The Layoff List &#187; Weekly Jobless Claims

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- Larger layoff announcements and important economic reports:

US/Canada:

International:

Navigation links to today’s stories:

via Paul Allen’s investment firm cuts staff – Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle): .

- Microsoft/Google/IBM and other Rumors & News -

- Billionaire Paul Allen’s private investment firm, Vulcan, has laid off more workers. The Seattle company — which operates the Microsoft Corp. co-founder’s real estate, financial and personal holdings —cut 17 employees today in its technical department, citing the tough economy.

- General Economic News -

GDP
8:30 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) — The economy tumbled at a 5.5 percent pace in the first quarter, but appears to be doing better now, even though heavy layoffs persist.

The revised reading on gross domestic product, released Thursday by the Commerce Department, showed the economy from January through March didn’t fall as deeply as the 5.7 percent annualized decline reported a month ago. Economists expected the government would stick with its previous estimate.

via The Associated Press: Economy dips at slightly lower pace in 1Q.

Stuart Carlson

- Government Layoff News -

- YONKERS – Fifteen special-education teachers have lost their jobs in the city school district.

via 15 Yonkers teachers laid off under special-ed changes | lohud.com | The Journal News.

- Last week, 48 positions were eliminated across the department, saving $4.3 million. Only nine people were laid off, with the rest of the positions already vacant.

via Gazettes Town-News > Community News.

- While he did not give a specific number, Hulsey said the cuts would “require hundreds of layoffs” in the coming weeks.

via Jefferson County to lay off hundreds – Breaking News from The Birmingham News – al.com.

- Forty-four teaching positions and 12 other staff jobs were cut Wednesday in a second round of Yuba City Unified School District layoffs that officials say are spurred by new proposed state funding cuts to schools.

via YC schools ax 56 more positions | school, luetgens, positions – Local News – Appeal-Democrat.

- Rogue Community College employees have agreed to forgo all raises and take up to six unpaid furlough days in 2009-10.

via RCC employees will take unpaid days off | MailTribune.com.

- STOUGHTON – Faced with reduced state aid, Stoughton schools are laying off 17 support staff, four high school teachers, one elementary teacher and two librarians next school year, for a total of 24 positions.

via Stoughton Schools to cut 24 – Stoughton, MA – Stoughton Journal.

- US and some Canada Layoff News -

June 25 (Bloomberg) — Kimberly-Clark Corp. said it will cut its worldwide salaried workforce by about 1,600 positions by the end of the year.

via Kimberly-Clark to Cut 1,600 Jobs, Take Charges Up to $150 Mln – Bloomberg.com.

- Under the new budget, 1,240 jobs at the university will be eliminated — about 5.5 percent of the total workforce.

The budget includes 220 fewer faculty members, 280 fewer administrative jobs and more than 700 other student and staff job reductions or “non-renewals.”

via U regents approve budget that will cut jobs, boost tuition.

- The Ethan Allen manufacturing plant in Beecher Falls is laying off most of its work force.

The furniture manufacturer has about 330 workers left at the plant– 260 of them will be let go in 60 days.

via Ethan Allen to Cut Most Beecher Falls Workers – WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-.

- SHREVEPORT — General Motors Corp.’s assembly and stamping plants in Shreveport will close by June 2012, if not sooner.

GM announced Wednesday it will close the factory by that date depending on market conditions. The plant employs about 1,100 people — 950 hourly and 150 salary employees.

via GM announces Shreveport factory will be closed by 2012 | thenewsstar.com | The News Star.

- The shutdown of the No. 4 machine means the loss of 130 jobs, 70 at the mill itself and 60 in forest operations.

via Kruger cuts 130 jobs at Corner Brook newsprint mill .

- Even Firefly Energy Inc., the Peoria company that wants to revolutionize the world of lead-acid batteries, is not exempt from the economic downturn.

via Battery maker lays off 15 employees – Peoria, IL – pjstar.com.

- Then Ericksen, 23, who lives in Tempe, said he got a stream of calls from former co-workers who were laid off Monday.

Michael Pouls, the former business partner with BBZ, said he, too, got the news of the layoffs. Pouls filed suit against BBZ last week, accusing the company of running a “Ponzi scheme.”

via Gas, grocery voucher company BBZ lays off workers, suspends sales – St. Petersburg Times.

- The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, representing more than 300 workers inside St. Marys Paper Corp., is bracing for additional layoffs at the Sault Ste. Marie specialty paper mill.

“The company has informed the union they will be scaling back current staffing levels in the very near future,” said Rene Lindquist, CEP national representative.

via More layoffs imminent at St. Marys Paper– union – The Sault Star – Ontario, CA .

- The Boston Symphony Orchestra confirmed today that 10 employees are being laid off, from departments including development and public relations.

via BSO makes staff cuts – Exhibitionist – Boston.com.

- Fargo-based Hospice of the Red River Valley laid off 11 employees Wednesday due to a declining economy.

via Hospice of the Red River Valley lays off 11 employees | INFORUM | Fargo, ND .

- About 120 positions would have been eliminated had it not been for federal stimulus dollars worth about $7.9 million. Those dollars should temporarily save about 74 jobs, Hardee said.

via Layoffs imminent as FAMU approves $16.2 million in budget cuts | tallahassee.com | Tallahassee Democrat.

-A manufacturing firm is to close a factory which has been in business for 58 years with the loss of almost 180 jobs, it has emerged.

ABB, which makes components for power supply, will shut down its long-standing Waterford facility by next April.

via Factory closure to cost 180 jobs – Kilkenny Today .

- VICKSBURG, Miss. — Fifty jobs will be lost in Vicksburg over the next several months as a subsidiary of Ergon, Inc., shuts down.

via Ergon subsidiary closing, ending 50 Vicksburg jobs – Forbes.com.

- POTTER TWP. — Nova Chemicals Corp. announced on Wednesday that it will discontinue one of three product lines at its Potter Township plant and eliminate 30 to 45 positions in coming months because of the auto industry’s continuing economic collapse.

via Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times Online – News.

- The Hendrickson International Trailer Suspension Systems plant here laid off more than 70 employees as the trucking industry continues to reflect the economy.

via Hendrickson trailer systems plant lays off more than 70 employees. – Canton, OH – CantonRep.com.

- Gardner Denver has informed the sate of Wisconsin that the eventual closing of its Sheboygan plant will result in the loss of 36 more jobs by Sept. 5 for a total of 58 layoffs so far.

via Sheboygan plant closing will cost at least 58 jobs – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: .

- The Intelligencer has learned that Sears told employees Thursday that it will be outsourcing 230 jobs at the Belleville catalogue call centre to a separate Canadian company – which has a location on the South-Pacific island nation where labour costs are a fraction of those in Canada.

via Sear call centre to lay off 230 – Belleville Intelligencer – Ontario, CA .

- International Layoff News -

- The steel industry was hit by a fresh jobs blow with news that Corus is to axe more than 2,000 posts following a slump in demand.

Sources said plants including Rotherham and Scunthorpe will be hardest hit by the latest cutback by the steel giant, which has already axed thousands of jobs this year.

via The Press Association: Corus to axe more than 2,000 jobs.

- - Engineering company Sulzer AG has announced it is cutting 1,400 jobs – or about 11 per cent of its global work force – despite enjoying profits of 323 million swiss francs last year.

via Swiss firm to cut 1,400 jobs despite huge profits haul / World / Home – Morning Star.

- Legal & General is cutting 200 jobs across its risk business, bringing the total job cuts at the company so far this year to 1,210.

via L&G cuts 200 more jobs | New Model Adviser ® | Citywire .

- ABB Transformers told workers this morning that the Tycor facility would be shut down from next March.

via 178 jobs to go at Waterford electronics plant – Business, National News – Braypeople.ie.

