The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support is held a hearing on June 10 titled: Hearing on Responding to Long-Term Unemployment. I asked readers of Rochester Unemployment Examiner to send me letters they wrote to the Committee that they also wanted to have published here.* Below are some of those letters. I’ll be posting other letters as I receive permission.

There is still time to write; you can submit letters to House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support is holding a hearing until the close of business on June 24.

I want to thank all of you for including me in your letters to the Hearing. I will do my best to reply to each and everyone of you in a timely fashion.

From M.H. in KS:

Re: Hearing on Responding to Long-Term Unemployment

To ALL members of the U.S. Congress & the President of the United States of America

I am a 57 year old male who has worked for over 43 years.

I have always paid my Income Taxes, and paid into the Social Security System, as outlined by our government.

Like so many MILLIONS of other Americans, through no fault of my own, I was laid-off from my most recent employer of over 16 years, on October 6^th, 2008. I was the Quality Manager of a manufacturing company that went from a 24/7 operation to one 8 hour shift.

I am a divorced father with custody of my 14 year old daughter. (Due to what will be stated in this letter, I MAY be forced to give custody to my ex-spouse…that, I should NOT be forced to do…my daughter deserves better from HER country)

I am not someone who has looked to my government to “pay my way”, and have never approved of what many Americans referred to as the “American Welfare System”.

Again, like millions of other hard-working, dedicated Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of our own, I have found that companies do not want to hire a 57 year old, divorced, white male, who hasn’t worked for over 1 & ½ years. The daily frustrations that I have experienced cannot be put into words. One has to “live it” by being in this position and by reading comments from the “still-employed” Americans, who think that anyone who hasn’t found new employment after this length of time, must be lazy, unmotivated, worthless, looking for the old Welfare scams, and only wanting to be on full-time vacation. If they only knew how far from the truth this is for MOST, if not ALL of us. I have sent resumes, had interviews, made phone calls, have visited companies that aren’t advertising any current openings just to have an application on file “in case” something becomes available…I can’t even keep track anymore of the hundreds (thousands?) of these over the last year & ½.

I have received Extended Benefits through the “Unemployment” system, Tiers I, II, & III, but the State of Kansas did not have a Tier IV, as some other states put into place. I have exhausted all benefits made available to me, and am still unemployed as of this writing.

I was one of the “lucky” Americans, who after working many years, was able to live the so-called “American Dream”, of owning my own home, along with owning 2 vehicles.

Due to the state of the economy, and the decision by Congress to no longer “HELP” Americans such as myself, I was forced to file bankruptcy. I lost my “dream”..our 4-bedroom home..our new car..health insurance (as well as health, in general), dignity, respect, good credit rating, and many, many other things.

Not only did we have to move from our house (our HOME) to an apartment, I now can no longer afford to pay the rent, buy food, pay for gasoline for my “used” 2002 VW, or pay utilities (which includes phone & computer, and they are my last resorts for further seeking of employment). All of this because Congress has decided that I am not entitled to receive any further assistance from my country.

This is while I continue to read of the BILLIONS of dollars my country is giving to foreign countries to assist them through the “disasters” they have encountered… or “bailing out” the Banking & Auto industries with BILLIONS because “we can’t afford to let them fail”…

…What about us???… the Americans who have encountered this “disaster” in our lives…do you honestly feel it’s OK to let US “fail”, and that we don’t need the help of OUR OWN COUNTRY?

H.R.4213 does NOT address the “Long-Term” unemployed, those of us without further available “Tiers”. It only addresses giving the “shorter-term” unemployed an additional amount of time to file for an extension of their benefits. Even this hasn’t PASSED Congress – YET.

While you’re on vacation, or approving your own pay raises, some of us are on the brink of becoming completely homeless…What did WE do wrong??? … and “vacation”? What is that?  I can’t even imagine that “luxury” anymore.

Do we NO LONGER EXIST to the people we elected to Congress to help lead our country. If what I have read is correct, and I believe it is, those of us who have exhausted ALL benefits, are no longer “on the books”, so we aren’t included in the figures/Unemployment % reported to/by the Press. We should be included, not FORGOTTEN!!! What is the TRUE percentage if you INCLUDE us? We ARE unemployed…Why play with the numbers to make the economy look like it’s improving, when in fact, it is NOT for some/most  Americans…Tell the American public the TRUE NUMBERS…we DO exist, even if Congress wants to ignore us, or at a minimum, not want to deal with us.

As we all know, the oil damage in the Gulf of Mexico currently has the main focus of the Press, but please give the “damage” to the American people YOUR main focus…we deserve to NOT be forgotten.

There are internet blogs that I have read that are quite disturbing, and show the true desperation of some Americans. Some have said they are going to commit crimes just to have a “roof over their head” and to have their children become “Wards of the State” so that they will receive care & housing that the parent can no longer supply…Others have stated they are ready to commit suicide so that their children will receive life insurance and/or “survivor benefits” rather than see them forced to “live on the streets”…  How much of this do we need to see actually start happening before this desperation is realized?

PLEASE help us…we NEED your help…we DESERVE your help…we were NOT the cause of the current state of our economy, or the loss of OUR AMERICAN DREAM….

“Jobs Programs” will be a great benefit to the entire country, when & if they work, but that will take quite a lengthy time to re-employ all who have lost employment.

Of course employment several months (or longer) from now is better than “not at all”, but…PLEASE include a TIER V to the Extended Benefits program and add it NOW, and to ALL states…not after 3 months of additional debate, and to only a select group of states, using incomplete data of the TRUE Unemployment %…we can NOT survive that long without help from our country…

I could write for days on this subject, but I know it would most likely be placed to the side without review, so I will end here and state…

… I believe in MY country and hope that my country believes in those of us who needs “her” help….

“… OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE…”

Respectfully & Sincerely

From L.T. in SC:

RE:  Hearing on Responding to Long-Term Unemployment

Dear Senator McDermott,

I am writing this letter in response to ANOTHER 4 hour day at the Unemployment Office in South Carolina.  Suicide is becoming more and more attractive each day I survive.

I recently turned 53 and up until three years ago I felt my life fairly blessed.  I started working @ 12 as a babysitter and officially was on the Social Security books in 1973.

In November of 2006 my beloved Mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer & given 6 months to live.  In January of 2007 I lost my job as a Licensed Customhouse Broker, (my original license was issued in 1986 by the then U.S. Treasury Dept., now “Homeland Security), a career I had for over 20+ years.  In April 2007 my husband of 13 years abandoned me.  I’ve lost my home, car, even my pets.  I have NOTHING.  I have little to no family as I was unable to have children and my family is extremely small.  In fact I only really have a Aunt in Maine, (who is also suffering due to the economy) and a sister in Charleston with two children ALSO not able to help me.  If not for the blessing of a friend I would be on the streets!  Literally!  I’m sure you are not aware, (it’s another one of American’s dirty little secrets), but there is NO WHERE for a WOMAN to go, (shelter), unless they are physically abused or have children.  I do not fall under either of the two “qualifications”.  There ARE men shelters.  Can “someone” explain this to me?  Never mind, that’s another issue and not the purpose of this letter.

