A message from the LLNL Director on security restructuring
01/09/2013
Several
years ago, NNSA began the process of removing Category I and II special
nuclear materials (SNM) from the Lab as part of a larger effort to
consolidate SNM stockpiles across the NNSA complex. The de-inventory
process at Livermore was completed late last year and, as a result, the
Laboratory's security requirements have changed.
In the coming
weeks, the Laboratory will begin downsizing its protective force by
conducting a measured reduction in force (RIF) of up to 126 security
police officers and support personnel (This RIF will not affect other
organizations at the Lab). The RIF is being conducted in a couple of
stages beginning as early as next week.
For the last three years,
these security officers and support personnel have safeguarded our Lab
in a very professional and safe manner, knowing this RIF was in their
future. That they continued to serve in the face of this difficult
transition speaks to their high level of professionalism and dedication,
not only to this Lab but to our nation. Please join me in extending our
thanks and appreciation for their service. They will be sincerely
missed as valued members of our Lab team and community.
13 comments:
All people who work for the NNSA labs should be preparing to see a big reduction in their annual salaries for 2013:
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WASHINGTON (Reuters, 1-9-13) - Almost all of the Pentagon's nearly 800,000 civilian employees would likely have to be placed on unpaid leave for a month this year if automatic defense spending cuts go into effect in March as now planned, a top defense budget analyst said on Wednesday.
Todd Harrison, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments think-tank, predicted the across-the-board spending cuts, which were delayed until March 1 under a law passed on New Year's Day, were more likely than before.
"(The Department of Defense) dodged a bullet once on this. There's another round locked and loaded in the chamber. I'm not sure they can keep dodging those bullets every time ... Eventually one of them is going to hit," he told a briefing.
Please join me in extending our thanks and appreciation for their service. They will be sincerely missed as valued members of our Lab team and community. " (Memo)
What a bunch of bull. Don't you just hate it when lab upper management issues empty accolades like this right before they push people out the doors and over the cliff?
Was it an empty platitude? They paid bonuses to help motivate some PSOs to stick around when the downsizing was clearly on the horizon. Is the only non-empty measure keeping them on payroll and augmenting the gardening squad?
The political realities pushed the lab's hand on materials stored at superblock. The security staff has known for some time this day was coming. Many were offered bonus pay to stay on until the bitter end. If you feel Parney's statement was empty so be it. He could have said nothing at all figuring that extra pay had been issued, but he did a classy move and thanked the staff for their diligence. Parney's statement may not be heartfelt but it certainly does not warrant the expression of a bunch of bull.
That incompetent woman is the acting for security instead of being let go. Oh yeh, life is fair.
Please join me in extending our thanks and appreciation for their service. They will be sincerely missed as valued members of our Lab team and community.
Parney
You know Parney, your a "class act". Anyone who tosses a bunch of folks in the trash, tells them they will be not only be missed but sincerely missed, and then thanks them, is a real class act. Hecka man Parney, hecka of man!!!
Pro Force operations are direct-funded via NNSA NA-71 funds, which are separate from the rest of lab's budget. When the NNSA requirement for protection is reduced, so is the direct funding from NNSA. It's likely this decision was not made at the lab level.
It's likely this decision was not made at the lab level.
January 11, 2013 6:49 PM
Likely?? Hell, it is patently obvious to anyone who understands how NNSA security funding works. No threat (as defined in the official threat statement previously called the DBT) = no protection requirement = no funding. This was a surprise to absolutely no one.
It's likely this decision was not made at the lab level.
January 11, 2013 6:49 PM
Likely?? Hell, it is patently obvious to anyone who understands how NNSA security funding works. No threat (as defined in the official threat statement previously called the DBT) = no protection requirement = no funding. This was a surprise to absolutely no one.
Anonymous said...
All people who work for the NNSA labs should be preparing to see a big reduction in their annual salaries for 2013:
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Bullshit, they are talking about federal employees, not contractors. You LANL and LLNL people forget who you are: lowly contractors. As such, you won't be furloughed unless your program takes a direct hit. For the vast majority of programs, this is going to mean new programs will be canned. Thus, the effects probably won't kick in until 2014.
LLNL will furlough its non mission critical employees just to get rid of the trash and prevent non NIF programs from growing and threatening to compete for funding that rightly belongs to NIF. Good time to do it. You know that LLNL is just salivating, waiting for the first opportunity to hurt non NIF employees financially and set up employees they don't like as EBA, So they have the pretext to fire them. Management has even been poisoning employees ability to find projects that would get many off of EBA status and overhead. This sounds like a ripe place for a massive class action suit against LLNS. When employees are "dinged" in their performance appraisals but the manager is unable or unwilling to actually back it up or handle credible challenges, then you see where this is going. How many managers just stonewalled when challenged about unexplainable digs that make no sense and seem to come from nowhere? Employees not let go through EBA may be subpoenaed to testify regarding to show how shoddy this past years performance appraisal period especially in certain organizations in PLS Engineering and WCI. California courts will side with employees. We're not in Texas you know. Also think punitive damages. Willful disregard and negligence by mgmt to the lab's own policies and procedures and to the rights of the employees tells me only one thing. Legal implosion. I don't think they can afford to let any EBAs go. If they did, they could go after the lab for serious damages. Part of me hopes that the lab does try to purge EBAs after PA period they did. It may be like winning the lottery for some, and I love to see happy faces on those who have had to endure tragedy and injustice.
They will offer a sweetener such as a fraction of a year salary but only if the employee signs an agreement to not pursue a lawsuit against the lab regarding unfair practices. The number I would think to be at the tipping point is at the 25-40% of annual salary where most employees will sign. I am arguing that given how badly PA was done this past year, you should be looking at the 80-120% of annual salary range. Employees have a lot of resources at their disposal. I would advise people on EBA right now to begin thinking about whether or not you have a case or seed for class action. And as always keep printed copies of relevant emails as well as notes with times and dates for meetings with line and program management. Fair treatment is your right as a contractor employee to the Federal government, but it is up to you to take steps to fight for redress if you feel you have been unfairly treated.
The guards got a $50K incentive to hang around for three years (including non required response staff)in addition to getting paid work outs, running shoes, completing their required physical standard (run a mile) and let's not forget the year they actually got paid to finished their REQUIRED training!!!
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