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Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Believe It, or Not
I guess the question is, did you believe George Millers talk today and if not what specifically did he say that made you feel this way?
32 comments:
Anonymous
said...
My take on it: "Remember those lay offs I said we weren't going to have? Well, I think we're almost done with them. Unless things change...."
I didn't believe a word he said especially the part about future lay-offs. Come to think about it his letter to us in the newlines he said no pay-offs in FY-09, but in his talk today he only said we were good for FY-08. That makes me believe he's once again blowing smoke up you butt and this event is just another smoke and mirror illusion for the sole purpose to calm the troops. It also tells me that FY-09 will be more of the same. Would anyone like to bet we'll have 2000 more out the gate before Oct of 2009? His words, as well as the words coming from the mouth of anyone in ULM is worthless.
I'll leave you with this thought. Having seen how the policies and procedure manual is now a worthless document and how skillfully ULM managed to circumvent the seniority RIF policy I'm convinced of the following. " If management wants you they will find a way no mater what they have to do to keep you, and if they want you gone they will do the same" Butt sniffing may do you some good but in reality they want only those that suit their needs and if your particular skill is no longer needed it is not going to make any difference whose butt you sniffed, your usefulness is over and you'll be gone. That's as simple as it gets. Each and everyone of us must come to work each day knowing you may or may not make it until the end of the day. As long as you have this attitude you'll be fine because you'll have come to terms with the situation and realized that this is how life will be at LLNL from now on. The question you'll always have running around inside your head is this. Why would anyone want to work here. There's no security, no future and surely no career. It's just a day to day job that allows you to have a paycheck.
Well so much for those Jeff is coming back to replace George rumors...
----- Associated Press Battelle names Wadsworth new chief executive 05.27.08
COLUMBUS, Ohio -
A Battelle executive credited with expanding the research organization's laboratory business and recruiting new talent has been picked as the new president and chief executive.
Columbus-based Battelle said Tuesday that 58-year-old Jeffrey Wadsworth will succeed Carl Kohrt after he retires at the end of the year.
Wadsworth began his career at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. and also worked [Deputy Director for Science & Technology] at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He came to Battelle in 2002.
Battelle is in involved in laboratory management, national security, energy technology and health and life sciences.
The organization oversees 20,400 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories.
I'm close to retirement so I could care less what he says! But if I were 15 or 20 years younger I'd be looking for a job outside the gates, because the future isn't bright, unless your intials are GM
GM makes a lot of sense. He said that on a personal level, he is so saddened by the layoffs but as a lab director is so proud of the changes. Uh? AFLLLLLLAAAAAAC!
Lets assume that george is truthful with his "the ISP is done and we will not have anymore lay-off", how would a $68M shortfall for FY-09 be taken care of. Remember we still have to pay LLNS $79M for managing us, we still have to pay property taxes, and nothing that we paid this year is going to go away and we still have Bush asking for $68B more for the war this year than last year. Any ideas
Darn, I missed George’s speech. I love watching his bizarre, disingenuous emoting. Please tell me: Did he get choked up as usual? Did he burst into tears and rush off stage too overwhelmed to answer questions? Did he show a huge picture of one of his darling grandchildren? Did he tell everyone in the audience that they were part of his family? Did he say that when an employee is injured, it's as if one of his own children is hurt? Did he tell everyone to view the ISP not as a disaster, but as an “opportunity”?
In the past, many of my coworkers have placed bets on which of these nauseating trademarks George would impart on his rapt audience.
Even though we are all wise to these pathetically unprofessional and immature antics, they are fun (albeit embarrassing) to watch. We could gather around a TV in a conference room with some popcorn, or go to Building 123 to see it live, and for free! It was like watching a train wreck- predictable, sad, sickening, and yet strangely amusing.
I hope George keeps up his dramatic performances. The promise of free entertainment might attract new talent to replace the valuable people so callously “handed their hats” last week, or the many yet to voluntarily leave in disgust and fear. Besides, since LLNL will probably not win many science and technology accolades in the future, it might be comforting and inspiring to have a director who has won an academy award.
Anyone good with editing video? I'd like to see someone download and edit his little video speech and make it sound like Max Headroom (darn, I'm dating myself here) and make an endless loop where he says we are done with lay offs . . .
It was almost exactly a year ago that Miller said there were no plans for lay offs. And look what we got. Now he says there are no plans for future lay offs. Would you buy a used car from George? Or, would you trust him when he certifies that the nuclear weapons are safe?
If I worked at LLNL as a scientist and had 15 to 20 years to go before retirement, I'd be going crazy right about now.