This being said my last date of “employment” was June 8^th, 2009.  I held a couple of jobs working for “call centers”, (I would describe these positions very close to being operated the same way as “sweatshops”), but other than that I can’t get a job ANYWHERE.  I have moved four times in the past year, (in South Carolina and Florida), living with friends.  No home.  No Job.  No Security.  No family.  No feeling of worth.

Unfortunately having had a somewhat unorthodox career I “pigeon-holed” myself where my skills are somewhat limited albeit I’m pretty sure I could flip a burger.  Did you know that when you apply on-line, (which 98% of places I have applied to require), that McDonald’s does not even offer an application or a place to “paste” a resume.  Instead you answer a 50+ “assessment” questionnaire.  I’ve done so many with so many companies but I think a question such as “Do you think smoking is harmful for your health?” is not only mundane but asinine as well.

So, here we are.  10 million, 20 million, 30 million?  Really, does anyone really know how many of AMERICANS are unemployed?  How many have just given up?  How many HAVE committed suicide?

My experience with the South Carolina Employment Commission, (or whatever they are calling themselves now since the discovery of how inept the offices are), has been overwhelming.  I went from February of this year until May without receiving a single dime.  I myself initiated my four month quest by going into the Charleston, SC office, (where I had lived for 20+ years), to ask WHY I had not been called in for an “eligibility” review.  Out of 16 weeks I was either in the Charleston or Greenville “One Stop” office 14 times!  By the way, The Greenville News, recently had a headline story that aside from the “Commission” being “run amok” the reporter also quoted that of the 1100 S.C. agency employees, 300 of them had returned to work after retirement.  These retirees returned to jobs that were NEVER posted for us regular folk.

In closing I am “grateful” my Mother did not live to see what has happened to my life.  I am “grateful” she will never have to know I had to pawn her jewelry in order to “survive”.  Most of all I am “grateful” she never had to see what America has become.  I grew up in Leesburg, VA..  I know what goes on “inside” the beltway.  I watch CSPAN and see NOTHING going on.

I am pleased to see you are on “our” side.  Of course you are only one Senator and of course you have never experienced, (nor will any of your children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren), experience what “normal” AMERICANS are losing or have lost.  This is NOT my America.  Greed and Politics have won.  No wonder the comparison’s to the fall of the Roman Empire.  We’re there!

WE NEEDA TIER V!

Thank you for your time and consideration in reading this letter.  I pray “someone” on your staff will point out MY letter and help me to regain a life and perhaps just a little bit of dignity.

Sincerely,

From N.M. in FL:

URGENT—-URGENT  — URGENT —-URGENT——-URGENT

WE NEED UNEMPLOYMENT AND COBRA 65% DISCOUNT TO BE EXTENDED UNTIL THE END OF 2010

THE HEALTH CARE BILL DOES NOT KICK IN FOR 4 YEARS,

IF PREXISTING CONITIONS WERE NOT BLOCKED FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS  AND PRICING WAS FAIR AND UNEMPLOYMENT WAS EXTENDED OUT UNTIL THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE  WAS DOWN, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET AFFORDABLE INSURANCE- BUT DUE TO THE WAY THE HEALTH CARE BILL IS- I CANNOT AND NEITHER CAN OTHERS.

WHAT GOOD IS THAT?

WE NEED EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT TO A LONG TIER V.AND 65% COBRA EXTENDED IMMEDIATELY.

IT IS URGENT THAT YOU EXTEND COBRA 65% BENEFITS OUT FOR THE UNEMPLOYED. IT IS ALSO URGENT THAT YOU IMMEDIALTLY EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR ALL AMERICANS WHO HAVE OR WILL BE ENDING TIER 4.

TIER 5 FOR ALL IS A MUST AND VERY QUICKLY FOR BOTH.

PLEASE READ MY STORY

I AM 63 YEARS OLD, MY 3 WEEKS OF EB EXPIRED JUNE 5, 2010

(I DID NOT GET THE 20 WEEKS IN FLORIDA, I ONLY GOT 3 WEEKS BECAUSE OF THE JUNE 5^TH END DATE AND TIER 3 CAME IN SO I NEVER STARTED MY 20 WEEKS OF EB UNTIL TIER 4 RAN OUT.)

AND  MY COBRA 65% DISCOUNT EXPIRED MAY 31^ST 2010, UNLESS IT IS EXTENDED TO SAVE US I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO…

WE TOOK OUR SOCIAL SECURITY EARLY ONLY SO WE COULD PAY OUR BILLS AND NOT DEPEND ON MEDICAID HOUSING ASSISTANCE ETC.WE THEREFORE LOST A LOT OF OUR FUTURE IN BENEFITS.

WE WERE PAYING $578.00 PER MONTH FOR THE TWO OF US.

I JUST RECEIVED MY CONVERSION PLAN FOR MYSELF AND IT IS $1288.00 PER MONTH FOR 1 PERSON. MY HUSBAND IS ALSO UNEMPLOYED BUT HE GOES ONTO MEDICARE JUNE 1, 2010 AND MUST BUY A SUPPLEMENT TOO.

I CAN’T EVER PAY THIS $1288.00

THE ONLY OTHER WAY OUT IS TO DIVORCE MY HUSBAND AND GET ON MEDICAID.HOW SAD, HE IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.

I AM AN INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETIC AND NO ONE ELSE WILL COVER ME. THE INSULIN IS OVER $200.00 A BOTTLE PER MONTH

I USE 2 BOTTLES OF 70/30 AND 1 BOTTLE OF REGULAR- SO THAT IS OVER $600.00 A MONTH PLUS MY OTHER MEDICATIONS SUCH AS ADVAIR @ OVER $200.00 A MONTH AND AVAPRO 300 AT ABOUT $100.00 A MONTH.

I HAVE PRICED THIS ALL WITH A DISCOUNT CARD AND IT COMES TO OVER $600.00 A MONTH. THERE ARE OTHER MEDS, BUT THEY ARE GENERIC BUT MY LIFE SAVING INSULIN, BLOOD PRESSURE AND ASTHMA DRUGS I CANNOT AFFORD.

IF UNEMPLOYMENT WERE EXTENDED OUT UNTIL WE CAN FIND WORK IN FLORIDA, A STATE WITH OVER 12% UNEMPLOYED WE AND OVER 1 MILLION OTHERS IN FLORIDA WOULD BE SAVED FROM DESTITUTION.

I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PLIGHT, MILLIONS WILL BE BEGGING IN THE STREETS, STEALING AND DYING JUST FOR MEDS & FOOD &HOUSING.

