Anonymously contributed:
From: Public Affairs Office
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 12:18 PM
To: E-line
Subject: MESSAGE ABOUT FEDERAL PAY FREEZE
E-line: Message about federal pay freeze
Last month, President Obama announced a two-year pay freeze for all civilian federal workers as part of the broad sacrifice required to bring the national deficit under control. Today, Secretary Chu announced a similar freeze on salary and bonus pool increases for site and facility management contractors who run day-to-day activities at DOE sites and facilities, including the national laboratories. The details of implementation are not yet available. I know this is difficult news to receive, particularly at this time of year. I will keep you informed as we learn more.
-George Miller, Director
From: Public Affairs Office
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 12:18 PM
To: E-line
Subject: MESSAGE ABOUT FEDERAL PAY FREEZE
E-line: Message about federal pay freeze
Last month, President Obama announced a two-year pay freeze for all civilian federal workers as part of the broad sacrifice required to bring the national deficit under control. Today, Secretary Chu announced a similar freeze on salary and bonus pool increases for site and facility management contractors who run day-to-day activities at DOE sites and facilities, including the national laboratories. The details of implementation are not yet available. I know this is difficult news to receive, particularly at this time of year. I will keep you informed as we learn more.
-George Miller, Director
Comments
It's like Hazel O'Leary again. But that pay freeze was for 1 year.
I chose TCP2 so at least the small COLA applied to my inactive account will still be there.
Last year I received the worst pay raise in my 36 year career. Looks like it will be worse this year.
And are they going to continue these silly performance exercises?
"You had a really good year, very successful, blablbla. As a reward you are getting a whopping 0% increase and will pay more for health care and retirement. Continue the good work."
It reinforces my suspicion that Nobel prizes have become liberal propaganda.
He has been a eunuch as Energy leader.
They treat OUR MONEY like it's their personal bank account. Obama needs us to sacrifice so that he can pay for his 20th vacation. This time in Hawaii, "where he was born" - don't cha know...
Miller and Chu are PERFECT examples of wasting tax payer dollars. George needs to keep his big mouth shut, and Chu needs to stay out of politics and management, and just go paint his roof or something.
Couldn't agree more. You are completely correct. Raises are authorized by the DOE and are a percentage of the operating budget. If there is no commensurate cut in the operating budget (and there won't be), we can (once again) bend over and assume the position."Best and brightest" applies to George and the gang with the rest of us filling the role of ignorant, befuddled, peon.
I suspect the number of those electing to retire will blossom. Just might explain the heretofore unexplained hiring binge. George and the gang knew this was coming.Very clever management ploy.
"Shared sacrifice" also doesn't describe the adminstration's comprimise between the Democrats and Republicans, which somehow amounted to cutting taxes and increasing spending more than either of them proposed.
I think two words that really describe the situation is "buying votes".
What I believe private industry leans toward is if they cannot give raises they may give some other kind of perk (working from home, bonus, etc...).
I think the Lab should go in this direction in lieu of not being able to have raises.
Look I'm certainly not a fan of Obama but if you didn't see this coming....This is modern life.
Don't worry, be happy......you have a job!
How retarded could a Nobel Prize winner be?
Just saying it doesn't mean it's going to happen if there are better placed to go.
Suffocating, primitive compliance-based bureaucracy. Incredibly expensive operating contracts. Ouija board polygraphs. 35+% increases in medical insurance premiums. Super-richly paid employment-contract managers with huge bonuses. Savage, politically motivated hatchet job investigations any time something goes wrong with the primitive compliance-based regulations.
And now a two-year pay freeze.
Sure, we'll keep attracting the best and brightest. Who in their right mind would ever want to work anywhere else?
I'm sure that George at LLNL and Mike at LANL put up a valiant fight for their people.
I am also quite sure of the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.
So the executive branch has frozen the salaries that it controls, do you think the legislative branch will do the same for all members of Congress and their staffs?
The gall of those people! Just because, Governmant accountants, clerks, Cafeteria staff, Custodians, et al make twice as much as those in the private sector – how dare those people complain about having to pay for it!
It should be "that's illegal too."
SNL Union workers got/get a 4% pay increase for the next 4 years and continue to keep their original pension & health care.
SNL raises have gone out, but the guidance on Friday was that those increases are gone. So, fret not, if LLNL had give you your raises, you'd just be even angrier.
SNL raises have gone out, but the guidance on Friday was that those increases are gone. So, fret not, if LLNL had give you your raises, you'd just be even angrier.
TCP1 contrib +2% in 2011 plus paying more for benefits = means a decrease!
I dont see how anyone, except folks within a couple of years of retirement or the parasitic type,
can stick around!
“The size of those increases ranges from 2.6 percent to 3.3 percent and by law kick in every one, two or three years, depending on an employee's time in grade.”
(http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20101206/BENEFITS01/12060301/1046/BENEFITS01)
Since contractor COLA and performance increases are combined into a single raise package, making all increases to contractor’s salaries unallowable while allowing increases in Federal employee wages through step increases is not equitably “sharing the pain.”
While Obama and the strangely unsupportive Chu are certainly at the heart of the matter, it’s the Republicans who have been leading the charge on this Pay Freeze. And from that party are some of the worst offenders for increasing their own staff’s wages.
(http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/12/20/national/w000707S29.DTL)
For a time the SNL pension fund was over-funded and DOE made noise about absconding with money from that fund. Since the economy tanked the pension fund is underfunded and DOE is strangely silent. Now, on top of a reduction in pension pay-outs to employees yet to retire, DOE takes even more money away from contract employees and their families just before the holidays. More of a reduction than the Feds are willing to enforce upon themselves.
December 20, 2010 5:26 PM
If I was making $1.2M like mike or $370K plus like george and had their time in you could color me gone becasue those fools are going to get 100% pay for life anf don't need any more $$$. But then again being at home amd bored isn't so cool neither.
Thanks Chu, way to channel the spirit of O'Leary.
We're anxious to hear how much your raise is this year, George. Please do keep us informed.
Dream on, my friend.
Do you see what it feels like to be at the mercy of corporate greed? condoned by DOE?
George and Steve are a pair of Sad Sacks filling billets. They care just about keeping stakeholders stupefied.
Now I get it. I am stupefied.
Will call in sick tomorrow while I stupefy around the house.
Sincerely, Secretary Steve Chu
P.S. Don't forget to vote for Obama in 2012!
You have not only contributed to ensuring the nation’s security, meeting our goals, and furthering scientific excellence, you have touched the lives of many of our Northern New Mexico neighbors through your generous participation in community outreach initiatives throughout the year. You admirably represent the can-do, will-do legacy of Los Alamos National Laboratory.
As with each new year, 2011 will no doubt bring its share of challenges, but I am confident we will be up to the task. Take time during the closure to relax, reconnect with family and friends, and reinvigorate yourself for our return in January.
On behalf of the Laboratory leadership team, I extend warmest wishes to you and yours for an enjoyable and safe season.
Michael Anastasio
P.S. I will immediately transfer the money that was going to used for your raises to the "leadership team special fund". My leadership team has decided that we have had to endure painful sacrifices and tribulations this year and frankly, my leadership team deserves "the money" more than you working folk. In view of this, I will continue to offer words, and more words, of continuing praise and love to ensure staff morale remains high and we deliver on our PBIs (aka leadership team supplemental bonus money).
December 22, 2010 9:32 AM"
Good one! But, you forgot Kerr, the inventor of the matrix.
That was refreshing. May you dwell in the house of the Lord for eternity.
Amen