- CMS Cameron McKenna has completed its redundancy consultation, laying off 73 London staff earlier this month (8 June).

via Camerons cuts 73 jobs as consultation closes- Legalweek .

-Sources close to WAN said at the time the cuts would equate to up to 70 redundancies, including up to 15 editorial staff and that some long-time employees could receive a redundancy payment of up to $150,000.

via Business Spectator – News – WAN cuts 9% of staff.

- LONDON (SHARECAST) – Nanomaterials group Oxonica said its chief executive will step down and added that it has initiated a redundancy programme in the UK.

via ShareCast – News you can use.

- Nortel has laid off senior staff in the UK who were responsible for the company’s unified communications partnership with Microsoft, according to sources.

via Reseller News > Nortel lays off execs connected to Microsoft ICA partnership.

- Hiring News and News You Can Use-

- Shrinking economy? Not for one major cable TV company in Orange County. Cox Communications appears to be thriving. On Saturday, it will host a job fair in hopes of filling around 60 openings, said Lana Ong, a company spokesperson.

via Need a job? Cox Cable hopes to fill 60 openings – Alt+Save with the Gadgetress – OCRegister.com.

- RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – We have all heard the old saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Well, there is a lot to be said about that.

But, probably more importantly, you should ask “who knows you?”

via Job seeking? Use the power of power networking :: WRAL.com.

- As if job hunting wasn’t hard enough already, the Internet has added a few new twists to the process. Specifically, there are now more ways to shoot yourself in the foot. Beware of these digital faux pas:

via 7 Digital Job-Hunting Mistakes – On Careers (usnews.com).

Mike: Have a good evening……………………

Clay Bennett

via Zero Hedge: The Confidence Game In Quotes.

June 18 – Jobless claims increase to 608,000 – Continuing claims decrease to 6.69 million – Leading economic indicators up more than expected – Synovus to shed 650 jobs – Sacramento County OKs 800 layoffs – Exelon to shed 500 jobs – Clemson to chop 450 jobs

layofflist — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:02:59 +0000

Mike: Thursday’s Jobless Claims report shows that weekly claims increased, but continuing claims decreased for the first time after increasing for the past 21 weeks. The four-week moving average, which smooths weekly volatility fell to 615,000. The news media is trumpeting the continuing claims decline without mentioning the effect of people losing their unemployment benefits. There is likely a jobs component, but an ending of jobless benefits shouldn’t be heralded as a turnaround in the jobs market. I’ll wait till later in the day to see what the experts think of this continuing claims improvement, but the fact that jobless claims increased from last week is a sign that the job market is still in difficult times.

- WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose last week but the number of people staying on the benefit rolls after collecting an initial week of aid fell for the first time since January, a government report showed on Thursday.

Initial claims for state unemployment insurance rose 3,000 to a higher-than-expected seasonally adjusted 608,000, the Labor Department said. Analysts polled by Reuters were expecting claims to dip to 600,000 from a previously reported 601,000.

However, so-called continued claims tumbled 148,000 to a smaller-than-anticipated 6.69 million in the week ending June 6, the latest week for which data is available. It was the lowest level since May 9, and the largest one-week drop since November 2001.

via U.S. jobless claims rise in latest week | Reuters .

Mike: After reading some blog replies at http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/ I found a statement that fits the continuing claims number a little better:

“It is unlikely that new hiring has picked up in any meaningful fashion,” Joshua Shapiro, chief economist with MFR Inc., a consulting firm, wrote in a note to clients. “More probable is that long-term unemployed are starting to fall off the rolls.”

via Total Unemployment Claims Drop.

Mike: If you wonder why some, like myself, remian skeptical of green shoots pronouncements from government officials and the talking heads of MSM, take a look at the following for that answer:

Here is merely a sampling:

August 1st, 2007 – Paulson: “I see the underlying economy as being very healthy,”

October 15th, 2007 – Bernanke: “It is not the responsibility of the Federal Reserve – nor would it be appropriate – to protect lenders and investors from the consequences of their financial decisions.”

The Confidence Game In Quotes

Austrian Filter has taken the time to put together all the relevant quotes over the past 2 years that demonstrate how profoundly Bernanke and Paulson have been misrepresenting (or simply misunderstanding) just how extensive the crisis we are in, is. One can only imagine why anyone would ever believe anything Ben Bernanke (or any other vapid disseminator of groundless optimism) has to say anymore, after two years of outright hyperbole and unfounded green shootery.

Steve Kelley

- Larger layoff announcements and important economic reports:

US/Canada:

International:

Navigation links to today’s stories:

via Microsoft to create 100 jobs to Utah – BusinessWeek.

- Microsoft/Google/IBM and other Rumors & News -

- - Microsoft Corp. has announced that it plans to bring around 100 jobs to Utah and rent an office building at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi for a software development operation.

- General Economic News -

Jobless Claims
8:30 AM ET

WASHINGTON — The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose slightly as expected last week, suggesting that while job losses have moderated since the beginning of the year, a rapid turnaround in labor-market conditions is unlikely.

Meanwhile, total claims lasting more than one week plunged by their largest amount since November 2001, breaking a streak of 21-straight increases in a rare reprieve for the unemployed in this recession.

via Jobless Claims Rise Slightly – WSJ.com.

Leading Indicators
10:00 AM ET

The Conference Board said Thursday that its index of leading economic indicators — designed to forecast activity in the next three to six months — rose 1.2 percent, the biggest gain since March 2004. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected a 0.9 percent increase in May.

via Leading economic indicators up more than expected - Yahoo! Finance.

Philadelphia Fed Survey
10:00 AM ET

The better reading from the Philly Fed Index has overshadowed the Empire number for the time being, no doubt because there were “improved” readings across most components that are part of the report. In particular, the new orders index went to -4.8 from -25.9 while shipments actually picked up to 2.1 from -19.0.

via Briefing.com: Philly Fed Index Better than Expected.

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- - DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally said government regulation in many ways has hurt innovation among businesses and manufacturers in the United States.

“We’ve become so stymied with regulation,” said Mulally Wednesday during a panel discussion on innovation in manufacturing at The National Summit in Detroit. “We have to say enough is enough and get back to freeing people up.”

Pulling on his experience as the head of Boeing and now Ford, Mulally said U.S. businesses need to be at the forefront of innovation again. Corporate scandals, government bailouts and bankruptcy filings have put a blemish on the business sector.

“We’ve got to make it cool to be in business again,” he said. “We really have to re-polish the value of what business brings to mankind.”

via Ford CEO says regulation often hurts innovation – Yahoo! Finance.

- While there are plenty of 20-something, ramen-eating entrepreneurs coding into the wee hours of the morning, the demographic with the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity consists of those between the ages of 55 and 64, according to a study released today by the The Kauffman Foundation. The study found that folks in the 20-34 age range were the least likely to start companies. The research built on an earlier study that found that average age of entrepreneurs in the U.S. was 39.

via The Young Entrepreneur Stereotype Bites the Dust .

Jeff Stahler

- Government Layoff News -

The following article from Mish’s Global Economic Trend Analysis shows how states are going to be feeling the money pinch to their budgets and how that is going to affect jobs, services and taxes. I am seeing many more state/county/town layoff notices of late even with the bounty of stimulus money floated to these municipalities. Unless property and other taxes/fees are substantially raised, budget cuts will be excellerated and that will include large job cuts.

