Anonymously contributed:
Everyone read and tell me how this is going to affect all the other DOE labs. Does anyone think there may be a 3 and 3 coming soon?
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/feb/15/ornl-does-well-in-obama-budget/
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/feb/12/ornl-facility-may-be-slashed/
26 comments:
A 3 and 3 buyout????
If someone thinks that is anywhere near the realm of possibility, I'll show you where the missing drugs at LLNL have gone.
Buyouts are a relic from a bygone era where the employer (UC) gave a some concern to the employee. And one should remember that some of the past buyouts were UC incentive to cut the size of the UC population, and LLNL got to come along for the ride.
This is LLNS, where the layoff policy was re-written after they realized that it was to expensive in the form that was inherited from the days of UC. The next layoff will be cheaper to fund than the last one. The NNSA and LLNS will kick your butt out the gate and the top management will get bonuses for doing it as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Where do you see the 3 and 3 in any of those articles?
This 2011! sev pay is the best you can get!
I agree, no 3&3 indicated those articles.
The presidents budget has ~74 mil bailout for LLNL & LANL UCRP retirees.
TCP1 contributions are already in place at LANL & soon to come for LLNL.
I doubt anyone is thinking about a 3&3 for LLNL or LANL. . . 1 week pay for every year you worked there at best.
From that second KnoxNews article regarding the targets for the ORNL Voluntary Separation Plan (VSP):
"The lab is trying to reduce the number of support staff whose salaries or wages are paid through overhead accounts. The program does not affect the research scientists and others whose salaries are paid through the research programs funded by DOE and other agencies."
Not such a bad idea, really. Most of the DOE labs have way too much support staff working off overhead accounts to remain competitive in this thread bare environment of federal cutbacks and deficit reduction. However, a big reduction in the number of management postions that have been springing up all over the place might be an even better idea. Of course, that will never happen.
As far as 3+3 goes, no way. Those days are long over. Those laid off may be lucky to even get their promised severance. The money simply isn't there any longer.
If they offer it, I'll take it.
Otherwise, I'm gonna to stay until I die in my chair.
Being at my desk will be cheaper and safer than elder care. Coffee and aspirins are free, along with all the food you can liberate. And I can shuffle around glassy-eyed, mumbling and cursing absent-minded like any senior scientist, if I have food on my shirt, so much the better.
I'll keep the door closed like I do now, so I can snore and flatulate, which will hide my incontinence. Pandora and headsets will let me have those senior momenta pleasantly.
My wife and kids won't be able to bother me, and I can keep a little extra hooch in the meds bottles. Senior breath and diabetes breath will hide the symptoms.
If I feel lonely, I can visit with the slackers in the cafeteria, seek out other seniors hiding from their wives "honey do" lists, and wander endlessly to the innumerable coffee pots.
If I feel poorly, I can take a new hybrid to the yoga classes or make an electric excursion around the site, taking elevators to the conference rooms with views.
The back seat of a hybid provides a nice place to nap, if you know where to park it.
If I feel bad I can run over to medical for a free checkup or in the event of a stroke or infarc, they'll be at my office in 5 minutes, about 15 minutes faster than at home.
Staying at work until death will keep me in the the employee medical plan as well, that is a hell of a lot better than the medicare burial ground that the LLCs call substantially equivalent medical care.
So the fix is in. 3+3 or I'll keep stinking up the place.
A rank ol' PSTS.
And one more point,
... all those people who were trying to mother my every move on the job, will have a useful purpose, keeping me from falling down the steps...
I'm staying
I'm torn between admiration for the last two posters, and outrage that my tax dollars are paying for their ROAD behavior (an acronym from my ex-military friends that I really like: Retired on Active Duty). I wish I had a better solution, but this is what NNSA has earned. I guess the only semi-silver lining is that in staying in that toxic environment, they'll surely die soon.
February 18, 2011 5:50 PM,
I think you are full of it. I doubt you currently work at the lab. You are certainly not in any valuable scientific position.
February 18, 2011 5:50 PM writes the best post I have ever seen on this blog. I laughed until I cried only because I've personally known folks like that at LLNL.
To: February 18, 2011 5:50 PM
Free coffee and aspirins? Pray tell what building are you in? In my building the coffee pool ain't free and the days of aspirins in the supervisor's aid kit are long gone.
A 3 + 3 is not going to happen, but if it did and you got between me and the door, you would be trampled.
All these rumors of "3+3" or "5+5" hark back to the golden academic days at the NNSA labs. It offers some pleasant recollections of how generous those old times were, but not any longer. Enjoy your dreams.
The new, "for profit" LLCs run by the likes of Bechtel and BWXT are not nearly as generous. Given the fact that they have monetarily raped the labs of all the money that isn't nailed down to send back to their corporate Mother Ship, I doubt there would be enough funds to pay severance if people get RIFed. You might get 2 weeks severance at best.
Yes, folks, "3+3" will soon be here! A 3 percent drop in your lab salary plus an additional 3 percent salary contribution to the declining TCP1 pension.
Enjoy! Dr. Chu sez: "We value your sacrifices, best & brightest!"
Shucks,
I thought it meant working 3 hours a day, 3 days a week...
I live in Forrestal, of course..
Serious question from the satirist of 5:50.
