This BLOG is for LLNL present and past employees, friends of LLNL and anyone impacted by the privatization of the Lab to express their opinions and expose the waste, wrongdoing and any kind of injustice against employees and taxpayers by LLNS/DOE/NNSA.
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LLNL? They already lopped off 2500 employees and contractors. Notably, only a few managers were let go. The rumor is that the managers in 2013 will be scrambling for their jobs. Although I will believe it when I see it.
My bet is in FY13 LLNL will take a $140M cut in the NIF program and that should cost a few people their jobs. However this makes me wonder what the special project is they have 300 people detailed to for two weeks.
McMillan (LANL Director) testified to Congress this week about the effects of privatization on the labs.
During his comments, he mentioned that LANL, in addition to the $300 million in budget cuts this fiscal year, will be looking at another $100 million in cuts for FY2013.
Rumors about involuntary layoffs will startup again once these cuts get closer to realization. The budget cuts that LANL has suffered have been enormous! But, not to fear, those cuts don't seem to have hurt Charlie McMillan's big salary (see the recent ABQ Journal report on April 19th).
McMillan (LANL Director) testified to Congress this week about the effects of privatization on the labs.
April 20, 2012 9:19 AM
Does anyone know how many uuuhhh's and uummm's McMillan used during his testimony to Cpngress? The man is an embarrassment to LANL while speaking in public.
Does anyone know how many uuuhhh's and uummm's McMillan used during his testimony to Cpngress? The man is an embarrassment to LANL while speaking in public.
April 20, 2012 12:26 PM
Mikey was in way over his head but was well coached until he found his "sea legs." Plus he had Mara for adult guidance. Mcmillan is in way over his head and doesn't see the need for any coaching. Plus he has Knapp. Enough said?
Uh, well...uh... I uh agree .... uh with, the...the NNSA. ohI am uh NAS...? what they said. We can do better...uh hmmm, yes the relationship is good, mmm, (very low voice)" what the hell is the NAS?" oh er, things are great, a thousand points of light, a new world order...don't cry for me Argentina...uh, uh was Madonna really president of Argentina?
Did anyone read McMillan's presentation to the Senate Armed Services and Strategic Forces? McMillan's presentation "reads" like a high school sophomore essay on: "Why I work at Los Alamos?". I mean McMillan had trouble reading the text! Seig Hecker's presentations to Congress dwarf what McMillan presented. Hecker had vision, stature, and could also could read and speak articulately in public.
Here is McMillan's closing sentence, "As our budgets at LANL are reduced, our risks will increase. Some risks are unacceptable, but I am sure that there will be a point at which those risks become unacceptable".
Huuuhhh, what! What an absolutely unclear and vague statement to conclude what was a debacle of a testimony! McMillan is a real disappointment to the Lab and community.
Here is McMillan's closing sentence, "As our budgets at LANL are reduced, our risks will increase. Some risks are unacceptable, but I am sure that there will be a point at which those risks become unacceptable".
Are you kidding me McMillan? This guy has PhD in physics from MIT and he provides us with a kindergarden explanation of risk. Oh my God!
Having an effective spokesman is important. John Emmett and George Miller were powerful and persuasive in congressional testimony. And the first time I listened in awe to Edward Teller, I realized, " oh, that's why he's the leader and others follow." Sharp minds jump out. These folks had a commanding presence.
Charlie McMillan is in place to manage the decline and disposal of science at LANL. Nothing more. Once this process is over, the Los Alamos workforce will have been slashed far more than just the current 11% figure.
And in case people haven't notice, neither of the Livermore boy's, McMillan or Knapp, have much love for LANL or the surrounding community. They'll be leaving the destruction and mess they leave behind in a few years.
Heard a news story on the radio yesterday that LANL is planning to go for the full 800 in layoffs. While the next step is layoffs of contractors and term employees, it appears McMillan wants to work toward the full 800 number. It's not over yet.
, it appears McMillan wants to work toward the full 800 number. It's not over yet.
April 26, 2012 9:22 AM
Of course not. After October you can plan on an involuntary RIF to balance the workforce with the slashed income for FY13. (With only 26 weeks severance.)
It does, indeed, look like an involuntary RIF is going to hit LANL sometime is FY2013. At least $100 million in additional funding is due to be cut and that's the optimistic scenario.
The fact that those to be laid off will be stuck with a much lower amount in their severance payment now that LANS has slashed the accumulated severance that was earned is going to give this RIF a particular putrid taste to the older staff who are targeted for this layoff.
LANL is going down, down, down..... and the safety net is being taken away from the regular staff.
LANL is going down, down, down..... and the safety net is being taken away from the regular staff.
May 2, 2012 10:27 PM
The only people to whom this is news are the public (who don't give a flip anyway), and those few LANL staff who are still deluding themselves that THEIR jobs are safe because the Lab will always need someone to do what THEY do. A lot of those folks are in security and safety organizations. And managers who think they are safe need only consider this: Enough layoffs among technical and support staff and massive consolidation of existing organizations and functions will occur, and voila! Superfluous managers!
Looking at the budgets, if it is ONLY 100M more that is cut, that will be lucky for LANL. At the end of the first year for Charlie the total cuts are still mounting. Heckuva job!
LANL is shrinking fast under LANS. They are the shut-down crew, "Rocky Flats" style.
May 4, 2012 9:50 AM
And long overdue, in both cases. As a LANL retiree (fairly recent) I can attest that the "deadwood" is rampant, at all levels. LANL could accomplish its current output with 40% of its current workforce, if they all gave a shit.
22 comments:
Here is a link to the pdf
www.davidappell.com/articles/PWApr12Appell-Obayashi_SE.pdf
So when does LLNL feel the kiss of the budget cutters blade?