- What a Bad April Does to State Budget Processes

An April income tax shortfall comes at the worst time of year for two reasons. First, by the time it is recognized in late April or mid-May, it is just 6-10 weeks before the end of the fiscal year for 46 states. For states without large cash balances, this can create a cash flow crunch or even a cash flow crisis. There is not enough time to enact and implement new legislation cutting spending, laying off workers, raising taxes, or otherwise obtaining resources sufficient to offset the lost revenue before the June 30 end of the fiscal year. As a result, a state without sufficient cash on hand to pay bills must resort to stopgap measures to “roll” the problem into the future.

via States in Deep Trouble Over Plunging Income Tax Revenues

- After months of anticipating massive cuts blamed on rising personnel costs and the down economy, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors passed a $4.3 billion budget on Wednesday that calls for laying off about 800 workers and decimating programs – many in public health and social services.

via Sacramento County OKs budget — and 800 layoffs – Sacramento Politics – California Politics | Sacramento Bee.

- PORTLAND, Ore. — Up to ninety employees will be laid off from the City of Portland Bureau of Development Services, and more pink slips could follow, according to City Commissioner Randy Leonard.

via City of Portland to lay off 90 in Development bureau | Local News | kgw.com | News for Portland Oregon and SW Washington .

- STOCKTON — San Joaquin Delta College trustees by a 4-3 vote late Tuesday approved eliminating 86 positions, 44 of which are filled, cuts that would harm programs for students who are disabled or face academic or financial challenges.

via Delta trustees vote to eliminate 86 positions (11:52 a.m.) | Recordnet.com.

- - Faced with $7 million in budget reductions, Anoka County plans to cut 36 positions — with corrections, service centers and libraries among the hardest hit. But few, if any, layoffs are expected.

via Anoka County official says 36 jobs will go.

- - The Jasper County Council approved the layoff of 19 county employees this month to help balance next year’s budget, officials said.

via islandpacket.com | Jasper County slashes budget 15 percent, lays off 15 employees.

- BRIDGEWATER – Nearly 90 Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District teachers received pink slips Friday, B-R School Committee Chairman Ronald Pacy said.

via Pink slips sent to almost 90 Bridgewater-Raynham teachers – Bridgewater, MA – Bridgewater Independent.

-MONROVIA – The city council voted Tuesday to adopt a $60.7 million budget that will eliminate 22 city positions through layoffs, hiring freezes and early retirements in order to help close a $2.6 million budget deficit.

via Monrovia eliminates 22 jobs at City Hall – Pasadena Star-News.

- MODESTO, CA – Ten Modesto police officers found out Wednesday that they would be out of a job in two weeks as part of the city’s effort to fill its budget shortfall, Modesto police officials confirmed.

via Modesto Lays Off 10 Police Officers | News10.net | Sacramento, California | News .

- WESTERNPORT — The Westernport Mayor and Town Council unanimously approved a fiscal 2010 budget that addresses chronic funding shortfalls by imposing higher water, sewer and garbage fees, and laying off five town employees.

via Westernport approves 2010 budget, lays off 5 workers – Keyser, WV – Mineral Daily News-Tribune.

- DANVERS – Two Danvers police officers and two Danvers firefighters were laid off on Thursday, June 11, in response to their unions’ decisions not to accept wage freezes and in fulfillment of an earlier promise by town officials to cut jobs.

via Danvers police and fire hit with layoffs – Danvers, MA – Danvers Herald.

- Although most of the reduction has come through attrition that has occurred over the last year, library officials say they must lay off 12 employees to cope with a shrinking property tax base.

via KCK Public Library plans to cut a dozen employees – Kansas City Star.

- Four of 12 elementary media specialists and two high school media positions will be eliminated. In addition, one high school assistant principal, three high school counselors, the director of fine arts, and two clerical positions will also be eliminated.

via Troy schools reduces staff at libraries.

- Twenty-seven paraprofessionals in Rochester public schools officially lost their jobs Tuesday, another way the $9.3 million in cuts from earlier this year are taking shape.

via Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN.

- It calls for laying off 23 staff members (mostly from the police and fire departments) to save $6.3 million, asking the remaining staff members to take a 5% pay cut to save $3.6 million, offering early-retirement incentives to save $3.5 million and reducing overtime pay by $1 million.

via Daily Pilot – Serving Newport Beach & Costa Mesa, California.

- US and some Canada Layoff News -

- Synovus, the second-largest banking company based in Georgia, said Wednesday it plans to cut roughly 650 jobs over the next two years.

via State’s No. 2 bank to shed 650 jobs | ajc.com.

- - Twenty jobs in the retail division of Chase USA have been eliminated and about 200 more Springfield employees will shift from retail to the credit card division on site, a spokesman said today.

via Chase USA eliminates 20 jobs in Springfield | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader.

- - The Guggenheim Foundation is eliminating 25 jobs at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum despite record attendance at the New York institution, The New York Times reports.

via In the Arts: Guggenheim Museum Cuts Jobs – Philanthropy.com.

- The telecom giant, which bought BellSouth a little over a year ago, quietly launched the internal changes on Wednesday and said that some management jobs will be cut to avoid duplication of duties. The company did not say how many jobs would be cut.

via Shakeup will trim AT&T executive jobs | ajc.com.

- According to the filing with the state, the plant will close on August 31st, eliminating all 156 jobs.

via Rotterdam business closes and eliminates 156 jobs | company, court, jobs – Local News – WRGB CBS 6 Albany.

- LORAIN — Fifty-six employees of Kerr Beverage Co. will lose their jobs July 17 when the sale of company assets in Lorain, Huron and Erie counties are expected to be finalized with the Columbus-based Superior Beverage Group.

via Kerr being sold; 56 to lose jobs Morning Journal: Serving Lorain, Erie, Huron and western Cuyahoga counties.

- KETTERING — Reynolds and Reynolds, a provider of management software and services to auto dealerships, has laid off employees in the past week, while trying to recruit others, a company spokesman said today, June 17.

via Reynolds and Reynolds acknowledges recent layoffs.

- The nation’s recession and increased use of other electricity-generating fuels hit home for 61 coal miners who were laid off at the West Elk Mine in Somerset on Tuesday and Wednesday.

via 61 miners get pink slips at Somerset mine.

- Bank of Hawaii, citing economic conditions, is laying off 12 people from its investment services division.

via Bankoh to cut 12 workers in investment services division – Hawaii Business – Starbulletin.com .

- The Salisbury SEMCO plant, manufacturers of metal ductwork, was closed Friday, June 12. Forrest Hook, director of manufacturing, said Tuesday afternoon that the closure is due to the economy that has reduced orders for his firm. The decision to close the Salisbury plant put 22 area persons out of work.

via Salisbury SEMCO plant closes – Moberly, MO – Moberly Monitor-Index.

- But as many as 23 employees could be losing their jobs in coming weeks. Eighth Floor has decided to consolidate the Hudson Falls operation with its own, which means the local plant will close. The plant employs 23 full-time workers.

via As result of deal, local plant to close — Page 1 — Times Union – Albany NY:1388:.

- Exelon Corp. is cutting about 500 jobs by the end of August as part of a $350 million cost-savings plan, the Chicago-based company said Thursday.

via Exelon to shed 500 jobs by August — chicagotribune.com.

- The Comair maintenance base at Orlando International Airport will close Sept. 7 claiming 81 jobs.

via Comair closing Orlando maintenance base, cutting 81 jobs – Business Courier of Cincinnati: .

- New Brunswick’s only French-language daily newspaper is cutting costs by laying off six workers and cancelling a pay increase that was to go into effect on July 1.

via French N.B. daily newspaper cuts 6 staff, freezes wages.

- Workers have been told 75 of them will be laid off July 15. The remaining 65 will be phased out when the plant closes its doors Sept. 30.

via Archbold workers get news their plant will close – WTOL.com, Toledo’s News Leader, News 11 | .