This is no place in which to make a career. If you can do it, get out now and save yourself from the stress and heartache of working in a dieing institution. There is no future here.
Those that know GM know how HARD this has been on him to have to lay ANYONE off. I believe he is telling the truth with regards to future layoffs of FTEs at LLNL. If we don't get any budget surprises in FY09 and beyond, the remainder of the lab FTEs should be safe.
You are kidding me, right. GM and all of ULM don't give a hoot about you people. They get their $427K a year regardless of who they lay off. If you were going to get $427K for the rest of your life for taking out a few people, would you give a hoot.
The budget and lay-offs are out of George control. If the FY-09 budget comes in ~$120M short and there are many law suits over this RIF the bill will rise and the debt will be resolved by laying off people. LLNS does not lose no matter what. Any way the ball bounces the answer will always be, reduce the work force. Over time LLNS will one way or the other cut the force to a skeleton crew and in the end they'll get their $80M a year management fee and claim none of this was their fault. "It's a ( Win-Win for LLNS)", regardless. Don't you think this would make a great front gate motto
May 29, 2008 6:17 PM, get real. The guy looked like he'd aged ten years and gained thirty pounds. He's nowhere near that good an actor.
I may occasionally question the competence of GM and ULM, I certainly don't question his sincerity.
As for the grandchild picture, my recollection is that he was not responsible for displaying it and seemed very uncomfortable that it was done.
I believe him in regards to 08 and 09. Beyond that nobody can really say. A lot of it will be up to those of us who remain. Every day I go to work I ask myself "Is what I'm doing today going to increase or decrease the chances we have to repeat the horrors of the RIF". Remembering the faces of my friends, coworkers and managers during those days is all the motivation I need to stay on track.
may 29 6:17 pm if you believe ULM and GM I have a bridge i would like to sell you; sheepeople like you just dont get it, Rechtel needs to cut 1000 more FTES by december o8 and finish closing down 2 million sqft of buildings asper NNSA request to help pave the way for the new weapons complex they want built at NTS. do me a favor sheepeople go to the NNSA web page and read their complex transfermation plans for each lab!!!!!! 10-BEAM
May 29, 2008 7:56 PM, You don't seem to understand. Yes, the weapons work is declining. The point of this whole exercise was to cut costs and position the lab to diversify into other areas.
I detect a disturbing inability on the part of some people who post here to understand the plan.
I'll repeat this once more for emphases, it is well understood that the weapons work is declining. It is well understood that the lab needs to diversify if it wants to maintain and hopefully grow.
It certainly would be nice if the quality of the criticism around here improved.
Complex Transformation Complex Transformation is NNSA's vision for a smaller, safer, more secure and less expensive nuclear weapons complex that leverages the scientific and technical capabilities of our workforce and meets national security requirements.
The current complex is too old with too many facilities, which were required for the Cold War security environment, but are no longer necessary to use or affordable to maintain. Costs are escalating, and special nuclear materials are stored across too many different sites, which also means the cost of securing this material is escalating as well. Because the trend in funding for NNSA has been flat, transformation is needed to ensure critical activities are maintained into the future.
Watch NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs Robert Smolen speak about the need for Complex Transformation here. (30 MB video; 8 minutes)
The draft proposal for a future complex would:
Consolidate special nuclear materials at five sites by the end of 2012, with reduced square footage within those sites by 2017; Close or transfer from weapons activities about 600 buildings or structures, many by 2010; Cease NNSA operations of two major testing sites supporting our laboratories by 2015; Reduce the square footage of buildings and structures supporting weapons missions by as much as one-third, going from greater than 35 million to less than 26 million square feet; Employ 20-30% fewer workers directly supporting weapons missions consistent with a smaller, more efficient complex; Dismantle weapons at a significantly faster pace. The proposal would also achieve President Bush's vision of the smallest stockpile consistent with our national security needs. Over the next several years, the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile will be reduced by nearly 50 percent from the 2001 level, making it the smallest stockpile since the Eisenhower administration.
More information on Complex Transformation can be found at www.complextransformationspeis.com.
Public Comments
Thousands of citizens attended more than 80 hours of public hearings and provided more than 600 oral comments regarding NNSA’s proposed transformation plan. There were a total of 20 public hearings over a 36 day span at NNSA sites and other locations.
NNSA provided more than double the time required by law to comment and held more public hearings than it has held for this type of activity. More than 100,000 comments have been received.
"...I'll repeat this once more for emphasis; it is well understood that the weapons work is declining. It is well understood that the lab needs to diversify if it wants to maintain and hopefully grow.
It certainly would be nice if the quality of the criticism around here improved..."
Fair enough.
