In case somebody missed it (although I doubt it,) State Farm is closing two Tacoma offices and laying off around 800 people in the process.
Considering this is just the start of the year, I'm pretty sure this is only a preview of things to come.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article194255939.html
They are trying to claim here in Tacoma that there will be 250 positions in Bloomington we can apply for and 150 in Tempe. Claiming the layoffs will be 400 and not 800. No one trusts corporate here though. People were still being hired here a week ago. Management was not informed until the day before employees. We are being given so little notice.
In addition to State Farm's financial interest, the mayor also has campaign staffers that work for the Pantagraph. Expect more downplaying of bad news and interference.
State Farm is a major shareholder of Lee Enterprises. Lee Enterprises owns the Panty-graph. Lee Enterprises has been kicking its own employees out the door for two years with absolutely no warning. You come in one morning and they throw you out. You think they’re going to report accurately on this? You have to be kidding.
Can someone tell me what the purpose of this media charade is in Bloomington? I mean, if the sh-- is going to hit the fan anyway in the next two months, what is to be gained by delaying it? Is there a vote coming up on something locally? Is there a big deal of some sort in the works?
Or is this just State Farm being State Farm, doing their usual PR-Spin with no logical reasoning behind it?
It's not that I doubt this is going on (given the crappy coverage locally, I'd say it's almost certain that it is), but I'm trying to understand what's the point.
It's only just begun! Bloomington will be hit hard. The local paper is running a couple of fluff pieces about permits and interior decorating to create the illusion that State Farm will keep lots of people in its hometown. This is a well-orchestrated charade and a game of misdirection. Announcements to come in February and March.