- CLEMSON, S.C. Clemson University’s in-state students will pay 4.5 percent more in tuition and fees next semester after the school Board of Trustees voted Thursday for the hike to make up for a $45 million budget hole.

via Clemson to raise tuition 4.5 percent; cut 450 jobs | CharlotteObserver.com.

- International Layoff News -

- LONDON (AFP) — Irish low-cost airline Ryanair on Wednesday said it would cut 650 more jobs in Ireland, blaming the move on government hikes in taxes amid a deep recession in the eurozone member nation.

via AFP: Ryanair says to cut 650 more jobs in Ireland.

- The engineering group GKN has announced a further 900 job cuts and plans to raise £423m through a rights issue.

The Worcestershire-based company, which makes components for the car and airline industries, said 2,700 people had left the group in the five months to the end of May, 300 more than previously expected, with another 600 scheduled to go.

via Engineering group GKN cuts more jobs and raises more cash | Business | guardian.co.uk .

- -Ninety-five jobs are to go at a chicken processing plant in Angus.

The 2 Sisters Food Group is closing its cutting division in Letham, near Forfar, and moving the work to its factory in the West Midlands.

via BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Tayside and Central | Chicken firm set to axe 95 jobs.

- “Today, Tuesday, we are informing workers at the Traiskirchen site (in Austria) that we are forced to phase out the mixing and gumming activities in Traiskirchen, which employs a total of 195, by the end of this year,”

via Tyres & Accessories.

- Ukraine-focused oil and gas firm Cadogan Petroleum Plc (CADP.L) may restate prior financial statements after identifying irregular payments, cut further jobs

via UPDATE 1-Cadogan may restate, cut more jobs | Industries | Energy | Reuters .

- A Bathgate-based clothing company is to close its distribution plant with the loss of 60 jobs.

via BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Sportswear plant to cut 60 jobs.

- Derry City Council is to begin a trawl for voluntary redundancies ahead of a radical shake-up.

The council says the overhaul has the full support of elected members but it has not yet published the details.

via BBC NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | Foyle and West | Council to shed jobs in shake up.

- The Visiocorp plant at Taree is shutting with a loss of more than 200 jobs, blaming the economic downturn.

via Union dismissive of SA jobs offer – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

- National Foods is cutting 34 jobs from its Riverland production workforce of 175, based at Berri.

via National Foods cuts Riverland jobs – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

- ELECTRONICS firm X-Fab is likely to make 65 workers redundant at its Roborough factory after it failed to receive enough orders for one of its high-tech products.

via 65 Plymouth manufacturing jobs set to go.

- Finnish wood processing group Metsäliitto said Thursday it would temporarily lay off all personnel working at its sawmills for at least two weeks.

The temporary layoffs are to affect 380 people.

via NewsRoom Finland.

- Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has completed its redundancy consultation, with the firm laying off 85 members of staff.

via BLP completes redundancy consultation with 85 staff laid off- Legalweek .

- LONDON (Dow Jones)–Bus and rail company Go-Ahead Group PLC (GOG.LN) Thursday said it expects its full-year operating performance to be in line with expectations, but said it continues to assume economic conditions will remain difficult until 2011 and warned of further job cuts.

via Article – WSJ.com.

- Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, two U.K. banks owned by National Australia Bank Ltd., plan to cut 156 jobs, the Unite labor union said.

via Clydesdale, Yorkshire Banks to Cut 156 Jobs, Unite Union Says – Bloomberg.com.

- MORE than 40 jobs at Brentwood Council are set to be axed in a restructuring move to save money.

via Council to axe 40 jobs (From Bren

- Izhavto human resources director Gennady Chernenko told journalists that the plant employs more than 5,000 people in Izhevsk, the capital of the western Russian republic of Udmurtia.

- Hiring News and News You Can Use-

- June 17 (Bloomberg) — Chrysler Group LLC, the U.S. automaker created out of bankruptcy last week, said it will resume production at seven vehicle plants the week of June 29.

The facilities are in Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Ontario and Mexico, the company said today in a statement. Chrysler reopened a Detroit car factory on June 15. Other assembly plants may not open until late July after they are reconfigured to build 2010 models, spokeswoman Dianna Gutierrez said in an interview.

via Chrysler to Restart Seven Auto Plants Week of June 29 (Update1) – Bloomberg.com.

Mike: Till Friday……………………

Ted Rall

via U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Decreased Last Week (Update2) – Bloomberg.com.

June 11 – Jobless claims decline to 601,000 – Continuing claims reach another record at 6.82 million – Michigan unemployment at 23.4%? – U of Iowa Hospitals to cut 200+ – Another 1600 gone at American Airlines – UTStarcom to cut 2,300

layofflist — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:40:01 +0000

Mike: As with most Thursdays, the weekly jobless claims number is the big news. Today saw a reduction of claims to 601,000, which is still a very high number, but an improvement from the previous week. The markets seem excited by unemployment remaining above 600,000, but then all news is good news of late. The revised number form last week increased to 625,000 from 621,000, so I’ll see what next week’s revised number is before cheering this week’s decline.

Continuing claims rose to another record at 6.82 million, which shows a dismal lack of hiring. Last week it was reported that the string of record breaking continuing claims ended, but the revised number showed that continuing claims had reached another record last week as well. As long as states continue to extend unemployment benefits, the continuing claims number is likely to increase. The continuing claims number is likely to decline as unemployment benefits are exhausted and not because hiring trends, which will remain weak for quite some time.

- Initial jobless claims fell by 24,000 to 601,000 in the week ended June 6, fewer than forecast and the lowest level since January, from a revised 625,000 the prior week, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The number of people collecting benefits rose for a 19th straight time to a record 6.82 million in the prior week.

Businesses are slowing staff reductions as signs emerge that the worst recession in at least five decades may end in the second half of 2009. Still, economists in a Bloomberg News survey predicted the unemployment rate will climb to 10 percent by year-end and restrain consumer spending, muting any recovery.

Mike: Retail sales are also being celebrated for increasing by the largest amount in four months. Unfortunately, the main driver came from an increase in gas prices. While the rebound in auto sales is welcome news for those working in auto related industries, the retail increases are due to highly discounted auto sales and higher gas prices, which is not a sign that the “consumer” is rushing out to buy discretionary items. Vehicles and gas are considered necessities, and as gas prices continue to increase, the amount of discretionary funds declines. It’s hard to read anything positive into this retail sales report, but the media seem to be singing a different tale.

- Auto sales rose by 0.5 percent last month, the best showing since a 2.7 percent surge in January. Even with the gain, sales are still 21.5 percent below where they were a year ago as auotmakers continue to struggle with the worst sales environment in decades. In an effort to spur demand, automakers have stepped up their incentive offers.

Excluding autos, retail sales were up 0.5 percent in May, better than the 0.2 percent gain that economists had been expecting.

Much of that strength, however, came from a 3.6 percent jump in sales at gasoline service stations, an increase which reflected in large part rising gasoline prices. The retail sales are not adjusted for inflation.

via The Associated Press: Retail sales climb 0.5 percent in May.

Tom Toles

- Larger layoff announcements and important economic reports:

US/Canada:

International:

Navigation links to today’s stories:

via Laid-Off Janitors Protest Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers in San Jose, End Their 7-Day Fas : Indybay.

- Microsoft/Google/IBM and other Rumors & News -

- On Tuesday, June 9, a hundred janitors, community supporters, and faith leaders gathered in downtown San Jose, ending their 7-day hunger fast protesting high-tech company Cisco Systems for the layoffs of more than 40 percent of the company’s janitorial workforce.

