“‘Dell Inc. announced today that it will close its plant in Forsyth County by the end of January, cutting 905 full-time jobs, including 600 by mid-November,’ The Winston-Salem Journal reports.

‘The decision comes just two days after the $110 million plant turned four years old,’ The Winston-Salem Journal reports. ‘The plant is considered as the largest and highest profile incentive project in Triad history, with Dell eligible for up to $315 million in local and state incentives.’”

(Source: MacDailyNews)

“Mayor Dave Bing has threatened that an additional 1,000 city workers will lose their jobs starting Saturday, but as of late Wednesday, his spokesman said hard numbers on how many people would be affected and in which departments were unavailable because of ‘variables’ that are part of the layoff plan.

‘There are a number of variables which are going into the number of layoffs which are expected to occur next week,’ spokesman Ed Cardenas said in a statement. He said a ‘clearer view of where we are, and where we are going’ should be available today. “

(Up to 1,000 more Detroit layoffs on the horizon | detnews.com | The Detroit News)

“ConAgra announced last week in a meeting with its employees it would cut nearly 300 positions at the Garner location as a direct result from the June 9 explosion on Jones Sausage Road. The cuts are set to come in mid-November and would be based on seniority.

While the company has been paying all employees for 40-hour weeks since the accident, it has cut back production at the Garner location by nearly 50 percent.”

(Source: Garner News – ConAgra to layoff 300 employees Williams still hopeful)

“Up to 400 Nortel employees in the enterprise division’s Toronto, Ottawa, and Belleville, Ontario may be laid off resulting from the sale of that unit to Avaya (News – Alert), reports the Canadian Press.

If true, this development could rekindle a possible election in whose outcome i.e. a defeat of the ruling Conservatives and their replacement by the Opposition Liberals could quash or alter the $915 million deal, which has not yet been approved by the Canadian government. Avaya had won the Nortel (News – Alert) division Monday following a bidding war that led to a significant hike in the price from $475 million the two companies had shook hands on in a stalking horse agreement.

While Nortel has refused to provide any figures about its workforce and the potential impact of the sale announced this week, those familiar with the deal told the wire service said Thursday the enterprise unit currently employs close to 1,000 people in Canada. The hope is that the ultimate number of those forced out the door will be lower than 400, said one source. “

(Source: Nortel Layoffs, Possible Election Loom From Avaya Acquisition)

“JPMorgan Chase & Co. has informed state officials that it is laying off 43 employees in its Treasury and Securities Services business in downtown Milwaukee as a result of a relocation of the business unit.

The New York City-based financial company said affected employees from its offices at 111 E. Wisconsin Ave. will be notified beginning Thursday and continuing through Nov. 15, when the first terminations will begin, according to a mass layoff notice filed with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.”

(Source: JPMorgan to lay off 43 in downtown Milwaukee – The Business Journal of Milwaukee:)

“Philadelphia’s mayor says nearly 3,000 city workers will get layoff notices Friday unless the state Legislature approves changes the city needs to balance its budget.

The layoffs would be effective Oct. 2 and include more than 1,000 police officers and firefighters.

The city is trying to close a $1.4 billion, five-year budget deficit.”

(Source: Nearly 3,000 Philly workers to get layoff notices | AP | 09/17/2009)

“Best Buy Co., the largest U.S. electronics retailer, said Tuesday second-quarter results fell below expectations as sales at established stores fell.

Still, the retailer raised its guidance for the year based on stabilizing customer traffic.

Profit for the three months ended Aug. 29 fell 22 percent to $158 million, or 37 cents per share, from $202 million, or 48 cents per share last year, hurt by higher expenses and the stronger dollar. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, on average, predicted a profit of 42 cents per share.

Revenue rose 12 percent to $11 billion, boosted by gains from adding Best Buy Europe’s revenue and the addition of 170 net new stores over the past 12 months. That was offset by a 3.9 percent decline of sales at established stores and the drag of the stronger dollar, which hurts international revenue because sales translate back into fewer dollars.”

(Source)

“Japan Airlines said Tuesday that it would cut 6,800 jobs, trim routes and quickly secure emergency funds from an overseas carrier, stepping up restructuring efforts amid mounting losses that threaten to pull the company under.

Delta Air Lines, the world’s biggest airline, and American Airlines are battling over a stake in Japan Airlines, which had a loss of ¥99 billion, or $1 billion, in the three months that ended in June.”

(NYT)

The United States auto market may be showing signs of a forthcoming turnaround, but General Motors announced this week that it will need to shed another 1,000 white collar workers. The news comes as the Detroit automaker fell short of its target for employee buyout and early retirement packages.

According to The Detroit News, GM plans to finish the latest round of white collar layoffs by the end of the year, with most coming by October 1. The layoffs are expected to primarily take place in Detroit, Warren, Pontiac and Milford. By year’s end, GM will have shed 6,000 white collar employees. (LeftLane)

As many as 83 workers at an eastern Snyder County power plant may be out of work for two months, beginning in September.

Jeff Specht, plant manager at Sunbury Generation, said cool summer weather cut energy consumption, causing wholesale electric prices to fall and likely remain deflated over the coming months.

The plant has seen significant lows during its peak power producing months of June, July and August, Specht said. While normally, everyone is turning on air conditioners, this summer, with record low temperatures, was an exception. (Daily Item)