1,100 Layoffs In IL As Cuts Announced At John Deere, NBC Sports, Others

ILLINOIS — More than 1,100 jobs were cut across Illinois in July, including nearly 300 layoffs at Moline-based John Deere, over 200 jobs at Romeoville's Geodis and 130 layoffs at NBCUniversal Media and NBC Sports Chicago, according to state data.

The job cuts at farm equipment manufacturer John Deere have prompted backlash, including criticism from the United Autoworkers (UAW), who blasted the company for "corporate greed" after the layoffs followed a $43 million stock buyback.

Those cuts include 28 jobs at John Deere's East Moline plant and 230 in Davenport, Iowa as the company shifts manufacturing to a plant in Mexico, according to the New York Post. In Iowa, a husband and wife told KWQC News that they were both laid off from the Davenport plant on the same day.

Meanwhile, freight and logistics company Geodis, based in Romeoville, announced 204 layoffs. According to FreightWaves, the company is closing facilities in Texas, Georgia and New York, as well as cutting 204 distribution center jobs in Illinois.

NBCUniversal Media and NBC Sports Chicago announced 130 jobs cut as NBC Sports Chicago prepares to shut down once the White Sox season ends. According to Reel Chicago, the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, and Chicago White Sox announced their departure from NBC Sports Chicago as they prepare to launch their own network called Chicago Sports Network.

Other job cuts announced in July include:

• 75 Democratic National Convention workers when the convention ends in late August
• 40 workers at Capital Fitness Inc. St. Charles
• 100 workers at Keplr Vision LLC in Bloomington
• 96 workers at Neovia Logistics Services, LLC in Romeoville
• 63 workers at NoTrax USA, Inc. in Bedford Park
• 114 workers at Parker Hannifin Corporation in Lincolnshire
• 49 workers at Twin Cleaning Professionals, Inc. in Oakbrook Terrace

According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the state unemployment rate was 6.1 in June, up from 4.8 in May. The national unemployment rate was 4.3 in June.