Sept. 05--Illinois employers reported mass layoffs of 2,140 people in August, according to a monthly report released Friday by the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
The layoffs included previously reported cuts of 750 at Kraft Heinz as a result of the food giants' recent merger, plus 499 at Motorola Mobility and 270 at Walgreens as they undergo restructurings. The Kraft Heinz cuts began July 2, while Motorola Mobility's cuts will begin Oct. 23 and Walgreens on Oct. 18.
Nokia Networks said 139 workers would be laid off at its Arlington Heights office starting Oct. 11. The Finnish company could not be reached Friday afternoon.
McDavid, a Woodridge-based sports medicine and performance apparel manufacturer, reported 115 layoffs starting Nov. 1. The 18-year-old manufacturing plant is closing following McDavid's merger with Minnetonka, Minn.-based Shock Doctor Sports, maker of mouth guards and other sports protection equipment. The companies last month announced a combined company named United Sports Brands that will centralize office, distribution and manufacturing in a new facility in Fountain Valley, Calif.
"Closing the facility in Chicago was a tough decision and there's no question that this will be a difficult time for our impacted employees," Bob McDavid, chairman of the board for United Sports Brands, said in an Aug. 25 statement. "Our priority is helping each person successfully transition through lengthy period of working notice, favorable severance packages and strong encouragement to apply for positions at our locations in California and Minnesota."
Investment banking firm Piper Jaffray reported 41 layoffs at its Chicago office starting Oct. 9. The company could not be reached.
The Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers with at least 75 full-time employees to provide 60 days' notice of pending plant closings or mass layoffs, which are defined as job cuts at a single site during any 30-day period of at least 33 percent of workers and at least 25 employees, or at least 250 employees regardless of the percentage.
aelejalderuiz@tribpub.com