OVER GOVERNMENT MUST HAVE A HEART AND A CONSCIENCE!!!

IF ANY OF YOU TRIED TO LIVE ON 275.00 A WEEK +$25 FOR EVEN A MONTH YOU WOULD KNOW HOW HORRIBLE IT FEELS. WHY NOT TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AND TRY IT FOR A FEW MONTHS.

IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT ANYONE FROM THE PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS AND THE SENATE COULD ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO THE PROUD AMERICANS WHO GAVE YOU YOUR JOBS, BENEFITS, PENSIONS, HOUSES ETC.

WE ARE PROUD AMERICANS, BUT WE NEED HELP FROM THE PEOPLE WE VOTED TO PROTECT US!

THIS GREAT COUNTRY HAS BAILED OUT  EVERY OTHER COUNTRY, GIVEN MONEY TO  COUNTRIES IN NEED, BAILED OUT OUR BANKS, AUTOMAKERS AND BIG BUSINESS- YOU NEED TO HAVE A CONSCIENCE AND HELP THOSE OF US STILL UNEMPLOYED.

YES, IT APPEARS THAT THEM FIGURES OF THOSE COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT IS DOWN, BUT THE TRUE FIGURES ARE NOT THERE, BECAUSE IT IS DOWN BECAUSE THEY CAN NO LONGER COLLECT.

MY UNEMPLOYMENT ENDS IN 1 WEEK, WHEN I FILE FOR MY 1 WEEK, THEN I WILL BE APPLYING FOR FOOD STAMPS, MEDICAID, RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND ANYTHING ELSE I AM ELIGIBLE FOR- JUST TO SURVIVE. I AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS DID NOT PLAN FOR THS- EVERYONES SAVINGS ARE GONE,

OUR LANDLORD WAS NICE INTAKING PAYMENTS, BUT ONCE UNEMPLOYMENT IS GONE, THERE WILL BE NO WAY TO MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS UNTIL I CAN FIND A JOB WHERE I DON’T HAVE TO LIFT 50 LBS AND STAND ON MY FEET ALL DAY( I AM IN NO MEDICAL CONDITION TO DO THAT WITH HEART, DIABETIES, ASTHMA AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE—AND NOW I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO DOCTORS OR GET MEDICATION.

IS EVERYONE IN WASHINGTON BLIND TO WHAT IS HAPPENING??

WHY  IS IT THAT THERE IS FUNDING THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION IF YOU WANT TO GO FOR A COLLEGE DEGREE. BUT IF YOU ARE IN YOUR 60’S AND WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE CAREERS BY TAKING A COURSE FOR YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE LISCENCE OR A REAL ESTATE LISCENCE, WHICH TAKES A MUCH SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET AND LESS MONEY  HAS TO BE PAID FOR THESE LISCENSES, WE MUST PAY FOR THEM OUT OF POCKET?

BECAUSE  THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT HELP US PAY FOR THIS AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY, THEREFORE ANOTHER AVENUE IS SHUT OFF FOR US.

IF THESE WERE INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNMENT STIMULUS WITH THE EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND 65% DISCOUNT OF COBRA, MANY OF US WOULD BE MAKING  MONEY NOW.

I WATCH THE NEWS AND EVERYDAY I SEE MORE ROBERIES, PEOPLE BEING SHOT AND KILLED FOR A FEW DOLLARS FOR FOOD ETC. IS THIS REALLY WHAT YOU WANT FOR OUR COUNTRY??  THE CRIME RATE IS UP AND IT WILL BE MUCH HIGHER AND DESPERATE PEOPLE DO DESPERATE THINGS.

WE DESPERATLY NEED THE 65% COBRA  EXTENDED NOW PAST 18 MONTHS- I END ON MAY 31,2010 AND THE HEALTHCARE BILL DOES NOTHING TO HELP ME UNTIL I AM ALMOST 68 YEARS OLD.I WILL NOT MAKE 68 IF THERE IS NO HELP

AND UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENDED UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR SO WE CAN GET BACK ON OUR FEET-( I STILL BELIEVE IN THIS COUNTRY. WITHOUT UNEMPLOYMENT I CAN’T PAY FOR COBRA.

HELP US!

PLEASE

RESPECTFULLY,

From V.M. in MI:

My situation is by no means unique: I am divorced; 55 years old; have been unemployed since November 2007; can’t afford health insurance and am too young for Medicare; am on food stamps; have used up most of my IRA (for which I’m penalized for early withdrawal),

More than anything, I want gainful employment. I’ve applied for a variety of jobs–from entry-level to professional–and no luck. I’m an attorney and have a master’s degree in business. I’m also an actor, artist, photographer, and writer, and I’ve been doing some freelance jobs, but they are few and far between. I cannot find one meaningful paid job in any of those categories. The paid positions out there are part-time or temporary, have no benefits, and pay very little. Clearly, employers are taking advantage of this situation.

I would be happy working as a file clerk, but rarely do I get an interview and when I do, the interviewers are often half my age and don’t give serious consideration to my qualifications. I never hear back from them. Age discrimination is rampant.

When I hear politicians and others say that people like me are lazy and will be more motivated to find work if there were no more unemployment benefits, I wish that I could afford to move away to a country, such as Canada or New Zealand, that values its citizens and offers health care to everyone.

Why do our politicians not bat an eye when bailing out Wall Street and GM, and keep funding a war that has no end, but abandon those who desperately need an extension of unemployment benefits? We’re not asking for handouts—we’ve paid into the unemployment insurance

I, and millions of others like me, need your help.

Thank you.

Kind regards,

From G.H. in CA:

Senator McDermott and Members of Congress:

I have been unemployed for almost two years. I’ve sent out more resumes than I can count, since losing my job as an executive assistant at a law firm in 2008. I’ve had only two or three callbacks, and only one interview. It is bleak. I am almost out of unemployment. Time is growing short for me. For many people, it’s already happened. They’re defaulting on the debts, losing their cars, their homes, their dignity.

I have solid resume, a broad and experienced skill set, a college degree, and have been working since I was 14 years old. In fact, I held two jobs while also attending high school. I worked full time while earning my college degree. I can work. I will work. I like to work, and see the benefits of my labor. I think that most people do.

The government and industry is failing us. We need the lifeline of unemployment continued until the unemployment rate comes down, significantly. Everybody knows it. There are no jobs.

From M.C. in CT:

I and my wife have been unemployed, out of no fault of my own and have exhausted all our unemployment benefits as of last month or before.  I have lost so much in the last two years and now if you do not add ADDITIONAL WEEKS beyond continuing the programs I AND MY FAMILY WILL BE HOMELESS AND WITH OUT TRANSPORTATION AND CELLPHONES! There are no jobs out there no matter what News stories try to portray!