Following the service, the janitors and supporters marched two blocks down South Market Street to the Fairmount Hotel, where Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers was being honored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

-Computerworld – Microsoft said today that it will pull the plug on its Money personal finance program at the end of this month, citing competition from banks, brokerage firms and unspecified Web sites as the reason.

via Microsoft to kill Money on June 30.

- General Economic News -

Mike: The following is an informative article on many aspects of current unemployment. The generally accepted U3 unemployment figure, released monthly by the BLS, is the lower end of the unemployment graph. “Real” unemployment, or U6, is always a higher, but more representative look at unemployment. Some even consider U6 to be less than “real” unemployment, but that’s another story. Read the following for some eye-opening maps and charts.

- What this model suggests is that the “real” unemployment rate in Michigan is around 23.4%, meaning that 1 in 4 people who want to work are without it in Michigan. This is bad, and only going to get worse. As the impact of the auto shutdowns at GM and Chrysler ripples out the auto states (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio) are going to see this grow much higher.

via Daily Kos: EconPop Series (3) 23.4% Unemployment in Michigan?.

Mike: Here we have a GM rep meeting behind closed doors with senators and leaving the meeting with no promise of GM not importing vehicles from China. I’m sure at some point that US consumers will get over the fact that they gave GM $40 billion dollars to shutter factories, layoff tens of thousands, destroy the economy of many a town and allowed the management to continue to receive golden parachutes while the workers benefits were dismantled, but it would be wise for GM to wait a few years before again slapping the faces of those same taxpayers by importing cars made in China. The US consumer has a short memory, but not that short………

- Troy Clarke, after leaving a meeting with Tennessee’s two U.S senators, said he did not think GM had agreed to any ban on Chinese imports even though it intends to make more than 70% of its cars and trucks in the U.S.

via GM says it hasn’t ruled out Chinese imports | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press.

Dilbert

- Government Layoff News -

- FLORENCE – Facing falling revenues, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved a budget resolution last week that will reduce the county workforce, including 42 employees to receive notice this Friday, June 12.

via Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc..

- Tuesday night, the City Council laid off 23 full- and part-time employees, the largest number of city layoffs in at least 20 years. The council also eliminated 39 positions as it approved a spending plan for the budget year that starts July 1.

via Turlock lays off nearly two dozen as it balances its books – Featured Stories – The Modesto Bee.

- Cherry Hill laid off 13 workers Tuesday to avoid a property-tax increase in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

via Cherry Hill layoffs avoid a tax increase | Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/11/2009.

- US and some Canada Layoff News -

- AMES, Iowa – University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics officials say they need to cut more than 200 jobs in the next fiscal year.

via U of Iowa Hospitals to cut 200-plus jobs — chicagotribune.com.

- MDS Inc (MDS.TO) (MDZ.N) posted a second-quarter loss on Thursday and said it plans to cut 180 jobs as the Canadian health sciences company copes with lower spending in the health services sector.

via UPDATE 1-MDS posts quarterly loss, to cut 180 jobs | Industries | Healthcare | Reuters .

- The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice said the private company based in Telford, Pa., will lay off its 46 workers from its facility off Emlen Way by June 22.

via Keystone Findings bought by Hoover & Strong, will close plant and lay off 46 – Philadelphia Business Journal: .

- For the second time in two months, The Shaw Group Inc. is eliminating pipe fabrication jobs, with a Walker shop losing 40 workers last week and a Tulsa, Okla., facility closing altogether and ending 168 jobs by August.

via 2theadvocate.com | Business | Shaw eliminates pipe jobs — Baton Rouge, LA.

- MIDDLETOWN — Towerstream Corp., a provider of high-speed Internet service, has laid off several employees, a company spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday.

via Middletown Internet provider cuts jobs | Business | projo.com | The Providence Journal .

- Anticipating a reduction in Medicare payments of nearly $70 million at the two hospitals in the next 10 years, the St. Barnabas Health Care System on Tuesday laid off 21 more employees at Community and Kimball medical centers, the company said Wednesday.

via St. Barnabas Health Care System lays off 21 more | APP.com | Asbury Park Press.

- Syracuse, NY – Employees of WSYR-TV, Channel 9, must take 10 days off without pay as part of a cost-cutting move by station owner Newport Television.

via Channel 9 workers must take time off without pay – syracuse.com.

- Spokesman Art Fiacco says the plant has 130 workers. He says some will get an offer to relocate, but the company doesn’t yet know how many.

via Ft. Madison to lose 130 jobs : News : KTVO3 .

- Newschannel 3 has learned that auto supplier Yorozu has sent a warn letter to Battle Creek Unlimited saying that 50 or more jobs will be lost.

via 70 jobs to be cut in Battle Creek | jobs, battle, creek – Breaking News – WWMT NEWSCHANNEL 3.

- The decision by the Cleveland-based private company will eliminate 64 jobs at the Bridgeton plant, which had produced parts for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

via Formtek closing Bridgeton plant, cutting 64 workers – St. Louis Business Journal: .

- According to the state, 49 employees will be affected by the closure. Durham indicated that employees will be considered for transfer to other locations within the company.

via Durham School Services closing Gibsonia facility – Pittsburgh Business Times: .

- More than 800 workers at both the North and South assembly plants in Fenton took voluntary severance and retirement packages by the May 26 deadline.

via Suburban Journals | News | More than 800 take buyouts at Fenton Chrysler plants .

- Newport Television cut 33 full- and part-time jobs at six stations and is requiring all its 2,000 employees to take two weeks off without pay through year’s end to cut costs in the struggling economy.

via Newport Television cuts jobs, starts furloughs – Kansas City Business Journal: .

- June 11 (Bloomberg) — AMR Corp.’s American Airlines will shed 1,600 jobs and Delta Air Lines Inc. may pare its payroll again as waning travel demand spurs deeper cuts in seating capacity.

via AMR to Cut 1,600 Jobs, Delta May Follow as Fares Drop (Update1) – Bloomberg.com.

- Telecommunications equipment maker UTStarcom Inc. said Thursday it will eliminate 2,300 positions worldwide, or more than 50 percent of its work force, by the end of the year as part of its effort to reduce costs.

via UTStarcom to cut 2,300 jobs by end of 4Q – Forbes.com.

- Winnebago Industries is announcing plans to close the company’s fiberglass manufacturing facility in Hampton, eliminating 40 jobs. That Hampton facility primarily manufactures fiberglass components for Winnebago’s motor home products.

via Radio Iowa: Winnebago closing fiberglass plant, 40 jobs cut.

- Some internal restructuring within Comcast-Spectacor has cost 11 employees their jobs, including 76ers public relations manager Pete Sousa, according to president and chief operating officer Peter Luukko.

via Sixers PR manager among 11 laid off by Comcast-Spectacor | Philadelphia Daily News | 06/11/2009.

- St. Louis-based Sisters of Mercy Health System has laid off 70 employees, including 11 at St. John’s Health System in Springfield.

via St. John’s parent lays off 11 in Springfield.

- International Layoff News -

- Discount store TK Maxx will cut up to 275 jobs with the closure of its Buckinghamshire distribution centre.

via BBC NEWS | UK | England | Beds/Bucks/Herts | TK Maxx to cut distribution jobs.

- JB Hi-Fi CEO Richard Uechtritz has confirmed the closing of a Clive Anthonys warehouse on the Gold Coast. In an interview with Current.com.au, Uechtritz said that an unspecified number of staff were made redundant.

via Current: Electrical, Electronics and Appliance Industry News and Issues – JB CEO talks restructure and redundancies at Clive Anthonys.

- FORTY JOBS are to be lost at Tralee’s biggest surviving foreign-owned plant, Beru Electronics, according to Siptu, which represents the 200 workers at the car components manufacturing plant.

via 40 jobs to be lost in Beru Electronics – The Irish Times – Thu, Jun 11, 2009.