Succinctly, this new organization (I will not dignify it with the approbation, "lab") has failed in both missions. The poor caliber of industry personnel has not brought any benefit with its outrageous cost. Fat George is poorly advised, lacks sufficient backbone to stand up to correct NNSA flawed plans and does not understand the cost structure of his own institution. Clear enough?
Further, on this path, LLNL is going to fail, because it cannot attract nor retain personnel of sufficient quality to execute the mission. It is mortally wounded.
May 29, 2008 10:28 PM, You'll be a lot happier in life if you stop assuming you're omniscient.
You may be right, I don't pretend to know the future. I do however know one thing. There are many smart and motivated people who disagree with our doom and gloom predictions.
We can and I believe will succeed in transforming the lab. It won't be easy and it won't happen in a month or two but the odds are in our favor if we're even half as smart as we think we are.
No you did not make a mistake. 90% if not 99% of the lab does not believe there will be NO MORE LAY_OFF and have my exact attitude. Don't you understand LLNL will never be the same ever again. You can wake up any time you wish, dreamweaver.
May 30, 2008 8:49 AM, The lab had a layoff in what, 1972? I'm sure people said more or less the same thing then. Low and behold, we had some pretty good times after that.
Life is about change. I wouldn't argue for a second that the lab has changed fundamentally. For about the millionth time. The interesting question isn't where are we today, but how do we get to a better place?
I don't know about the rest of you lab employees but all I care about now days is getting a pay raise that can make up for what I'm losing at the pump. The rest of the worlds problems are irrelevant. In some people's case they would have to get a $2000 a month pay raise before taxes just to break even. Is that going to happen. Of course not. You're just going to fall further and further behind and eventually find that what you now own, that's paid in full, is all you are ever going to have.
32 comments:
My take on it: "Remember those lay offs I said we weren't going to have? Well, I think we're almost done with them. Unless things change...."
Not
And on Tuesday, 5/27/08 George Miller said . . .
. . . read my lips - there are no plans for future lay offs.
Well, but you can use your own impression of what happened today at his all hands. I don't think I will believe much he says for a long. long time.
I don't think I will believe much he says for a long. long time.
I don't think I will believe much he says ever again. It's all tap dancing and politics. Did anyone notice how he now dances around all questions.
You must be kidding me right.
I didn't believe a word he said especially the part about future lay-offs. Come to think about it his letter to us in the newlines he said no pay-offs in FY-09, but in his talk today he only said we were good for FY-08. That makes me believe he's once again blowing smoke up you butt and this event is just another smoke and mirror illusion for the sole purpose to calm the troops. It also tells me that FY-09 will be more of the same. Would anyone like to bet we'll have 2000 more out the gate before Oct of 2009? His words, as well as the words coming from the mouth of anyone in ULM is worthless.
I'll leave you with this thought. Having seen how the policies and procedure manual is now a worthless document and how skillfully ULM managed to circumvent the seniority RIF policy I'm convinced of the following. " If management wants you they will find a way no mater what they have to do to keep you, and if they want you gone they will do the same" Butt sniffing may do you some good but in reality they want only those that suit their needs and if your particular skill is no longer needed it is not going to make any difference whose butt you sniffed, your usefulness is over and you'll be gone. That's as simple as it gets. Each and everyone of us must come to work each day knowing you may or may not make it until the end of the day. As long as you have this attitude you'll be fine because you'll have come to terms with the situation and realized that this is how life will be at LLNL from now on. The question you'll always have running around inside your head is this. Why would anyone want to work here. There's no security, no future and surely no career. It's just a day to day job that allows you to have a paycheck.
Well so much for those Jeff is coming back to replace George rumors...
-----
Associated Press
Battelle names Wadsworth new chief executive
05.27.08
COLUMBUS, Ohio -
A Battelle executive credited with expanding the research organization's laboratory business and recruiting new talent has been picked as the new president and chief executive.
Columbus-based Battelle said Tuesday that 58-year-old Jeffrey Wadsworth will succeed Carl Kohrt after he retires at the end of the year.
Wadsworth began his career at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. and also worked [Deputy Director for Science & Technology] at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He came to Battelle in 2002.
Battelle is in involved in laboratory management, national security, energy technology and health and life sciences.
The organization oversees 20,400 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories.
-------
I'm close to retirement so I could care less what he says! But if I were 15 or 20 years younger I'd be looking for a job outside the gates, because the future isn't bright, unless your intials are GM
GM makes a lot of sense. He said that on a personal level, he is so saddened by the layoffs but as a lab director is so proud of the changes. Uh? AFLLLLLLAAAAAAC!