Look in any major local paper at the job classifieds (nationwide)-1/2 page or 1 page is the norm instead of 10-15 pages in the past! Hundreds attend the few openings!

So please support the American people like you have the Banks/Wall St. and so many big $$ bailouts and wars. As we all know things will get better, but jobs are nowhere to be found now! All you have to do is look at the market diving in the USA and worldwide when the latest JOBS NEWS CAME OUT THIS WEEK!

How can you ignore the AMERICAN PEOPLE who elected you?

It will take support from Congress for the remainder of 2010 and early next year!

Don’t let any Democrat or Republican state that you shouldn’t help because of the deficit or because unemployed people are lazy and milking the system.  I would love to see any of them try to live like so many Americans on unemployment or no funds coming in!

We the good people of America WANT TO WORK!  But we need the help of additional weeks now!

Help us out and expand tier 4 or add a tier 5 to do a long term extension.

THIS IS EMERGENCY SPENDING DIRECTED AT THE UNEMPLOYED ON MAIN ST!

Without additional unemployment benefit weeks added, every day/week/month the # will grow,its already huge but by Election time!~ LOOK OUT!  MILLIONS WITH NO SUPPORT AND HOMELESS.

We have used up all of our 401k,savings-lost our credit cards and credit and can barely feed ourselves.

I have had to go to food pantries and my kids are not eating well and you can see it in their physical look!

PLEASE HELP US I BEG YOU TO BE DECENT AND ACT IMMEDIATELY TO ADD A TIER 5 OR ADD TO TIER 4!

Thank you M, S/J /C and Emily

OUR FAMILY IN NEED!

Mike: My job has been a little easier so far this week with the reduced number of layoff announcements, which may be an indication that there’s a slowdown in layoff activity, at least in the short-term.

These’s plenty of retail economic news out there today and it’s a very mixed bag. I’ll let the people in the know give you their impressions. I’ll stay away from the main stream media outlets, since they merely skew everything to a point where I can’t trust most of their analyses:

Retail Sales Continue to be Weak

via Retail Sales Continue to be Weak – RetailSails — Seeking Alpha.

From Bloomberg:

July 14 (Bloomberg) — Sales at U.S. retailers rose in June, helped by incentives at car dealers and higher gasoline prices that boosted service-station receipts.

Good, right?

Not so fast:

Purchases excluding automobiles and gasoline dropped for a fourth consecutive month

via More Media Misdirection: Retail Sales – The Market Ticker.

Walt Handelsman

Mike: I had to dump this news at the top since it made my blood boil when reading it. Here you have a company so connected to Washington, (Geithner, Paulson, Rubin, etc.) that it cannot fail, but it cannot be stopped from screwing the American taxpayer. They grab $10 billion in TARP funds, get preferential treatment with regard to AIG and then have the gall to pay out up to $900,000 in bonuses PER person. If this doesn’t make you angry enough to contact your congressional rep, than nothing will and these taxpayer beatings will continue to happen at your expense. These companies have no ethics, morals, humanity, decency or empathy. They exist for greed and greed alone. You, the taxpayer, are their peon and will remain a peon until you demand to be treated as an equal. Here’s where you and I can vent that anger: Contact your congressional representative

The investment bank Goldman Sachs delivered a clear signal that the good times are returning on Wall Street by milking a recovery in financial markets to generate profits of $3.44bn (£2.12bn), raising the prospect of average pay packages of as much as $900,000 for its employees.

Goldman’s success has generated its fair share of detractors. Critics point out that the bank was the biggest counterparty in financial insurance policies to the insurer AIG and that its collateral calls contributed to the US company’s collapse, requiring AIG to seek $150bn of government aid.

Furthermore, Goldman itself received $10bn from the US government’s troubled asset relief fund, which it paid back last month to avoid any further caps on dividends or remuneration. The firm converted to a ‘bank holding company’ last year, allowing it to take retail deposits, as the business model of a standalone Wall Street bank came under threat.

via Goldman Sachs staff set for bumper bonuses as bank earns $38m per day | Business | guardian.co.uk .

“I believe Tim Geithner only represents part of Wall Street – Goldman Sachs,” he says, suggesting Goldman was the “primary beneficiary of the AIG bailout” and notes Goldman alum Stephen Friedman serves on the board of the NY Fed. (Hank Paulson and Robert Rubin, with whom Geithner had frequent meetings in the past year, are also Goldman alum.)

via Tim Geithner Too Close to Goldman Sachs to Be Treasury Secretary Critic Says: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance.

-Max Keiser: “Does the US Secretary of the Treasury work for the people or does he work for the banking system on Wall Street?”

Dr. Paul Craig Reports: “He works for Goldman Sachs.”

via Tim Geithner, Employee of Goldman Sachs? | The Big Picture.

US/Canada:

• Johnson Controls to close Dixon plant
• Another 2,000 (CA) general fund jobs could be axed
• 300 Prince George call centre workers face layoffs
• Daley says 431 city workers to lose jobs if no deal by midnight
• Goldman Sachs staff set for bumper bonuses

International:

• Latvia to cut govt staff drastically (by 1145)
• Brazil beef group JBS cuts more than 700 jobs

Navigation links to today’s stories:

Microsoft/Google/IBM and other Rumors/News
General Economic News
Government Layoff News
US and some Canada Layoff News
International Layoff News
Hiring News and News You Can Use

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

Mike: Remember the headlines from a couple months ago about the dangers of H1N1? Well, it’s still out there and still causing problems.

- HYDERABAD: Google India has had to shut down one of its offices in Hyderabad after one of the employees was confirmed to be suffering from the H1N1 flu virus.

Of the 250 employees in this particular office of Google, 95 were sent to the AP General and Chest Hospital on Tuesday to undergo the swine flu test. Of these, seven employees showed swine flu symptoms and were quarantined even as Google office shut its office for two days for its premises to be sanitised.

via Swine flu scare shuts Google office in Hyderabad – Hyderabad – City – NEWS – The Times of India.

This map and the data behind it were compiled by Dr. Henry Niman, a biomedical researcher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using technology provided by Rhiza Labs and Google. The map is compiled using data from official sources, news reports and user-contributions and updated multiple times per day.

via FluTracker – H1N1 Swine Flu and Influenza Outbreak Tracking from Rhiza Labs.

- General Economic News -

- ICSC-Goldman Store Sales

7:45 AM ET

After reporting last week that retail same-store decreased by 5.1% in June YoY, The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) said that comparable same-store sales for large chain stores fell by 0.7% in the first week of July vs a year ago, while same-store sales decreased 0.9% on a week-over week-basis, the first weekly drop in a month.

via Retail Sales Continue to be Weak – RetailSails — Seeking Alpha.