- Top city law firm Wragge & Co has said it is considering letting as many as 85 people go after revenue dropped 15 per cent in a year.

The Colmore Row-based company, which is the largest law firm in Birmingham and one of the best-known names in the sector, has started a company-wide consultation looking at ways to cut costs.

via Birmingham Post – Business – Business News – Legal – Wragge planning 85 redundancies after recession hits revenue.

- UP to 800 jobs will be cut from the Tasmanian public sector and wage rises will be reined in over the next three years as the Bartlett government seeks to offset a collapse in revenue by imposing $760 million in spending cuts.

via 800 public sector jobs to disappear in Tasmania | The Australian.

- Eight people will lose their jobs with The Marlborough Express as its parent company Fairfax centralises operations.

via Eight staff laid off at Express | Stuff.co.nz.

- INSURANCE giant AXA is to cut more than 120 jobs across three offices in Suffolk, it was announced today.

via Major Suffolk employer to cut more than 120 jobs – East Anglian Daily Times .

- Macfarlanes has launched a second redundancy consultation with 15 jobs under threat.

The consultation, which began yesterday (10 June), is set to affect 14 support staff including secretaries, as well as one professional support lawyer. The bulk of those facing the axe will come from corporate and central resources.

via Macfarlanes set to cut 15 jobs in second consultation- Legalweek .

- Finnish consultancy Pöyry is cutting around one hundred jobs at its Forest Industry business group in Finland, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

via Pöyry cuts 100 jobs in Finland .

- According to the union, Alcoa is considering changes to the nature of shifts, reducing hours from a 42-hour week to a 40-hour week, and cutting jobs in order to cut costs at the Point Henry smelter.

via Possible job cuts at Alcoa Point Henry aluminium smelter – Metalworker .

- Indian wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy Ltd (SUZL.BO) has decided to slash 160 jobs, or more than half of its workforce at a U.S. plant, following a drop in orders, a company spokesman said on Thursday.

via UPDATE 1-Suzlon slashes jobs at U.S. plant as orders fall | Industries | Industrials, Materials & Utilities | Reuters .

- GERMAN PERSONAL-CARE products company Braun has announced the end of manufacturing in Carlow with the loss of 160 jobs. However, there was some relief yesterday when the company said that 100 employees out of the current workforce of 260 will be transferred to its Newbridge plant in Co Kildare.

via 160 jobs lost as Braun closes Carlow plant – The Irish Times – Fri, Jun 12, 2009.

- Hiring News and News You Can Use-

- President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan will create a number of relatively high-paying jobs for workers in construction, alternative energy, education and healthcare.

While the best-paying jobs in those fields typically require at least a four-year degree, you can move into some well-paying stimulus-related jobs after spending half that time in college or training, according to Laurence Shatkin, author of Great Jobs in the President’s Stimulus Plan.

via High-Paying Stimulus Jobs | Monster .

- The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America – a nationwide nonprofit organization – will expand its Charlotte operations and create 1,014 jobs over the next five years.

550 jobs will be added immediately. Although wages will vary by function, those jobs will pay an average annual wage of $35,982 according to NACA.

via Nonprofit Mortgage Company Adding 550 Jobs in Charlotte | WSPA.

- Metal heat treating fabricator Whertec Inc. is relocating a production and warehousing facility and 81 jobs to Jacksonville.

via Whertec to bring 81 jobs to Jacksonville – Jacksonville Business Journal: .

Mike: Now this comic hits home! More tomorrow………………………..

David Horsey

via The Associated Press: Jobless benefit rolls fall, initial claims dip.

June 4 – Jobless claims dip to 621,000 – Continuing claims stop the record breaking pace, but still at 6.7 million – UCSD cuts 800 jobs, more cuts on the way – Cessna: more layoffs June 19 – Capital Research and Management to cut 820

layofflist — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:32:17 +0000

Friday brings with it the Employment Situation, which is expected to be a market mover. The consensus estimate ranges from -625,000 to -495,000. Till then……………

Mike: Jobless Claims show a slight drop to 621,000 from a revised upward figure of 625,000 the previous week. Seems that every week we have a jobless claims number that is revised upward, but that’s another story. The continuing claims number came it at 6.7 million, which was 15,000 less than the previous week. Improvement is improvement, but this is minor improvement at best. As mentioned by the John A. Challenger of the Challenger employment report yesterday, “The second quarter is typically the lowest quarter of the year when it comes to job cuts.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people on the unemployment insurance rolls fell slightly last week for the first time in 20 weeks, while the tally of new jobless claims also dipped, the government said Thursday.

The report provides a glimmer of good news for job seekers, though both drops were small and the figures remain significantly above the levels associated with a healthy economy.

The Labor Department said the tally of first-time claims for jobless benefits declined to a seasonally adjusted 621,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 625,000, nearly matching analysts’ expectations.

The total jobless benefit rolls fell by 15,000 to 6.7 million, the first drop since early January. Continuing claims had set record highs every week since the week ending Jan. 24. The continuing claims data lag initial claims by one week.

Still, the number of initial claims remains stubbornly high, above the 605,000 level reached five weeks ago. That was the lowest level in 14 weeks.

The four-week average of claims, which smooths out fluctuations, rose by 4,000 to 631,250.

Mike: As I mentioned above, there is a trend of higher revised unemployment figures and at times the revision is substantial:

- The Labor Department’s data has been revised lower for the last 15 consecutive months at an average number of about 93,600. And if that weren’t enough, the few recent downward revisions to the ADP employment numbers appear to have presaged ones to the Labor Department’s reports.

After ADP revised the February loss to 706,000 from 697,000, the Labor Department revised its own report from a decline of 651,000 jobs to 681,000. Similarly, ADP’s November loss of 250,000 jobs was revised a month later to a drop of 472,000. The Labor Department’s nonfarm payrolls loss of 533,000 jobs in November was later revised to a drop of 597,000.

via ADP Report Creates Worry of Revisions | Page 2 of 3 | Market Features | Financial Articles & Investing News | TheStreet.com.

Walt Handelsman

My following rant may seem trivial to some, but the following story made my blood flow early. I believe it shows the complete disconnect of business executives from the human condition. Here we have an economist with MasterCard saying that high unemployment is a cause for celebration. It’s this type of economic expert that is so detached from the daily lives of the average person that they no longer see, feel or can experience the adverse affects unemployment has on the individual, families and communities. When you hear such harse, detatched and unempathetic quotes it’s often from the financial wizards. Here’s another one of those wizards of finance touting the benefits of unemployment from his comfort zone. I realize that some unemployment will always be the nature of an economy, but my point is one of how some of the most powerful men in the business world have absolutely no concern for the individual, but have a deep and sincere attachemt to a corporation. I am reminded of a John Lennon song titled “Power to the People,” but with a new title of “Profit over People.” I digress – here’s the story:

“Your ability to lay off people faster than your competitor will actually determine who is a survivor,” he said.

“That in turn will allow business to expand, and investment will begin to come back to turn that business cycle around and increase employment.

“So this is a short-term spiking that is very healthy.

“I wouldn’t worry about high unemployment. You may read all sorts of doom and gloom news in the media, but from my view I would start popping champagne.”

via Epoch Times – MasterCard Economist Celebrates Higher Unemployment.

* Larger layoff announcements and important economic reports:

US/Canada:

International:

Navigation links to today’s stories:

via Workers’ group objects to IBM job cuts at Poughkeepsie rally | PoughkeepsieJournal.com | Poughkeepsie Journal.

- Microsoft/Google/IBM and other Rumors & News -

- The Alliance@IBM rallied on Route 9 today in the light rain to make public their objections to IBM’s labor practices.