Lets assume that george is truthful with his "the ISP is done and we will not have anymore lay-off", how would a $68M shortfall for FY-09 be taken care of. Remember we still have to pay LLNS $79M for managing us, we still have to pay property taxes, and nothing that we paid this year is going to go away and we still have Bush asking for $68B more for the war this year than last year. Any ideas
Darn, I missed George’s speech. I love watching his bizarre, disingenuous emoting. Please tell me: Did he get choked up as usual? Did he burst into tears and rush off stage too overwhelmed to answer questions? Did he show a huge picture of one of his darling grandchildren? Did he tell everyone in the audience that they were part of his family? Did he say that when an employee is injured, it's as if one of his own children is hurt? Did he tell everyone to view the ISP not as a disaster, but as an “opportunity”?
In the past, many of my coworkers have placed bets on which of these nauseating trademarks George would impart on his rapt audience.
Even though we are all wise to these pathetically unprofessional and immature antics, they are fun (albeit embarrassing) to watch. We could gather around a TV in a conference room with some popcorn, or go to Building 123 to see it live, and for free! It was like watching a train wreck- predictable, sad, sickening, and yet strangely amusing.
I hope George keeps up his dramatic performances. The promise of free entertainment might attract new talent to replace the valuable people so callously “handed their hats” last week, or the many yet to voluntarily leave in disgust and fear. Besides, since LLNL will probably not win many science and technology accolades in the future, it might be comforting and inspiring to have a director who has won an academy award.
10:44 AM makes almost want to come back to see the show!
May 27, 2008 8:14 PM
Here is my idea. He said no more layoffs for fiscal 09. We are still in fiscal 08. That means there can be loads of layoffs. He has till October.
Anyone good with editing video? I'd like to see someone download and edit his little video speech and make it sound like Max Headroom (darn, I'm dating myself here) and make an endless loop where he says we are done with lay offs . . .
It was almost exactly a year ago that Miller said there were no plans for lay offs. And look what we got. Now he says there are no plans for future lay offs. Would you buy a used car from George? Or, would you trust him when he certifies that the nuclear weapons are safe?
GM has gone over to the dark side.
He can no longer be trusted.
Who cares? Those within ten years of retiring should sit back and enjoy the antics along the roller coaster.
Those with more than ten should scram. That's too much time to waste.
And all should have offers in hand.
If I worked at LLNL as a scientist and had 15 to 20 years to go before retirement, I'd be going crazy right about now.
This is no place in which to make a career. If you can do it, get out now and save yourself from the stress and heartache of working in a dieing institution. There is no future here.
Those that know GM know how HARD this has been on him to have to lay ANYONE off. I believe he is telling the truth with regards to future layoffs of FTEs at LLNL. If we don't get any budget surprises in FY09 and beyond, the remainder of the lab FTEs should be safe.
May 29, 2008 6:17 PM
You are kidding me, right. GM and all of ULM don't give a hoot about you people. They get their $427K a year regardless of who they lay off. If you were going to get $427K for the rest of your life for taking out a few people, would you give a hoot.
May 29, 2008 6:17 PM
The budget and lay-offs are out of George control. If the FY-09 budget comes in ~$120M short and there are many law suits over this RIF the bill will rise and the debt will be resolved by laying off people. LLNS does not lose no matter what. Any way the ball bounces the answer will always be, reduce the work force. Over time LLNS will one way or the other cut the force to a skeleton crew and in the end they'll get their $80M a year management fee and claim none of this was their fault. "It's a
( Win-Win for LLNS)", regardless. Don't you think this would make a great front gate motto
May 29, 2008 6:17 PM, get real. The guy looked like he'd aged ten years and gained thirty pounds. He's nowhere near that good an actor.
I may occasionally question the competence of GM and ULM, I certainly don't question his sincerity.
As for the grandchild picture, my recollection is that he was not responsible for displaying it and seemed very uncomfortable that it was done.
I believe him in regards to 08 and 09. Beyond that nobody can really say. A lot of it will be up to those of us who remain. Every day I go to work I ask myself "Is what I'm doing today going to increase or decrease the chances we have to repeat the horrors of the RIF". Remembering the faces of my friends, coworkers and managers during those days is all the motivation I need to stay on track.
may 29 6:17 pm if you believe ULM and GM I have a bridge i would like to sell you; sheepeople like you just dont get it, Rechtel needs to cut 1000 more FTES by december o8 and finish closing down 2 million sqft of buildings asper NNSA request to help pave the way for the new weapons complex they want built at NTS. do me a favor sheepeople go to the NNSA web page and read their complex transfermation plans for each lab!!!!!!