Without the financial incentive of a worthwhile, low cost, medical plan in very senior and vulnerable retirement, what incentive is there for a the aging employee to take the risk leap away from the much better employee medical plan?
More fundamentally, as NNSA successively removes financial rewards for performance, on what basis would a reasonable observer expect the same motivation and therefore same performance as before the incentives were trashed? What is the substitute motivator?
DOE decision makers do not understand what they are doing. Judging from outcomes they are sloppy and not paying attention.
hey 2/18 6:20PM : I agree. I would add that at LLNL, you can personify excellence but eventually you will get beaten into mediocrity.
The system is geared towards making everyone mediocre. Excellence and pride are something of the past.
Miller and the old timers know that and they are just waiting for retirement!
LLNL is an old place, with a very old and very successful scientific culture. There are many people who strive hard out of long-ingrained habit.
But when they sit back at their desk and ask why?, the answer is harder to come by.
The tidal wave of disappointment, starting with inaccurate and unfair congressional critiques that were fueled by DOE jealousy, amplified by the Bodner, Pryzbylek contact transition fiasco; renewed again by inefficient, ill-considered, unfocused work rule implementation and now amplified again by Secretary Chu's unwise decision to join in the federal wage freeze this year, rather than beginning it next year after the rewards for last year's performance were realized, shows again and again and again, ad nauseum... that the DOE decision makers are incompetent and the LLNL leadership, without the independence of working for the California state government, is incompetent to manage the upset.
Enough of this and the long-ingrained habits will wither away, and nothing of LLNL will remain.
With all the double-dipping TCP-2 "Alzheimer-old timers" sticking around, can they give away secrets without knowing it?
Must we enter "senior" as one of the hazards on a IWS?
For some time now, my techs won't let me touch their tools, do you suppose its because my hands are shaking or because I can no longer reach the soap dispenser?
With all the double-dipping TCP-2 "Alzheimer-old timers" sticking around, can they give away secrets without knowing it?
Must we enter "senior" as one of the hazards on a IWS?
February 19, 2011 7:14 PM
You are truly one of the problems with the NNSA labs. Lots of young know-nothings and too few experienced people. The latter will convince management (who also know nothing) that they can do the job, but it won't get done. You will lose your job as a result, and so be it. Know nothing = no job. As it should be.
I agree with the comments on LLNL beating down those who innovate and do good work. In GS the managers take credit for good work done by the workers. But any failures are the full responsibility of the workers. I have seen this over and over again. The worker gets no credit unless there is a failure, then the manager had nothing to do with it. This is a great set up for managers all the reward with no risk. It is no wonder everyone who works, that is not management, is so demoralized.
Yes, "3+3" is coming...
An upgraded $3 million salary for me as the next LANL Director and $3 million for my little buddy, Brett Knapp, the next weapons PAD.
But Knapp only gets the $3 million it if he does exactly as I say in attacking the workforce and keeps any of my fingerprints on his actions a good distance from me!
- Charlie "The Crowned" McMillan -- Next Director
Yup Charley, and dont' fergut our bennies and are tax grosted-ups Charly. You nowe, are tax-exmpt bonnses. I alzo needtoo upgrade my Turbo-sharged Porschy Cayenney.
-- Knappy--
Nexxed Principled Assosite Direktor for Nuclar Weepons
"that the DOE decision makers are incompetent"
Or, they are highly competent, with their goal to bring down the US as the superpower.
No raises . . . no 3 and 3 buyout; however, contributions to keep your retirement plan afloat, increases in your monthly deduction and out-of-pocket health care costs, possible RIF and $4 a gallon gas just around the corner. Has your foreclosure probability increased too?
Is you glass still half full. I think you need to become a realist.
According to a news story today, it looks like CA and other states are about to go after the benefits of their pensions, possibly in violation of federal law, and then fight the legal challenges in the courts.
~
Commission's plan rolls back pensions for current workers
Sacramento Bee, Feb 24th
The bipartisan Little Hoover Commission recommended today that California state and local governments roll back pensions for existing employees, dump guaranteed retirement payouts and put more of the pension burden on workers.
Although any attempt to reduce pensions for current workers would prompt a legal battle, the commission says that public pension funds are in such dire financial straits that they'll never right themselves by reducing benefits for new hires. The recommendation would not affect current retirees.
The most controversial Hoover proposal would allow state and local governments to freeze existing employee pension benefits and then lower them for future years worked.
Courts have ruled that pensions are legally protected property and that government has a contractual obligation to follow through with them.
The Hoover idea echoes a similar plan that the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility has said it hopes to put to a public statewide vote next year.
Such a measure, if approved by voters, would undoubtedly trigger lawsuits that would test government's ability to alter pension promises prospectively. The foundation believes that its ballot measure would hold up in court.
That's California. It has a problem because its future underfunded pension liabilities threaten funding for future services, (unless markets have a sustained period of above average performance, like they did last year.)
DOE won't assault the lab's pension plans until the next contract renewal because pensions don't have a high profile. They are nearly fully funded and when contributions are required; about 1/3 comes from employees and 2/3 comes directly from the labs O&M budgets,.rather than a separate appropriation.
So funding a shortfall is politically painless. What lab director or employee is going to complain about a burden increase to insure his pension is paid?
None of this is likely to cause much notice unless the political landscape changes. Rather, it is an example of government responsibly managing employee pensions.
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