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LLNS lay off policy, who, why and when

This post is for comments strictly related to RIF news. What you know or have heard about who is getting laid off and why. Mention:

- numbers
- job categories
- time frames
- age groups

Just the facts please; no speculation. Comments that do not comply will be rejected.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Comments

Anonymous said…
With today's Newsline article indicating any self selection plan would include a separation package significantly less than what LANL received, its time to write our elected representatives and demand parity. To heck with what is in the policy manual.
Anonymous said…
I must have missed that in the newsline. I'll take another look.
What that would mean is that there will be less voluntary, and more involuntary, than at LANL.
So that also will cause:
More uncertainty/stress at LLNL
More disgruntled workers at LLNL
Less productive work environment than LANL
Anonymous said…
It looks like we have the RIF formula: $100M /750 Employees

If $100M / 750 FTE is the formula to be used for the RIF then we need to can ~ 3,750 people to bring the budget into stability. Will all of those people be removed from LANL before FY-08 ends. Isn't LANL in the holes $450M or has that been reduced? Using the same formula for LLNL I'd say they need to dump 2,250 people before end FY-08. What the heck. Lets give ourselves a little buffer zones in preparation for future budget cuts and make it an even 4000 at LANL and 3000 at LLNL that way we can skip a RIF for 2009 and wait until 2010 when NIF is done.
Anonymous said…
More bad news. Heard that all of the techs at the H-Divison two stage gas gun in 341 got EBA'd today. The good news is they may all find jobs elsewhere in hopes to avoid from having their bones picked as RIF candidates.The bad news is. Once they are gone, they are gone and so is all the knowledge on how to accomplish the job. They are a support facility for JASPER. All good things must come to an end for budgetary reason. Another great LLNS / ULM decision for the history books. Bravo Zulu
Anonymous said…
"They are a support facility for JASPER."

And don't forget - later this FY the LLNL employees supporting the JASPER facility will either become NSTec employees or will lose their jobs.
Anonymous said…
Could you please tell us where the documnet is that says LLNL JASPER support team members will have to become NStec employees or else they'll be fired. Site the URL or anyhting that says that. Could this be the beginning of the outsourcing that we were told would never happen. Gee, anohter lie told by LLNS to get people to got TCP-1. Can anyone say class action law suit.
Anonymous said…
December 15, 2007 6:00 PM

I should have clarified that I meant the NTS-based LLNL employees supporting the JASPER facility. NNSA/HQ sent a memo to the NNSA/NSO manager requiring JASPER facility management be transferred from LLNL to NSTec. Same with the DAF, BEEF, and Baker Site. And LANL management of U1a will also be turned over to NSTec. IIRC, the memo was sent to NNSA/NSO on September 26th or 27th.
Anonymous said…
December 15, 2007 7:25 PM

Much better, but there's a post soon to come that's going to show just how anal LLNL ULM management is. Stand by, we're waiting on their final decision Monday. It's in the draft mode at this time. Stupid decisions deserve recognition world wide.
Anonymous said…
Maybe LLNL truly is in the final countdown mode. With the abolishment of one project at a time which equates to (X) amount of people no longer needed LLNS will get those RIF numbers above the 900 they're officially advertising to the public and the working population. I have no doubt that 900 people does not equate to a svaing of $300 + dollars depending on how the b budget finally comes in. It may be a while before we know what the total damage is going to be so just be patient and standby but by all means don't get cozy.
Anonymous said…
Anyone know the final outcome of those people in 341 that were slated to be EBA'd? It sure got quite all of a sudden on this topic.
Anonymous said…
The last word I got was the two stage gas gun was going to be moth balled for one years while housed in 341, but, the people and all the knowledge they possess will be EBA'd and therefore eventually all talent will be lost.

This dreadful event leads me to believe they've known about the gas gun shut down for more than a year or two. It makes me understand why the weapons mechanical technicians became more and more heavily involved in target building, almost to the point where they put those in 341 out of business.

I sincerely hope they've acquired the knowledge they need to be successful for years to come and don't come looking for any help from those who just got whacked. All things considered I believe they'll get the typical Schultz reply. "I know nothing ".

The good news is, it'll be the weapons mechanical technician that'll be going on travel all over the nation for years to come with their portable diagnostic equipment to obtain data needed to keep JASPER alive. Hope they all get new luggage for Christmas and it has wheels with sealed bearings. They got a lot of rolling to do and those non-lubricated plastic wheel against that metal shaft can't withstand the miles that're about to be put on them.

I wish the best for those that were displaced and that each and everyone of them find jobs that'll allow them to go home everyday and enjoy their families instead of being on the road housed in a hotel, eating fattening foods and having to deal with spouses that are less than happy with the circumstances sometime so much so they're put into the precarious situation of have to make a choice between job or marriage. A wrong decision here can cost you 50% of what every little pension you have left, leading to a life of being totally destitute.

Isn't this transition fun.
Anonymous said…
I joined UC (LLNL) 28 years ago believing that medical benefits for my family would be provided. With my three children, two recently turning 23, and all still in college (one working on a Ph.D.), and with the less than inflation raises I have gotten the past few years, I was lucky to be able to pay their COBRA continuation coverage.

On December 26, I received a letter from Kaiser letting me know that "your COBRA group coverage for you and your covered dependents is scheduled to end at 12:01 a.m. on 01/01/2008 (unless you become ineligible sooner)".

LLNS management knows we are under a great deal of stress right now. Good management would have at least given a warning before letting my wife receive such a timely and alarming letter. Who is in charge of the benefits office these days (and how much do they make)?

Of course there are phone numbers in the letters, and no one in the office to answer them. There is a web site, where you can enter your children's personal info: SSN and DOB. And all the usual scary disclaimers about how coverage can be canceled "retroactive"! But with the deadline approaching we decided to do it, to sign up, getting a $40/mo increase for each participant. Merry Christmas!

What a lousy decision I made 28 years ago. What a lousy recruiter I would make for LLNL today.
Anonymous said…
As a DOE contracted employee for more than 30 years never thought, we would see LLNL in such a quandary. Through all the difficulties even through the stoppage of nuclear testing LLNL personal seamed to be for the most part Teflon coated. NSTec also took a big hit. Saw several people get the RIF after 30 plus years. Good luck to all. Most of the Nevada assigned Lab personal have received NSTec offers. I am sure a very difficult personal decision. An all hands meeting involving the offers with Lab management was held today. With hopes of management having answers to help with the decision most responses were “I do not know”, “I do not have any more information,” “I am not sure,” “they have not decided” and so on.
Many of the Jasper project positions have been one person deep for almost 10 years. All ways told no money to take on more personal. Now looks like several LLNL to NSTec offers will be to add personal to Jasper. Of course the new salaries offers will have to be at or more than the LLNLs salaries. The LLNL salaries will be $8000 annual or more than the average NSTec 10 year employees. This is all happening at the same time Jasper is going through a very high-level audit that could make or break the future of Jasper with constant pep-talks on how important is it to keep morale up to hopefully help smooth the highs and low of the audit. WOW!! What a way to run an operation.

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