LLNL? They already lopped off 2500 employees and contractors. Notably, only a few managers were let go. The rumor is that the managers in 2013 will be scrambling for their jobs. Although I will believe it when I see it.
My bet is in FY13 LLNL will take a $140M cut in the NIF program and that should cost a few people their jobs. However this makes me wonder what the special project is they have 300 people detailed to for two weeks.
McMillan (LANL Director) testified to Congress this week about the effects of privatization on the labs.
During his comments, he mentioned that LANL, in addition to the $300 million in budget cuts this fiscal year, will be looking at another $100 million in cuts for FY2013.
Rumors about involuntary layoffs will startup again once these cuts get closer to realization. The budget cuts that LANL has suffered have been enormous! But, not to fear, those cuts don't seem to have hurt Charlie McMillan's big salary (see the recent ABQ Journal report on April 19th).
...... LANL Director Makes $1M
By ABQ Journal Staff on Thu, Apr 19, 2012
www.abqjournal.com/main/2012/04/19/north/
lanl-director-makes-1m.html
McMillan (LANL Director) testified to Congress this week about the effects of privatization on the labs.
April 20, 2012 9:19 AM
Does anyone know how many uuuhhh's and uummm's McMillan used during his testimony to Cpngress? The man is an embarrassment to LANL while speaking in public.
Does anyone know how many uuuhhh's and uummm's McMillan used during his testimony to Cpngress? The man is an embarrassment to LANL while speaking in public.
April 20, 2012 12:26 PM
Mikey was in way over his head but was well coached until he found his "sea legs." Plus he had Mara for adult guidance. Mcmillan is in way over his head and doesn't see the need for any coaching. Plus he has Knapp. Enough said?
April 20, 2012 7:26 PM
Uh, well...uh... I uh agree .... uh with, the...the NNSA. ohI am uh NAS...? what they said. We can do better...uh hmmm, yes the relationship is good, mmm, (very low voice)" what the hell is the NAS?" oh er, things are great, a thousand points of light, a new world order...don't cry for me Argentina...uh, uh was Madonna really president of Argentina?
Did anyone read McMillan's presentation to the Senate Armed Services and Strategic Forces? McMillan's presentation "reads" like a high school sophomore essay on: "Why I work at Los Alamos?". I mean McMillan had trouble reading the text! Seig Hecker's presentations to Congress dwarf what McMillan presented. Hecker had vision, stature, and could also could read and speak articulately in public.
Here is McMillan's closing sentence, "As our budgets at LANL are reduced, our risks will increase. Some risks are unacceptable, but I am sure that there will be a point at which those risks become unacceptable".
Huuuhhh, what! What an absolutely unclear and vague statement to conclude what was a debacle of a testimony! McMillan is a real disappointment to the Lab and community.
Here is McMillan's closing sentence, "As our budgets at LANL are reduced, our risks will increase. Some risks are unacceptable, but I am sure that there will be a point at which those risks become unacceptable".
Are you kidding me McMillan? This guy has PhD in physics from MIT and he provides us with a kindergarden explanation of risk. Oh my God!
Having an effective spokesman is important. John Emmett and George Miller were powerful and persuasive in congressional testimony. And the first time I listened in awe to Edward Teller, I realized, " oh, that's why he's the leader and others follow." Sharp minds jump out. These folks had a commanding presence.
Charlie McMillan is in place to manage the decline and disposal of science at LANL. Nothing more. Once this process is over, the Los Alamos workforce will have been slashed far more than just the current 11% figure.
And in case people haven't notice, neither of the Livermore boy's, McMillan or Knapp, have much love for LANL or the surrounding community. They'll be leaving the destruction and mess they leave behind in a few years.
Economists call it "creative destruction".
Digest the carcass and grow something productive.
Heard a news story on the radio yesterday that LANL is planning to go for the full 800 in layoffs. While the next step is layoffs of contractors and term employees, it appears McMillan wants to work toward the full 800 number. It's not over yet.
, it appears McMillan wants to work toward the full 800 number. It's not over yet.
April 26, 2012 9:22 AM
Of course not. After October you can plan on an involuntary RIF to balance the workforce with the slashed income for FY13. (With only 26 weeks severance.)
It does, indeed, look like an involuntary RIF is going to hit LANL sometime is FY2013. At least $100 million in additional funding is due to be cut and that's the optimistic scenario.
The fact that those to be laid off will be stuck with a much lower amount in their severance payment now that LANS has slashed the accumulated severance that was earned is going to give this RIF a particular putrid taste to the older staff who are targeted for this layoff.
LANL is going down, down, down..... and the safety net is being taken away from the regular staff.
LANL is going down, down, down..... and the safety net is being taken away from the regular staff.
May 2, 2012 10:27 PM
The only people to whom this is news are the public (who don't give a flip anyway), and those few LANL staff who are still deluding themselves that THEIR jobs are safe because the Lab will always need someone to do what THEY do. A lot of those folks are in security and safety organizations. And managers who think they are safe need only consider this: Enough layoffs among technical and support staff and massive consolidation of existing organizations and functions will occur, and voila! Superfluous managers!
Looking at the budgets, if it is ONLY 100M more that is cut, that will be lucky for LANL. At the end of the first year for Charlie the total cuts are still mounting.
Heckuva job!
LANL is shrinking fast under LANS. They are the shut-down crew, "Rocky Flats" style.
LANL is shrinking fast under LANS. They are the shut-down crew, "Rocky Flats" style.
May 4, 2012 9:50 AM
And long overdue, in both cases. As a LANL retiree (fairly recent) I can attest that the "deadwood" is rampant, at all levels. LANL could accomplish its current output with 40% of its current workforce, if they all gave a shit.
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