Job cuts for Americans, sending work overseas and the granting of tax breaks for IBM were the three points of contention posed by the about 15 members and supporters of the workers’ group at the rally.

- General Economic News -

Chain Store Sales

- NEW YORK (AP) — Many U.S. retailers said same-store sales fell in May, as expected, as shoppers continue to spend cautiously, focusing on bargains and food.

The declines came in largely in line with analyst expectations, with frequent standouts such as The Buckle Inc. posting better results. Costco Wholesale Corp. and mall retailer Limited Brands Inc. reported declines.

via US retailers report May sales declines – Yahoo! Finance.

Monster Employment Index

- NEW YORK (AP) – Monster Worldwide Inc. said Thursday its employment index fell slightly in May, as online recruitment activity slowed following a seasonal ramp-up in April.

The Monster Employment Index is a monthly gauge of U.S. online job demand based on a review of job opportunities culled from corporate jobs sites, including Monster.

via Monster says online jobs index fell in May: Associated Press Business News – MSN Money.

Productivity and Costs
8:30 AM ET

June 4 (Bloomberg) — U.S. worker productivity rose more in the first quarter than previously estimated as the worst recession in at least half a century prompted companies to cut costs by extracting more output from remaining employees.

Productivity, a measure of worker output per hour, climbed at a 1.6 percent annual rate, more than forecast and double the 0.8 percent gain estimated last month, revised figures from the Labor Department showed today. Labor costs increased 3 percent after climbing 5.1 percent at the end of 2008.

via U.S. First-Quarter Productivity Rises 1.6%; Labor Costs Up 3% – Bloomberg.com.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Mike: The following story is very improtant, but it received little media play. Media currently are pushing all the “green shoots” and good news stories they can find, but they present a deceptive picture of the current state of the economy. This isn’t all doom and gloom, but wandering through the economic maze without an up to date map will be confusing and lead to missed opportunities. When CFOs see worse times ahead – and they are the people with the most to gain by better times – it’s an opinion that deserves consideration at a minimum.

- Don’t be fooled by the rising levels of consumer confidence reported in recent weeks. Chief financial officers polled by Duke University and CFO magazine say that more reliable economic indicators – such as mounting job losses and worsening credit conditions – point to the recession lasting through the end of 2009.

The quarterly Duke University/CFO Magazine Global Business Outlook Survey asked 1,309 CFOs worldwide about their expectations for the economy. Their answers paint a gloomy picture for the rest of the year.

* CFOs in the U.S. and Europe expected employment to shrink by 5.5 percent, with the unemployment rate in the U.S. seen rising to perhaps as high as 12 percent in the next 12 months. Employment in Asia is expected to recede by 1.2 percent.

via Duke, CFO study: CFOs foresee more job cuts, credit woes - Triangle Business Journal: .

- WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Medical bills are involved in more than 60 percent of U.S. personal bankruptcies, an increase of 50 percent in just six years, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.

More than 75 percent of these bankrupt families had health insurance but still were overwhelmed by their medical debts, the team at Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School and Ohio University reported in the American Journal of Medicine.

via Medical bills underlie 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies: study – Yahoo! News.

Stuart Carlson

- Government Layoff News -

- Ten city employees are expected to be laid off today to help Coachella bridge a projected $3.2 million deficit.

As City Hall is closed on alternating Fridays, the cuts were made effective the last day of this work week. They were made across the board among the city’s 90 employees and not based on seniority, said city spokesman Bob Marra.

via Budget woes force Coachella to cut 10 jobs | MyDesert.com | The Desert Sun.

- Milpitas City Council voted 3-2, with Vice Mayor Pete McHugh and Councilwoman Althea Polanski dissenting, to finalize adoption of the city’s estimated $145-million 2009-10 fiscal year budget, triggering the unprecedented layoffs of 21 full-time City of Milpitas employees to help close next year’s projected $8.7-million shortfall.

via Milpitas city layoffs confirmed as council approves budget – The Milpitas Post Online.

- Southold will lay off 16 workers this week as the town tries to close a million-dollar budget gap that officials said is the product of huge shortfalls in mortgage tax collections and interest and earnings revenues.

via The Suffolk Times.

- The education field was once thought to be recession proof, but 73 district employees will be laid off this month.

via JCPS layoffs forcing some out of work | EDUCATION | WHAS11.com | News for Louisville, Kentucky.

- SNOW HILL — At the end of the workday Friday, 11 Worcester County employees were told to clear out their desks and were then escorted from the building. According to officials, the layoffs — which were part of a greater plan to consolidate three departments — will save the county $532,000.

via County jobs in land-planning offices are cut | delmarvanow.com | The Daily Times.

- Layoff notices go out Friday to 19 employees in the financially strapped city of Warren. Human Resources Director Gary Cicero tells 21 News that notices will be sent to five police officers.

via More Furloughs For Warren City Workers – 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio – .

- US and some Canada Layoff News -

- LA JOLLA — As it absorbs deep budget cuts and braces for more, the University of California San Diego has quietly reduced its work force by more than 800 positions, or nearly 5.5 percent, in recent months, university officials disclosed yesterday.

The downsizing includes at least 172 layoffs, 222 positions left vacant and 428 that have been eliminated, said Stacie Spector, associate vice chancellor for communications.

via UCSD says it’s not done after shedding 800 jobs.

- BOULDER – The University of Colorado plans to eliminate 75 faculty and staff positions at the Boulder campus to help trim $12.9 million from its budget.

via University of Colorado to cut 75 faculty jobs – KDVR.

- Until then, Mong and 11 others are out of a job. He said he’ll likely do some roofing work with his grandfather until he can return to Fetter’s.

via The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA – 12 out of jobs after Fetter’s fire.

- Weil Gotshal & Manges has laid off 79 support staff across its US offices due to the pressures of the economic downturn.

via Weil Gotshal cuts 79 US support jobs | News | The Lawyer.

- The restructuring move effects about 20 workers, while the early-stage hepatitis C drug program for ANA773 will end. The focus will now be on ANA598, which is heading into midstage development for hepatitis C.

via Anadys cuts jobs, program in restructuring move – Forbes.com.

- DEERFIELD – The new owners of Hardigg Industries laid off 50 of the 500 workers at the company’s 300,000-square-foot South Deerfield plant Monday.

via Firm lays off 50 in South Deerfield – MassLive.com.

- Cherry Blossom, LLC, of Williamsburg, laid off about 45 workers and stopped processing cherries this week due to problems meeting payroll, a company spokesman said. Cherry Blossom’s sister company, WRS Holding LLC, owes almost $41,000 in back property taxes.

via Traverse City Record-Eagle – Article: Company lays off 45, halts processing.

- The plant, which makes sofas, ottomans, loveseats and other furniture for chain stores and independently owned shops, already has laid off eight of its 35 workers. The remaining employees are filling back orders now, but unless new orders come in they will find themselves out of work soon.

via Spruce Pine furniture plant halted | CITIZEN-TIMES.com | Asheville Citizen-Times.

- More than 100 employees work at the Belleville location and there are 450, in total, affected at MCCI operations in Peterborough and Belleville.

via MCCI lays off Belleville employees – Belleville Intelligencer – Ontario, CA .

- WICHITA – Cessna Aircraft is informing employees this morning that a new round of layoffs is in the works.

Officials are not saying how many jobs will be cut, but employees will be notified by June 19.

via Cessna: More layoffs coming, numbers not released | Top Stories | Wichita Eagle.

- The ABB plant’s human resources manager confirmed the company is cutting another 25 full-time hourly employees.

via 25 more layoffs for ABB plant : News : KRCG .

- About 75 workers at the Ken-American Resources owned Paradise Mine were notified Tuesday that they would no longer have a job Tuesday.

via KY mine announced layoffs – 14 News, The Tri-State’s News and Weather Leader-.