Producer Price Index
8:30 AM ET

Separately, the Labor Department reported a 1.8 percent increase in the Producer Price Index, a measure of prices paid by retailers to factories and farmers, more than double economists’ forecasts. The index rose 0.2 percent in May.

The jump in the price index is likely to bring back debate of which direction inflation is headed. Weak unemployment and wage data have largely constrained retailers’ pricing power, but surges in energy prices beyond the control of retailers have proved significant.

via Producer Prices Jump, Led by Energy – NYTimes.com.

Retail Sales
8:30 AM ET

However, outside of autos and gas stations the sales results were disappointingly weak, suggesting consumers remained wary of stepping up discretionary spending despite signs the recession may be drawing to a close.

via Autos lift retail sales as inflation perks up | U.S. | Reuters .

Redbook
8:55 AM ET

U.S. national chain store sales fell 1.7% in the first week of July versus the previous month, according to Redbook Research’s latest indicator of national retail sales released Tuesday.

via WMT = Redbook: US Retail Sales -1.7% First Week July Vs June.

Business Inventories
10:00 AM E

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. business inventories fell 1 percent in May, marking a ninth consecutive monthly decline, pressured by a steep drop in stocks of autos and parts, Commerce Department data showed on Tuesday.

via U.S. business inventories fell 1 percent in May | Markets | Hot Stocks | Reuters .

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It’s time for a serious second stimulus — not a hodge podge of pork and transfer payments, but a truly big and bold infrastructure program (like what we were promised the first time, but which didn’t happen) to put people to work.

via 10 Reasons Employment Is Worse Than You Think: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance.

Nick Anderson

- Government Layoff News -

- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is prepared to cut another 2,000 jobs from the general fund, state officials told state employee union and exempt employee association leaders in a conference call this morning. The cuts could be part of a deal that must close the state’s $26.3 billion fiscal gap, which widens by $25 million each day lawmakers fail to enact a budget.

via The State Worker: Another 2,000 general fund jobs could be axed, administration says.

Mike: I’m not sure what will be more deadly, the extra guns on the street or fewer police officers, but needless to say, if both occur at once it won’t be a pretty picture  ………….

- SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA – The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors could approve the layoffs of 202 sheriff’s deputies Tuesday. The fear of less deputies may be behind a gun sales surge.

According to the state attorney general’s office, gun sales are up 40 percent in Sacramento County since November. It is the biggest growth of any county in the state.

via Looming Deputy Layoffs May Be Behind Gun Sales Surge | News10.net | Sacramento, California | Local News .

- CALGARY – Thirty City of Calgary employees in development and building approvals received layoff notices Monday, a result of declining permit revenues and a sign of the city’s struggle to balance its books in a tightening economy.

via City of Calgary cuts 30 jobs amid budget balancing .

- Hamilton County will likely reveal at the emergency meeting how much departments will have to cut their budgets in order to balance the 2009 budget.

Layoffs are likely, as the county grapples with yet another month of plummeting sales tax revenue.

via More county layoffs ‘inevitable’ | Cincinnati.com | Cincinnati.Com.

- Cadillac Area Public Schools made $680,000 dollars in cuts. Monday night, the school board voted to layoff eight teachers and nine paraprofessionals.

via 9&10 News: Seventeen Layoffs for Cadillac Area Public Schools.

- LAKEMOOR – Five village employees have been laid off as Lakemoor officials try to combat a mounting deficit.

via Northwest Herald | Five village employees laid off in Lakemoor.

- In a packed board meeting, the Moreno Valley Board of Education announced that the district’s approximately 1,850 teachers had agreed to each take two furlough days to save jobs threatened by layoffs.

via Moreno Valley teachers agree to furlough days | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California.

- Mayor Richard Daley today said 431 city employees would be laid off Wednesday if two holdout unions don’t agree to unpaid days off and other cost-cutting measures.

via Daley says 431 city workers to lose jobs if no deal by midnight | Clout Street – local political coverage.

- The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs is laying off 24 employees, but the agency says all divisions will remain open.

via S.C. Consumer Affairs laying off 24 employees | SCNow.

- FALL RIVER — Police have voted to accept an 8 percent pay cut, saving the city about $530,000 this fiscal year, city and police officials announced Monday.

As part of the three-year agreement approved by the 145-member Fall River Police Association at a union meeting last week, salaries will return to their current levels for the following two fiscal years, reports the Standard-Times.

via Fall River police agree to pay cut – BostonHerald.com.

- US and some Canada Layoff News -

-Oscient has cut 280 of its 305 jobs this year as part of an effort to preserve cash and reduce debt. In February, it eliminated 100 jobs, and in June, it cut its 150-person sales force and 30 other positions.

via The Associated Press: Oscient files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

- Finding out the Dixon plant will close this fall. A decision that will wipe out 211 jobs when the economy is down and out. Workers expect that the plant will close for good in early October. They’ll receive a severance package and retraining opportunities.

via Johnson Controls to close Dixon plant – WQAD.

- Now it seems the rest of the workers will also be out of a job. There are about 143 employees on staff right now.

via Auto supplier closing in Battle Creek | style, margin, bottom – Top Stories – WWMT NEWSCHANNEL 3.

- MUSCLE SHOALS – Norfolk Southern Corp. will close part of the operations at its Sheffield rail yard, a move that involves cutting 84 jobs.

via Railroad cutting 84 jobs | TimesDaily.com | The Times Daily | Florence, AL.

- That’s about 25 of the 550 people who work at the headquarters, 8155 T&B Boulevard, just north of Southwind off Hacks Cross.

via Thomas & Betts cuts Memphis jobs : Business News : Memphis Commercial Appeal.

- Massachusetts-based Stride Rite Corp. has notified the Indiana Department of Workforce Development that the company will close its distribution center in Huntington, leaving 120 employees jobless.

IBJ.com – Indianapolis Business Journal – #ArHeadline#.

- St. Joseph Health System, an Orange-based Catholic hospital operator with three local facilities, said Monday it is cutting 159 local jobs.

via Orange County Business Journal Online.

- GE Capital Corp. has laid off 127 employees at a Bedford, Texas, operation in the past three months, and the company said staff reductions may continue through mid-September.

via GE Capital lays off 127 in Bedford, Texas; more cuts planned – The Connecticut Post Online.

- Robin Wasson says the loss of a single job, much less 29, is substantial in a town as small as Chipman.

via dailygleaner.com – 29 laid off at mill in Chipman | By KYLE MULLIN – Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada.

- Volunteer and Information Kingston, a non-profit agency that acts as a clearing house for information about community programs and volunteer opportunities in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington, has laid off three paid staff and is returning to its roots as a volunteer-run organization.

via Volunteer centre lays off three of four paid staff – Napanee Guide – Ontario, CA .

- ASHEVILLE — UNC Asheville is cutting eight current staff jobs and closing two scientific research centers in response to an expected 10 percent reduction in state funding, university officials announced Monday

via UNCA cuts jobs, research centers | CITIZEN-TIMES.com | Asheville Citizen-Times.