10-BEAM
May 29, 2008 7:56 PM,
You don't seem to understand. Yes, the weapons work is declining. The point of this whole exercise was to cut costs and position the lab to diversify into other areas.
I detect a disturbing inability on the part of some people who post here to understand the plan.
I'll repeat this once more for emphases, it is well understood that the weapons work is declining. It is well understood that the lab needs to diversify if it wants to maintain and hopefully grow.
It certainly would be nice if the quality of the criticism around here improved.
Complex Transformation
Complex Transformation is NNSA's vision for a smaller, safer, more secure and less expensive nuclear weapons complex that leverages the scientific and technical capabilities of our workforce and meets national security requirements.
The current complex is too old with too many facilities, which were required for the Cold War security environment, but are no longer necessary to use or affordable to maintain. Costs are escalating, and special nuclear materials are stored across too many different sites, which also means the cost of securing this material is escalating as well. Because the trend in funding for NNSA has been flat, transformation is needed to ensure critical activities are maintained into the future.
Watch NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs Robert Smolen speak about the need for Complex Transformation here. (30 MB video; 8 minutes)
The draft proposal for a future complex would:
Consolidate special nuclear materials at five sites by the end of 2012, with reduced square footage within those sites by 2017;
Close or transfer from weapons activities about 600 buildings or structures, many by 2010;
Cease NNSA operations of two major testing sites supporting our laboratories by 2015;
Reduce the square footage of buildings and structures supporting weapons missions by as much as one-third, going from greater than 35 million to less than 26 million square feet;
Employ 20-30% fewer workers directly supporting weapons missions consistent with a smaller, more efficient complex;
Dismantle weapons at a significantly faster pace.
The proposal would also achieve President Bush's vision of the smallest stockpile consistent with our national security needs. Over the next several years, the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile will be reduced by nearly 50 percent from the 2001 level, making it the smallest stockpile since the Eisenhower administration.
More information on Complex Transformation can be found at www.complextransformationspeis.com.
Public Comments
Thousands of citizens attended more than 80 hours of public hearings and provided more than 600 oral comments regarding NNSA’s proposed transformation plan. There were a total of 20 public hearings over a 36 day span at NNSA sites and other locations.
NNSA provided more than double the time required by law to comment and held more public hearings than it has held for this type of activity. More than 100,000 comments have been received.
Don't you think this would make a great front gate motto
Nope. I prefer FUBARNL
"...I'll repeat this once more for emphasis; it is well understood that the weapons work is declining. It is well understood that the lab needs to diversify if it wants to maintain and hopefully grow.
It certainly would be nice if the quality of the criticism around here improved..."
Fair enough.
Succinctly, this new organization (I will not dignify it with the approbation, "lab") has failed in both missions. The poor caliber of industry personnel has not brought any benefit with its outrageous cost. Fat George is poorly advised, lacks sufficient backbone to stand up to correct NNSA flawed plans and does not understand the cost structure of his own institution. Clear enough?
Further, on this path, LLNL is going to fail, because it cannot attract nor retain personnel of sufficient quality to execute the mission. It is mortally wounded.
May 29, 2008 10:28 PM,
You'll be a lot happier in life if you stop assuming you're omniscient.
You may be right, I don't pretend to know the future. I do however know one thing. There are many smart and motivated people who disagree with our doom and gloom predictions.
We can and I believe will succeed in transforming the lab. It won't be easy and it won't happen in a month or two but the odds are in our favor if we're even half as smart as we think we are.
There is no shortage of work available.
"with our doom and gloom" should have been "with YOUR doom and gloom". Early morning typo. Sorry about that.
May 30, 2008 7:03 AM
No you did not make a mistake. 90% if not 99% of the lab does not believe there will be NO MORE LAY_OFF and have my exact attitude. Don't you understand LLNL will never be the same ever again. You can wake up any time you wish, dreamweaver.
May 30, 2008 8:49 AM,
The lab had a layoff in what, 1972? I'm sure people said more or less the same thing then. Low and behold, we had some pretty good times after that.
Life is about change. I wouldn't argue for a second that the lab has changed fundamentally. For about the millionth time. The interesting question isn't where are we today, but how do we get to a better place?
I don't know about the rest of you lab employees but all I care about now days is getting a pay raise that can make up for what I'm losing at the pump. The rest of the worlds problems are irrelevant. In some people's case they would have to get a $2000 a month pay raise before taxes just to break even. Is that going to happen. Of course not. You're just going to fall further and further behind and eventually find that what you now own, that's paid in full, is all you are ever going to have.
George and Frank or any of LLNS ULM will NEVER be believed again. They are finished and can leave now. They are proven liars.
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