AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT AMTECH SYSTEMS

Am I Next? No love at Amtech Systems - Layoffs.

Tempe, Arizona-based Amtech Systems, a manufacturer of production equipment for the solar. LED, and semiconductor industry has announced that its restructuring plan for its solar division will result in approximately 40 layoffs. The decision was said to be drive due to challenges in the company’s solar business even as the government and media stress “green” technologies will result in more jobs.

In reality, it appears that the reduction in force is tied to an abysmal net loss of $9 million in the fiscal fourth quarter with $7 million of the loss was attributable to non-cash charges related to goodwill and intangible assets related to the company’s solar business.

According to J.S. Whang, the Executive Chairman of Amtech replacing its current CEO Fokko Pentinga, stated “The [Restructuring] Plan is to better align our workforce with the current needs of our business and enhance our competitive position for long-term success. We continue to develop our core technologies to ensure we are best positioned to be the supplier of choice in the marketplace.We look forward to continuing to prudently invest in the long-term profitable growth of the company."

Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere ... are you wondering, Am I Next?

NO LOVE AT FORD (01/02/24)

Am I Next? Temporary Mass Layoffs at Ford F-150 Assembly Plants

JANUARY 2, 2024 — FORD EMPLOYEES SCREWED BY PROGRESSIVE POLITICS AND CORRUPT POLITICIANS

In 2024, Ford announced that they would drastically cut the production of their “best-selling” EV, the F-150 Lightning, from 3,200 trucks per week to 1,600 trucks per week at the company’s flagship plant in Dearborn, Michigan.

Once again, the progressive communist democrats, with their Marxist ideology and central planning, have loaded car dealers with unwanted vehicles. The end result is that production lines are idled, and employees are furloughed or laid off. The progressive auto unions are complicit in this tragedy as they refuse to push back against the politicians who greenlight their continuing wage hikes without corresponding increases in production--the road to ruin.

What we have found.

  • Electric vehicles have a limited range, consume excessive amounts of time to recharge, do not like extreme cold or heat, and can potentially create catastrophic fires and accidents.

  • To meet fuel efficiency standards, cars are lighter and more vulnerable to crashes with larger vehicles, which seems to be the current rage.

  • Wind turbines are not reliable sources of energy, cannot be easily maintained, and are an ecological disaster when decommissioned.

  • The generous, taxpayer-funded rebates and subsidies that fund the so-called "green revolution" are killing the economy and the consumer's purchasing power.

Bottom line...

Only a fool believes that electricity that powers your airconditioning harms the planet, while electricity that recharges your Tesla is eco-friendly.

Democracy is being destroyed by those ideologues who pretend their prescriptions will "save the planet" when the truth is that they cannot even clean up their cities or repair or replace their crumbling infrastructure.

NOVEMBER 27, 2023 — NOT BUILT AND ALREADY DOWNSIZING

The company announced that it will lay off 800 jobs from its taxpayer-subsidized will slash 800 jobs from its planned $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall, Michigan.

According to a company spokesperson, “We are pleased to confirm we are moving ahead with the Marshall project, consistent with the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. However, we are right-sizing as we balance investment, growth, and profitability. The facility will now create more than 1,700 good-paying American jobs.” That is instead of a projected 2.500 jobs.

AUGUST 22, 2022 — RESTRUCTURING AND 3,000 COMPANY-WIDE LAYOFFS.

The company has announced that it is reorganizing and simplifying functions within its organization and cutting 2,000 salaried positions and 1,000 agency jobs in the U.S., Canada, and India.

"Building this future requires changing and reshaping virtually all aspects of the way we have operated for more than a century. It requires focus, clarity, and speed. And, it means redeploying resources and addressing our cost structure, which is uncompetitive versus traditional and new competitors."

The cuts are expected across a variety of roles, including purchasing, and are expected to come in both its Ford Blue and Model e divisions. Cuts are also being made at Ford Credit.

"None of this changes the fact that this is a difficult and emotional time. The people leaving the company this week are friends and coworkers and we want to thank them for all they have contributed to Ford. We have a duty to care for and support those affected – and we will live up to this duty — providing not only benefits but significant help to find new career opportunities."

JULY 20, 2022 — 8,000 EMPLOYEES TARGETED AS FORD RACES TO PROFITABILITY

According to the financial press, “Ford is planning to cut up to 8,000 jobs over the next few weeks in order to boost profits ahead of their foray into the electric-vehicle market.”

The job cuts will be concentrated within Ford's relatively Blue unit, which produces internal combustion engine vehicles, and will affect salaried operations throughout the company. The anonymous sources noted that "the plan has not yet been finalized, and details could still change."

APRIL 28, 2022 — 580 ENGINEERING POSITIONS ELIMINATED

According to the company, 580 engineering employees are impacted by a personnel realignment, including 350 salaried employees and 230 agency positions that will be eliminated.

A company spokesperson released the following statement regarding the reduction in force, “We continue to align staffing around the critical skills needed to deliver our products, services, and the Ford+ plan. We are making adjustments in select U.S. engineering teams, which includes some reassignments as well as a reduction of approximately 350 salaried and 230 agency positions.”

OCTOBER 30, 2019 — RIP FORD FLEX — 450 LAYOFFS IN CANADA

The company has announced that it will lay off 450 employees at its Oakville, Ontario assembly plant in Canada.

Both the Ford Flex and the Lincoln MKT production have been discontinued in favor of producing sports-utility vehicles and pickup trucks. The effects will ripple into the United States as collateral employees and vendors adjust.

FEBRUARY 5, 2019 — 1,000 EMPLOYEES LAID OFF IN FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN

Ford Motor Company has announced the layoff of at least 1,012 employees in its Flat Rock, Michigan assembly plant which builds the Lincoln Continental and Ford Mustang. The plant will move to a single shift in the coming months.

According to a company spokesperson, the decision is part of the ongoing restructuring of Ford and is part of a “re-balancing of production” at some of the domestic plants.

MAY 10, 2018 — Original post…

Ford Motor Company has halted the production of its iconic F-150 pickup trucks at its Kansas City Assembly plant due to a fire at one of its sole-source vendors. Approximately 4,000+ employees were temporarily laid off through no fault of their own when a fire hit the Meridian Lightweight Technologies plant in Easton Rapids, Michigan. The layoffs may extend to other assembly plants affected by a lack of critical components required to assemble the vehicles.

It appears that approximately 2,700 employees were also temporarily idled at the Louisville, Kentucky, facility.

While Ford may pay partial salaries and other assistance may be available, this type of unexpected incident leading to income disruption should serve as a warning for all employees to begin to build a personal emergency fund to help ease any temporary loss of income. 

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?