforce of 2,780 in Italy, will mostly affect sales representatives that visit family doctors. Other sales operations in Italy, including specialty and cancer drugs, will undergo “very minor adjustments or not be affected at all,” Pfizer said in a statement.

via Pfizer To Cut 556 Sales Jobs In Italy As Part Of Operating Reshuffle.

 

* Swedish industrial giant Alfa Laval announced plans on Monday to lay off 1,000 workers globally in the next six months, including 300 redundancies in Sweden.

via Alfa Laval to trim 300 jobs in Sweden – The Local.

 

*ATHENS, Jan 12 (Reuters) – The world’s second largest Coke bottler, Coca-Cola Hellenic (CCH) (HLBr.AT) will cut 150 jobs in Poland from February as part of its efforts to

via Greek Coke bottler to cut 150 jobs in Poland | Reuters .

 

* UP TO 100 Wedgwood office staff are believed to have been axed this morning.

Administrator Deloitte called in support workers at 9.30am to be told the news.

via Wedgwood office staff job loss fears | Wedgwood in administration | Stoke & Staffordshire news.

 

* Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) — Travis Perkins Plc, the U.K. building-materials distributor that owns the Wickes home- improvement chain, has cut 12 percent of its workforce to lower costs amid Britain’s worst housing slump in 25 years, Finance Director Paul Hampden Smith said.

via Bloomberg.com: U.K. & Ireland.

 

* Machinery giant JCB is to cut 684 jobs because of the lack of credit available from banks coupled with continuing low confidence, the company announced today.

via JCB cuts 684 jobs in latest blow – Business News, Business – The Independent.

 

* EIGHTEEN workers have been laid off from the Spectrum building site on Douglas seafront – but developers Dandara insist the move is not linked to the credit crunch or any downturn in the construction industry.

via Dandara lays off 18 workers from seafront site – Isle of Man Today .

 

* ELLESMERE Port-based Gibsons Foods has closed, leaving as many as 240 people out of work.

Production stopped after the food manufacturer told workers the company has gone into administration.

via Ellesmere Port food company sheds 240 jobs – Chester Evening Leader .

 

* TeliaSonera (TLSN: News , TEE.L) announced efficiency measures in the Swedish and Finnish operations, to be implemented in 2008 and 2009. These efficiency measures are expected to result in annual gross savings effects of approximately SEK 5 billion compared to the cost base of 2007 and result in a reduction of approximately 2900 employees, of whom two-thirds in Sweden.

via RTTNews – Latest Earnings,Upcoming Earnings, Pos Pre Announcements, Pos Pre Announcements , Positive Surprises, Negative Surprises, Hot Stocks, Stock Split Calendar, Stock Buybacks, Dividends, Negative, Positive PreAnnouncements,Surprises …. .

 

* Bookshop chain Waterstone’s has announced it will make redundancies after moving to a new distribution system.

But it would not put a number on the job losses to come as it introduces the cost-cutting system for delivering books to its stores.

The announcement comes at a time of difficult trading for Waterstone’s, which last month blamed poor non-fiction demand for a drop in sales.

via The Press Association: Bookshop chain to cut jobs.

 

* A Dublin media company has cut more than 100 workers from its headquarters, citing tough economic conditions.

Inoveris LLC, which does business as Zomax, said in a filing with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services that it cut 103 workers in Dublin last Tuesday.

via Zomax cuts 103 jobs in Dublin – Business First of Columbus: .

 

* Travis Perkins Plc, the U.K. building-materials distributor that owns the Wickes home- improvement chain, has cut 12 percent of its workforce to lower costs amid Britain’s worst housing slump in 25 years, Finance Director Paul Hampden Smith said.

via Bloomberg.com: U.K. & Ireland.

 

* A DELICATESSEN chain has gone into administration with the loss of 175 jobs.

McLeish Brothers, which has 10 stores in Scotland including branches in Lochrin Square and South Bridge in Edinburgh, employs 205 full and part-time staff.

via 175 jobs lost as McLeish Brothers deli chain into administration – Scotsman.com Business .

 

* Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) — Alfa Laval AB, the world’s biggest maker of heat exchangers, said it will cut 1,000 jobs in the first half after shipmaking customers canceled orders.

via Bloomberg.com: Europe.

 

* SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — A top General Motors official in Brazil says the company is laying off 797 temporary workers.

via The Associated Press: Report: GM laying off 797 in Brazil.

 

* Rockwell Diamonds is likely to cut jobs at its Wouterspan operations, the mid-tier diamond mining and exploration company said on Monday.

“Global economic conditions have brought diamond prices under pressure. In this environment, we continue to take steps to improve operational efficiencies and maintain the competitiveness of the company.

via News – Finance/ Labour: Rockwell Diamonds to reduce workforce.

 

 

Hiring News

 

 

* NEW BRUNSWICK — The recession is claiming thousands of New Jersey jobs, and yet employers are still recruiting — to fill job vacancies today and to prepare for an economic upturn in the future.That was the message last week at a job fair at Rutgers University that drew 200 employers and thousands of job candidates. Employers said they are still hiring, despite an alarming economic slump that several dated to last October.

Princeton-based R Square, a staffing company that places information technology professionals with companies, was at Rutgers looking for at least 50 job candidates. Sandeep Sharma, vice president of sales and marketing, said the economy slowed dramatically in October, though clients now are more responsive. “But they are getting very selective — they want more and more experienced people.”

Despite Recession, There Are Jobs to Fill

 

* RENO, Nev.—The Hartford Financial Services Group plans to hire 150 full-time workers by spring for a Reno call center.

via Company hiring 150 workers for Reno call center – San Jose Mercury News.

 

* Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg says the company did “really well” against its revenue expectations for 2008, and that the company is still hiring, especially engineers and salespeople.

via Zuckerberg: Facebook Revenue Growth ‘Really Strong’, Still Hiring

 

Mike: Another busy day for layoff announcements. This is corporate earnings season, so the layoff news may get busier as companies miss estimates and then slash workforces in order to boost share price. Let’s hope for some goodnews tomorrow that slows this layoff train. On that note a little humor.…………….

 

 

Jeff Stahler - Jan 9

Jeff Stahler - Jan 9

 

 

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