- SALISBURY — Some 30 positions at the Delmarva Media Group — publisher of The Daily Times and its weekly affiliates, including the Ocean Pines Independent — have been eliminated, officials announced Thursday.

via Delmarva Media Group eliminates 30 positions | delmarvanow.com | The Daily Times.

- Colonial BancGroup announced last week it was cutting 136 jobs across its five-state region.

via Daily Commercial.

- About 300 workers at a Prince George, B.C., call centre will be working their last shift on Tuesday after a Dallas-based company decided to close its largest Canadian operation.

via 300 Prince George call centre workers face layoffs.

- LAS VEGAS, Nevada — International Game Technology said it’s laying off another 55 workers at its Reno headquarters this week as it continues to adjust during the recession. Meanwhile, its main competitor says it’s looking to grow.

via IGT lays off workers as Bally expands.

- International Layoff News -

- The center-right government announced it would slash the number of employees in its central administrative staff by 1,145 people, or 30 percent, by the start of 2010. In addition, the number of state agencies will be reduced from 73 to 36.

via Latvia to cut govt staff drastically – Forbes.com.’

- MORE than 70 workers at a Stockport sportswear firm, which sponsors a number of UK rugby teams, have been made redundant after it fell into administration.

via Deals/Restructuring  /  72 jobs go at Stockport sportswear firm THEBUSINESSDESK.COM.

- We have acted quickly in order to minimise the number of posts at risk and as a result we expect the outcome to result in a small reduction in staff numbers.”

via TBWA Manchester confirms redundancy talks – North West Media News – How-Do.

- Brazil’s JBS SA (JBSS3.SA), the world’s largest beef processor, said on Tuesday it had laid off 742 workers from three plants located in Sao Paulo state.

via Brazil beef group JBS cuts more than 700 jobs | Industries | Consumer Goods & Retail | Reuters .

- Arts Council England has announced the details of its latest restructure, which aims to save £6.5 million a year in administration costs.

via The Stage / News / ACE to cut 130 jobs in latest restructure.

- Around 60 jobs are on the line in border control at MAF Biosecurity and Palmerston North’s office might close in the restructure.

via Farmers are irate over staff cuts | Stuff.co.nz.

- Hiring News and News You Can Use-

- If you haven’t already heard, Twitter is a great resource for making the job search a bit easier. Jobs are actually delivered to you, thus reducing a lot of the legwork on your part. TweetMyJobs.com is just another applicatio built on top of the Twitter application.

via Tweet your way to a job with tweetmyjobs.com.

- U.S. Bank announced this spring it would add 300 jobs to its operations in Owensboro. Now, the new facility off the U.S. 60 Bypass and Highway 54 is starting to take shape.

via New home mortgage facility will bring 300 jobs to Owensboro – 14 News, The Tri-State’s News and Weather Leader-.

- Hundreds of Indiana auto parts workers are back to work at the Mid-Range Engine Plant in Walesboro.

via NEWS/TALK 1010 WCSI Radio – WCSI Weather – Columbus Indiana.

- According to Revolution , the company wanted a senior manager based in Minnesota with at least two years of mobile or social media marketing experience, a year’s of active blogging experience, a Bachelor’s degree, and… 250 Twitter followers.

via TG Daily – Best Buy: Have 250 Twitter followers or no job.

Tom Toles

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“A second stimulus should be the one they should have done the first time, something that is relatively fast and thoughtful,” said Phillip Swagel, a professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Mr. Swagel, a former Treasury assistant secretary for economic policy under President George W. Bush, said a more-effective package could include more assistance to struggling state and local governments and personal tax cuts.

“This was supposed to be about jobs, jobs, and jobs. And the fact is, it turned into nothing more than spending, spending, and more spending on a lot of big government bureaucracy,” House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio said on “Fox News Sunday.”

Many Democrats, too, said they’re disappointed with the recovery program so far but, for now at least, are resisting calls for a second package. “I don’t think anybody can honestly say that we’re satisfied with the results so far of the stimulus,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) said on “Fox News Sunday.” But he said it was too soon to push for more. “We certainly want to see how this develops over the next few months.”

via Calls Grow to Increase Stimulus Spending – WSJ.com.

“The problem is, there have been trillions of dollars printed and spent since last autumn, but none of it to speak of has landed in the hands of consumers, no major income tax rebates, no new meaningful jobs from infrastructure projects, no repeal of property taxes, no health insurance reform such as allowing a cheap “catastrophic only” insurance protection option to families for $200 a month. Has anyone seen anything tangible result from Central Planner intervention? Bridges getting rebuilt? New highways? New supertracks for high speed trains? Energy technology? New parks? Jobs programs? It has all gone to large corporations, to government purchases of corporations.”

To be fair, I’ll point you to a couple recession is ending reports that refute the more dire predictions of many who have called this financial mess so far and I’ll leave it to you to decide where things are headed in the near term:

Dilbert

US/Canada:

• Caraco slashes 52 pct jobs (350), cites production stoppage
• New Chron Presses Running; 230 Jobs Lost
• Tellabs-layoffs 150-tlab-

International:

• BASF to cut 3,700 jobs as part of Ciba takover
• Oracle to cut 1,000 jobs in Europe

Navigation links to today’s stories:

Microsoft/Google/IBM and other Rumors/News
General Economic News
Government Layoff News
US and some Canada Layoff News
International Layoff News
Hiring News and News You Can Use

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

- But last week, Mr. Jobs returned to work on a part-time basis, precisely when he said he would. Experts with only a general knowledge of his treatment suggest his prognosis is good.

via The Media Equation – Only the Nosy Are Fixated on Steve Jobs’s Health – NYTimes.com.

- General Economic News -

- WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The service sectors of the U.S. economy contracted at a slower pace in June, the Institute for Supply Management reported Monday. The ISM nonmanufacturing index rose to 47.0% from 44.0% in May. The decline was better than expected. Economists were looking the index to rise to 46.0%.

via U.S. June ISM services stays on upward trend – MarketWatch.

- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — With its IOUs and plans to close state offices three days a month, California gets all the attention as lawmakers fight to write a budget set off balance by a $26.3 billion deficit.

But the dozens of states that made spending cuts, tapped into reserves or relied on federal stimulus funds to patch together budgets that took effect this past week are hardly free from worry. Many of those spending plans are based on tax revenue projections that have been wrong throughout the recession — and may be unreliable again.

via The Associated Press: Missed revenue forecasts pose more woes for states.

Matt Davies

- Government Layoff News -

- With states facing a $121 billion shortfall in the next fiscal year, a growing number of them have turned to squeezing their workforce for savings, and effects are being felt, both great and small.