- Former employees of Royal Vendors Inc., in Charles Town, said that approximately 40 workers were permanently dismissed from their jobs on Monday. Others were told to contact the company in November to see if they could return to work.

via Royal Vendor employees report layoffs – journal-news.net | News, sports, jobs, community information for Martinsburg – The Journal.

- BRIDGEPORT — Proving that the recession strikes even the largest, oldest and necessary businesses, Bridgeport Hospital joined Greenwich Hospital by announcing Wednesday that it would begin layoffs in July to cut some of its financial losses.

via Staff cuts coming to Bridgeport Hospital – The Connecticut Post Online.

- AGCO Corp., Harvey County’s largest employer, announced Wednesday it was laying off 60 full-time production employees.

via AGCO announces layoffs – Newton, KS – The Newton Kansan.

- The Maui Prince Hotel and Makena Resort signed a two-year contract extension with ILWU Local 142 on Monday, but it included a furlough of 49 bargaining unit workers – about one quarter of the staff.

via 49 furloughed at Maui Prince, Makena Resort – Mauinews.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Visitor’s Information – The Maui News.

- Two Emerson Electric Co. subsidies in Minnesota laid off 176 workers.

Kato Engineering in Mankato, Minn., near Minneapolis-St. Paul, cut 94 jobs, or about 20 percent of its work force.

Another Emerson subsidiary, Rosemount Inc., let go 82 workers at its Chanhassen, Minn., headquarters and at an office in Eden Prairie, Minn.

via Emerson lays off 176 in Minnesota – St. Louis Business Journal: .

- The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees will be asked July 23 to cut five academic programs and 51 faculty and staff jobs.

via UCF wants to cut 5 programs, 51 jobs – Orlando Business Journal: .

- Capital Research and Management Co. will lay off 820 people over the next two weeks, according to an internal memo the parent company of American Funds and Capital Guardian Trust sent to all employees on Monday.

via Capital Research and Management to cut 820 jobs – Pensions & Investments .

- Fire extinguisher manufacturer Amerex Corp. cut 20 jobs this week in response to decreased orders.

via Trussville’s Amerex cuts 20 jobs – Birmingham Business Journal: .

- Metal Technologies Inc. plans to close its West Allis Ductile Iron plant this summer, leaving 215 employees without jobs.

via West Allis factory closing eliminates 215 jobs – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: .

- Another 135 jobs at Volvo’s road machinery plant in Shippensburg will be eliminated by the end of July, a company spokeswoman said Thursday.

via The Sentinel Online : News : Local : Volvo to cut 135 more jobs at Shippensburg plant.

- PLAQUEMINE, LA (WAFB) – Nearly 100 contract maintenance workers were laid off from the Georgia Gulf plant in Plaquemine Thursday.

via Nearly 100 laid off at Plaquemine plant – WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |.

- The Integer Group laid off 19 of its 160 Iowa employees June 1. Integer Group of the Midwest president Frank Maher says the agency hasn’t lost clients but several reduced their spending.

via Des Moines ad agency lays off 19 — chicagotribune.com.

- International Layoff News -

- The government approved a business plan giving the company the flexibility to temporarily lay off as many of its 12,000 Spanish employees as it needs to reduce European capacity in line with falling demand for steel.

via ArcelorMittal Gets Approval for Deep Layoffs in Spain – NYTimes.com.

- Dairy Farmers of Britain produces 10% of Britain’s milk but has suffered from heavy losses and the end of a contract to supply the Co-Operative supermarket.

Staff at dairies in Newcastle, Bridgend and Lincoln are among the workers fearing for their jobs.

via Dairy Farmers Of Britain Collapses Putting 2,200 Milk Jobs At Risk | Business | Sky News.

- A total of 26 redundancies are to be made at SAICA Packaging UK’s Hartlepool site to secure the future of the corrugated packaging factory.

via SAICA announces redundancies at North East corrugated plant | Business | packagingnews.co.uk.

- One of Gibraltar’s leading online gambling companies 888.com has confirmed a process of redundancies and the loss of around 40 jobs as a result of the international financial recession. The company remains a major employer in the private sector.

via Gibraltar Chronicle – The Independent Daily First Published 1801.

- Snackfood company Real McCoy announced yesterday that around 40 people would be made redundant at their factory in Shepparton.

via Closing of Campbell Arnott’s factory leaves 40 jobless | Australian Food News.

- The company will be cutting staff from operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but said details have not been finalized.

via ADC tops 2Q earnings expectations, will cut jobs – BusinessWeek.

- Up to 130 workers could lose their jobs as Herron Pharmaceuticals plans to shut a Brisbane factory to save its southern operations.

via Herron Pharmaceuticals to close Brisbane factory, cut jobs.

- More than 300 workers are to lose their jobs from Plymouth-based luxury motor boat builder Princess Yachts.

via BBC NEWS | UK | England | Devon | Yacht firm announces 300 job cuts.

- A Chinese mining company says it is laying off dozens of workers at its Guyana mines as the global economic crisis slows demand for bauxite.

via Chinese miner orders Guyana layoffs amid crisis – Forbes.com.

- Hiring News and News You Can Use-

Mike: Creating 22,000 jobs is admirable, but the scope of the reporting on this story is less than admirable. Will Walmart add 22,000 to its exisitng workforce, or are they hiring 22,000 new workers while releasing others? I dug through a number of stories, but failed to come up with an answer. If you have an answer, please send it along.

- BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — As Wal-Mart Stores Inc. opens about 150 new or expanded stores in the U.S. in 2009, the company expects to hire about 22,000 people for new positions.

Those positions include plenty of cashiers and stock clerks, but the world’s largest retailer will also be adding store managers, pharmacists and personnel workers.

Wal-Mart is holding its annual shareholders meeting on Friday, and employees from its stores around the world are spending the week in Bentonville at company headquarters.

via The Associated Press: Wal-Mart says it will create 22,000 jobs in 2009.

- Dear Carrie: I work for a dentist. He plans to close the office for five to seven weeks to have shoulder surgery. Can I collect unemployment benefits during that time?

– Temporarily Closed

Dear Temporarily: If you don’t obtain work in the meantime, you may be able to receive unemployment benefits. “It’s a temporary lack of work,” a New York State Department of Labor spokeswoman said. “She should be eligible.”

via Temp layoff may qualify worker for jobless benefits — Newsday.com.

- The region added about 3,400 jobs between April 2008 and April 2009, making it the only one of the nation’s 38 largest cities to post a job gain, new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. This is the third consecutive month that Austin has outperformed all of the other U.S. cities with labor forces of 750,000 or more. The unemployment rate for April stood at 5.8 percent.

via Austin only major city to add jobs in last year – Austin Business Journal: .

- LENEXA, Kan. – A Pennsylvania outsourcing company is nearing the end of an expansion at a customer call center in suburban Kansas City that will ultimately employ 725 new workers.

via Lenexa outsourcing facility adding 725 jobs | AP | 06/04/2009.

- Forbes is digging through the Department of Labor’s lists of open jobs to find the highest-paid professional positions to post here. Along with the job title, we’ll tell you a little about the job and the salary range and provide a direct link to the official listing and online application. Don’t wait to apply. The deadlines for many of these jobs are quickly approaching.

via In Pictures: Government Jobs You Should Apply For Now – Forbes.com .

- LAS VEGAS — The massive two-tower expansion of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will boost the Las Vegas job market by putting 1,200 people to work.

via Vegas Hard Rock Adding 1,200 Jobs – Las Vegas News Story – KVVU Las Vegas.

Mike: I hope you all have a good evening..…………………….

Dilbert