NO LOVE AT CENTURYLINK (UPDATED)

FEBRUARY 26, 2020 — 70 FIELD TECHNICIANS IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.

The company has announced that it is laying off 70 field technicians in the State of Washington on May 29, 2020.

According to a company spokesperson, “Based on continuous assessment of our business needs and workforce alignment, we are reducing our field operations workforce by approximately five employees in Spokane and a total of approximately 70 in Washington.

FEBRUARY 22, 2020 — 150 LAYOFFS IN MINNESOTA

The company has announced that it is reducing its field operations headcount by approximately 150 employees in Minnesota.

A company spokesperson noted that the decision was “based on continuous assessment of our business needs and workforce alignment."

Original post…

CenturyLink, Inc. is an American telecommunications company, headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, has announced that they will be laying off more than 1,000 employees across the enterprises as a result of the “redundancies” created by the 2017 acquisition of Level 3 Communications for $24 billion. 

According to a company spokesperson, Annmarie Sartor …

"As a result of our acquisition of Level 3, our customers, from individual consumers to global enterprises, benefit from our expanded, innovative network solutions and our complementary managed services. However, the combination of two large companies also creates redundant positions that must be addressed to remain competitive. In addition, as part of our ongoing efforts to deliver high levels of customer service, we are implementing best practices and increasing automation. As a result of these two factors, we are reducing our workforce by approximately 2 percent.

"We do not have state-by-state impacts at this time. We have a strong financial track record and the actions we are taking will help ensure we remain strong and positioned to compete effectively. CenturyLink, as all businesses, continually evaluates its cost structure and business practices and adjusts its operations to meet the needs of the business. The combination of two large companies normally means redundant positions. In addition, as we increase automation and enable web-enabled services, we create efficiencies in our business. This reduction in workforce results from the redundancy in positions and increased efficiencies."

It should come as no surprise to anyone, that mergers and acquisitions create redundancies and that part of the financial equation is the cost-savings from eliminating duplicative functions and redundant staff.  The public announcement of the merger was on October 31, 2016, with the transaction closing on November 1, 2017. The handwriting was clearly on the wall for all to see. 

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

NO LOVE AT BOYD'S COFFEE

After 118 years in business, coffee roaster Boyd Coffee Company has announced that they will lay off about 230 workers and move their operations from Portland, Oregon to coffee roaster to Northlake, Texas as a result of their acquisition by Farmer Brother’s Company last year for $58.6 million. The Boyd brand will be retained by Farmers. This appears to be just another consequence of a rapidly consolidating industry and will bring to an end the Boyd’s third-generation family control of the business. 

Are you asking yourself, Am I Next?

LAYOFFS: NO LOVE AT FLOW INTERNATIONAL

Flow International, the company originated by Boeing Engineers in the 1970s to commercialize the high-pressure waterjet cutting of materials has announced that it will be laying off 110 employees as it moves its manufacturing operations from Kent, Washington to a Baxter Springs, Kansas facility owned by Flow’s parent, Shape Technologies.

This move will not affect the management, design, engineering, commercial and financial staff located in Kent. 

It appears that the decision was based on area economics, with David Savage, CEO of Shape Technologies commenting, 

“This was not an easy decision. After a great deal of consideration and analysis, we needed to make the tough choice on where our US manufacturing operations would be based on the long term. The cost of doing business in the Seattle area has changed dramatically over the last few years, and the cost of manufacturing in the region continues to climb. As we look into the future, we expect these operating challenges to continue to increase, and we are taking the step now to combine operations in order to remain competitive in our marketplace. 

“Working with our manufacturing professionals in Kent has been a privilege. Day in and out, they’ve demonstrated hard work and dedication to our customers and to Flow. We recognize their efforts, and we are doing everything we can to ensure they transition into new careers. In addition to providing three-months’ notice, we are providing severance packages to all affected employees. 

“It is important to note that this activity in no way changes how Flow serves its customers. The Flow leadership team, along with the design, engineering, commercial and financial activities of Flow will remain in Kent Washington for the long term, and we are planning investment in new facilities in Kent in 2019 to support our continued growth. 

“Again, these are never easy decisions. We are thankful for the contributions of all our affected employees and are committed to helping them transition into new careers.”

Flow competitor OMAX, the second largest waterjet machining company in the United States and founded by one of the original Flow founders, Boeing Scientist John Olsen in the 1990s, remains in Kent. The past relationship between the two companies has been relatively contentious as Flow paid OMAX approximately $35 million to settle litigation over patents and to compensate OMAX for a failed merger between the two companies.

The State of Washington is known to be a progressive state where onerous regulations are seen to be driving up the cost of doing business in the state. Seattle, where Flow was located is at the forefront of the "living wage" agenda that has raised the costs of living and decreased the number of entry-level and unskilled jobs available in the marketplace.

Are you asking yourself, Am I Next?