In Hawaii, some criminal trials will likely have to be rescheduled because public defenders are being furloughed — or forced to take unpaid days off — three Fridays a month. In New Jersey, about 5,000 parolees went unmonitored for a day in May and June as their parole officers were forced to stay home.

via Maine among 21 states to use furloughs.

- SACRAMENTO—Sacramento firefighters have agreed to freeze their salaries for two and a half years, averting layoffs for at least a year.

via Sacramento firefighters agree to salary freeze – San Jose Mercury News .

- The Troy-Miami County Public Library announced Monday it will lay off six workers, reduce employee hours and modify operations as it faces a budgetary drop of more than $770,000.

via Troy/Miami library to eliminate six jobs – Dayton Business Journal: .21:19:13

- CITY HALL — As a part of the shift in the city’s Park Ranger program, six part-time rangers who are at-will employees of the city, will be terminated as of July 15, city officials said Monday.

via Glendale News Press > Politics.21:21:23

- TROY — Hoping to keep up with funding cuts, the Troy-Miami County Public Library will lay off six staff members, reduce hours for most others, park its bookmobile, increase fines and close one day per week.

via Troy library cuts staff, parks bookmobile.21:26:32

- US and some Canada Layoff News -

-The company, which said it would cut 350 jobs, added that JPMorgan Chase Bank has informed the company that its $10 million line of credit was not available to be drawn down upon until the regulatory matter was resolved.

via UPDATE 1-Caraco slashes 52 pct jobs, cites production stoppage | Industries | Healthcare | Reuters .

- That means about 230 union jobs at the Chronicle’s Union City printing plant are now gone.

via New Chron Presses Running; 230 Jobs Lost – mediabistro.com: BayNewser.

- SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Meridian Automotive Systems is idling a central Indiana factory, putting 295 people out of work.

The company told city officials on Thursday that it was closing the Shelbyville plant for an indefinite period. The announcement came less than month after Meridian announced a planned layoff of 198 people at the plant in stages over the summer.

via The Associated Press: Auto parts maker shutting down Indiana plant.

- GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Michigan — Genesys Regional Medical Center is moving forward with plans to lay off than half of the licensed practicing nurses on staff — and replace them with nursing assistants — unless their union can win a last minute reprieve, reports WNEM (Channel 5). According to the report, 54 nurses will receive pink slips next week.

via Genesys moving forward with layoff plans for nurses – Flint News – The Latest News, Blogs, Photos & Videos – MLive.com .

- The company wants 25 workers to voluntarily take up to three months off because business has yet to pick up.

via Pa.’s Channellock looking to voluntary layoffs | AP | 07/03/2009.

- Credit-card giant Discover Financial Services LLC has told state officials it plans to begin cutting 55 jobs at its New Albany call center on Tuesday.

via Discover Financial cutting 55 jobs – Business First of Columbus: .

- The owner of most of the Bay Area’s newspapers said Friday it would lay off another 18 journalists in the East Bay this summer.

via More Bay Area journalists to lose jobs – San Francisco Business Times:

- Sanofi-Aventis’ restructuring plans may not include forced layoffs in Europe, but about 60 workers in the U.S. were told they’d be out of work by year’s end, BNet Pharma reports, and these weren’t “voluntary separations.” Report

via Sanofi tells 60 U.S. workers they’re out of jobs; Hong Kong finds Tamiflu-resistant case; – FiercePharma.

- Western Corporate Federal Credit Union eliminated 30 San Dimas, Calif.-based employees last week, adding to the 60 branch processing staff the NCUA had previously announced would be let go over the next 12 months. WesCorp’s staff will drop by roughly 22% from January 2008 to mid-2010.

via WesCorp Eliminates Jobs .14:50:08

- Sunoco announced Monday they will permanently shut down the ethylene unit at their Marcus Hook Refinery that was damaged in an explosion and fire in May, and lay off 40-50 workers in the process.

via Sunoco to shut down ethylene unit, ax 40-50 jobs – The Delaware County Daily Times : Serving Delaware County, PA(DelcoTimes.com).14:52:23

- Sun Microsystems recently dismissed 61 employees in Dallas as part of a broader restructuring, according to a company filing with the Texas Workforce Commission.

via Sun Microsystems lays off 61 in Dallas – Dallas Business Journal: .14:53:08

-In what’s being described as an “administrative reorganization” unrelated to the recession, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP has slashed 23 members of its support staff.

via Law Times – Monday, July 6, 2009.14:58:03

- Wyle Laboratories is cutting 67 Austin high-tech jobs at the end of the week, but most will move over to another company that won a government contract Wyle previously held.

via Wyle cuts Austin jobs, but workers get new employer | Statesman Business Blog.14:59:38

- MYRTLE BEACH — Steel mill union officials last week rejected pay cuts and other concessions that mill owners had said could help stave off the indefinite shutdown planned for July 12.

via Steel mill set to shut down indefinitely July 12 – The Post and Courier.15:03:29

- Medtronic Inc., VML Co. LLC and Shelby County government all filed letters notifying the department that they will lay off a sum of 105 workers.

via 105 Shelby County workers to lose jobs – Memphis Business Journal: .16:08:25

- East Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – Twenty-five people were notified last week that they’re going to be laid off from The Bristol-Myers Squibb facility in East Syracuse.

via 25 employees laid off at Bristol-Myers Squibb – NewsChannel 9 WSYR .16:09:32

- ProHealth Care, which operates Waukesha Memorial Hospital and Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital, announced Monday it would eliminate 50 positions.

via ProHealth Care to cut 50 jobs – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: .21:17:34

- In a restructuring announced Monday, Naperville-based communications equipment manufacturer Tellabs Inc. disclosed it will lay off about 150 more employees.

via Tellabs-layoffs-tlab- — chicagotribune.com.21:18:18

-Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center has laid off 33 employees and reassigned 44 others as part of a broad budget-cutting effort at the hospital.

via Providence lays off 33 at Sacred Heart | Spokesman.com | Jul 6, 2009.21:22:32

-Last month, about 40 employees were given temporary layoff notices, reducing the workforce to about 20 at present, according to Tanja MacIsaac, office manager for Modus Modular Structures in Swift Current.

via Modus modular in Swift Current lays off staff .21:23:50

- World Vision has laid off about 50 employees, between 4 and 5 percent of its U.S. workforce, saying a decrease in cash donations in the first half of 2009 has forced it to make some painful cost cuts.

via The Business of Giving | World Vision lays off more than 4 percent of U.S. staff | Seattle Times Newspaper.21:24:29

- TORONTO — The Toronto Star says it’s cutting six full-time and 21 part-time positions at its classified department as sales for the section decline.

via The Canadian Press: Toronto Star cuts 6 full-time and 21 part-time jobs in classified department.21:25:14

- International Layoff News -

- FRANKFURT, July 6 (Reuters) – BASF (BASF.DE) plans to cut 3,700 jobs as part of the integration of Swiss rival Ciba and may sell or close as many as 23 of Ciba’s 55 sites, it said on Monday.

via UPDATE 1-BASF to cut 3,700 jobs as part of Ciba takover | Industries | Energy | Reuters .

