The Layoff Counts for the Week

Layoffs announced within the past 10 days:

Citi Group = 53,000 (over several years)

AT&T = 15,000

DuPont = 2,500 (plus 4,000 contractors)

Bank of America = 35,000 (over 3 years)

Dow Chemical = 5,000

Sony = 8,000

Stanley Tools = 2,000

Sara Lee Foods = 700

State Street Corp = 1,800 (estimated)

Viacom = 850

Adobe = 600

Pratt & Whitney = 350

Anheuser Busch (InBev) = 1,400 (US only)

DivX = 21

NFL = 150

NBA = 80

Principal Financial = 550

NASCAR = 70

Almost every financial analyst quoted on TV this week seems to agree that this is only the beginning.  Most think it will taper off by April or May, 2009.  But nobody really knows.  It could be sooner, or longer.

What galls me is Cerebus Group saying they felt it would be "irresponsible" to pump any more funds into Chrysler (which they own), however, they are gladly holding their hand out for cash from the pending "bail-out".  That's just wrong.  Write your congressman and tell them you won't stand for it.  The owners won't pay up, but they want us to pay up?  F that.