- Oracle plans to lay off up to 1,000 workers in Europe, despite strong revenue growth compared with other enterprise software suppliers.

via Oracle to cut 1,000 jobs in Europe | 6 Jul 2009 | ComputerWeekly.com.

- This morning Bookseller reported that Penguin UK will lay-off around 100 people in the publisher’s London offices. As the publisher restructures, Penguin UK managing director Helen Fraser will retire, and be replaced by Tom Weldon as deputy chief executive.

via Around 100 Layoffs at Penguin UK – mediabistro.com: GalleyCat.

- The National Union of Journalists has condemned Trinity Mirror’s plan to make a further “savage” round of 66 job cuts in the north-east of England.

via Trinity Mirror plans 66 more job cuts in north-east England | Media | guardian.co.uk .

- The company said it will cut 26 jobs, mainly in drug discovery, from its current workforce of 82.

via Swiss Santhera cuts jobs to slow cash burn | Industries | Healthcare | Reuters .21:20:08

- Hiring News and News You Can Use-

- - STEP 1. Categorize your spending: You can’t budget if you don’t know how you’re spending your money. Pull together bank and credit card statements from the last three months, said Barbara McMahon, a financial adviser in Kansas City, Mo. Lump the line items into broad categories, such as food, housing, debt repayment, savings and entertainment.

via Budgeting in 6 easy steps — chicagotribune.com.

- TORONTO — Video game developer Ubisoft is coming to Toronto as part of a deal with the Ontario government that will create 800 jobs over 10 years.

via The Canadian Press: Video game maker Ubisoft to set up in Toronto, creating 800 jobs over 10 years.

- Wal-Mart is seeking 200 people to work at a new store opening in the fall in Tempe, the company said Monday.

via Wal-Mart hiring in Gilbert for Tempe store | Tempe News | eastvalleytribune.com.

- The U.S. Census Bureau in October will open an office in Gardiner that will employ 1,000 part-timers, according to the Kennebec Journal.

via Census bureau to hire 1,000 in Gardiner | Mainebiz.

Mike: Till Tuesday……………

David Horsey

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Those are only a few examples of the twisted logic of the bailouts and how they helped the rich stay rich at the expense of the needy, poor and middle class.  I’ll add to this list as time allows, but I hope this makes a point of how the system has been so corrputed by bad money and bad politicians that it no longer can effectively meet the needs of those who need help most.

Please send along your thoughts.

Onto today’s news.

- Larger layoff announcements and important economic reports:

US/Canada:

Tom Toles

International:

• Largest lay-off operation in Dutch history at TNT (11,000)
• Siemens to axe 900 jobs in Czech Republic

Navigation links to today’s stories:

Microsoft/Google/IBM and other Rumors/News
General Economic News
Government Layoff News
US and some Canada Layoff News
International Layoff News
Hiring News and News You Can Use

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

- General Economic News -

- Tom Silver, senior vice president of Dice.com, told us this morning that Dice.com is reporting a 44% year-over-year drop in job listings for the month of June. May’s year-over-year decline hovered around 45%.

via Dice Reports Murky Waters For Tech Jobs – washingtonpost.com.

- Government Layoff News -

-  SPRINGFIELD – The state budget mess is starting to be felt here at home.

The Sojourn Domestic Violence Shelter in Springfield was forced to lay off eight workers Wednesday and is now

via Domestic Violence Shelter Lay Offs.

Chris Britt

- US and some Canada Layoff News -

- MICHIGAN CITY – Sullair Corp., 3700 E. Michigan Blvd., laid off 50 workers on Tuesday as the economic downtown has continued to shrink market demand for air compressors.

via 50 more laid off at Sullair.

- The Faculty of Arts and Sciences has eliminated 77 staff positions and reduced work hours for another 15 employees as part of the recent University-wide downsizing, Dean Michael D. Smith announced Wednesday.

via The Harvard Crimson :: News :: FAS Lays Off 77 Staffers .

-NEW BRIGHTON — New Brighton-based Tegrant Corp., formerly Tuscarora Inc., has laid off a dozen management employees as part of a company consolidation.

via Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times Online – Top Stories.

- Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Ruden McClosky has laid off eight more attorneys as part of a cost-reduction effort that included 18 percent pay cuts for most of its lawyers, according to firm and other legal industry sources.

via Law.com – Ruden McClosky Slashes Pay, Lays Off 8 Lawyers .

- IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Public Radio has bought out, laid off or reassigned five employees and will leave four other positions unfilled in an effort to cut costs.

via Iowa Public Radio announces job cuts, cites revenue dropoff from state and universities – WQAD.

- In a memo distributed to employees Thursday, Cincinnati Enquirer Publisher Margaret Buchanan wrote that the newspaper will lay off up to 100 people in the next few days. The Gannett Co., The Enquirer’s parent firm, is bracing for about 1,400 layoffs in its newspaper division before July 9. Buchanan’s memo is the first indication about how the cutbacks will affect Cincinnati’s only remaining daily newspaper.

via 100 Facing Layoffs at Enquirer.

- International Layoff News -

- 11,000 mail deliverers and sorters will be made redundant at TNT Post, the Netherlands’ former national postal service announced in its staff magazine on Thursday. The company, which is struggling with new competition and high wages, says a reorganisation is unavoidable after the unions turned down a deal to cut pay instead of jobs.

via nrc.nl – International – Largest lay-off operation in Dutch history at TNT.

- Engineering group Siemens (SIEGn.DE) will cut the 900 jobs at its Prague rail car factory in August, a spokesman said on Thursday, the latest jobs loss as central European industry struggles to gain orders.

via Siemens to axe 900 jobs in Czech Republic | Industries | Industrials, Materials & Utilities | Reuters .

- Anglesey Aluminium is offering 140 staff voluntary redundancy because a new power deal that gives them cheap electricity has not been reached.

via BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | North West Wales | 140 redundancies at metal plant.

- UP to 1,000 staff on short-time temporary contracts of less than a year are to be let go by the HSE. The move will allow the creation of the same number of permanent posts to improve a range of services including child psychiatry and care of the elderly.

via 1,000 HSE temporary staff laid off as new jobs filled – National News, Frontpage – Independent.ie.

- Hiring News and News You Can Use-

- COLUMBUS, Ind. (AP) — Cummins Inc. is recalling 400 laid-off workers as it resumes production of the Dodge Ram engine at a central Indiana factory.

via 9&10 News: Cummins recalling 400 workers at Indiana plant.

Mike Luckovich

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http://alphainventions.com/ for a look at websites from around the globe.