Source:
Weapons Complex Monitor, Volume 22 No.2, January 14, 2011
DOE CONSIDERING HOW TO SPEND
SAVINGS FROM CONTRACTOR PAY FREEZE
Freeze Initially Described as ‘Sacrifice’
The Department of Energy has begun quietly examining
how to spend the savings expected to be generated through
a recently enacted two-year freeze of contractor employees’
pay levels. The move was outlined in an e-mail sent
two weeks ago to senior DOE officials from the Department’s
Chief Financial Officer, Steven Isakowitz. “We
need to solicit input from the M&O contractors on how
they would propose reinvesting the savings from the pay
freeze,” Isakowitz wrote in the Dec. 29, 2010, message,
obtained by WC Monitor. Isakowitz also said that such
information would be used to “to finalize FY11-12 budget
decisions.” It remains unclear how much money DOE
expects to save through the pay freeze, which went into
effect at the start of this year and impacts approximately
75,000 workers at 28 sites.
Isakowitz’s message came approximately two weeks after
DOE announced the pay freeze (WC Monitor, Vol. 21 No.
54). In its announcement, though, DOE did not make any
mention of plans to reuse the savings expected to be
generated. Instead, the pay freeze was proposed in a spirit
of shared sacrifice, following the Obama Administration’s
decision to institute a similar freeze for federal workers.
“As our nation continues to recover from these challenging
economic times, households and small businesses across
the country are making sacrifices,” Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu said in the Dec. 17, 2010, announcement. “In
this spirit, we are asking our contractor employees, who
are doing important research, operations, and environmental
cleanup work, to join the federal workforce in playing
a part.” DOE did not return calls for comment.
Weapons Complex Monitor, Volume 22 No.2, January 14, 2011
DOE CONSIDERING HOW TO SPEND
SAVINGS FROM CONTRACTOR PAY FREEZE
Freeze Initially Described as ‘Sacrifice’
The Department of Energy has begun quietly examining
how to spend the savings expected to be generated through
a recently enacted two-year freeze of contractor employees’
pay levels. The move was outlined in an e-mail sent
two weeks ago to senior DOE officials from the Department’s
Chief Financial Officer, Steven Isakowitz. “We
need to solicit input from the M&O contractors on how
they would propose reinvesting the savings from the pay
freeze,” Isakowitz wrote in the Dec. 29, 2010, message,
obtained by WC Monitor. Isakowitz also said that such
information would be used to “to finalize FY11-12 budget
decisions.” It remains unclear how much money DOE
expects to save through the pay freeze, which went into
effect at the start of this year and impacts approximately
75,000 workers at 28 sites.
Isakowitz’s message came approximately two weeks after
DOE announced the pay freeze (WC Monitor, Vol. 21 No.
54). In its announcement, though, DOE did not make any
mention of plans to reuse the savings expected to be
generated. Instead, the pay freeze was proposed in a spirit
of shared sacrifice, following the Obama Administration’s
decision to institute a similar freeze for federal workers.
“As our nation continues to recover from these challenging
economic times, households and small businesses across
the country are making sacrifices,” Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu said in the Dec. 17, 2010, announcement. “In
this spirit, we are asking our contractor employees, who
are doing important research, operations, and environmental
cleanup work, to join the federal workforce in playing
a part.” DOE did not return calls for comment.
Comments
It's just incredible. This has nothing to do with saving money and everything to do with looking good on TV.
What a pathetic bunch we have in DC.
This article demonstrates the complete insanity for DOE HQ and their unwavering desire to punish their contractor workforce by making them take a pay freeze that saves DOE no money.
No other government department instituted a pay freeze on their contractors. None. Only DOE. And the only thing it accomplished was to destroy worker morale.
Heckavajob, DOE. Stupidity at it's very finest, Dr. Chu!
Let me throw out a wild ass guess -- LLNS and LANS executive management will suggest it be used to beef up the LLC executive bonuses during the next two years from 20% to 200%.
Least we forget, the executive bonuses weren't frozen or reduced by the DOE salary freeze mandate on DOE contractors. Of course, it may be wise for the lab upper management to keep hush-hush about all this and bury it under the label of "proprietary corporate information".
http://www.fedsmith.com/article/2713/fiveyear-pay-freeze-federal-employees.html
Way to go, Dr. Chu.
Judging from the slow response from many, the sacrificial strategy is shared. (must be some Sun Tsu principle here, "be like the water, my sacrificing disciple, while I enjoy my concubine")
substantially equivalent, you'd say.
sets back Asian science a decade.
wait, no, that's American science....
The workers in China are amazing, the leaders, not so much....
I understand another big truck load of manure is being delivered so that the mushrooms can grow extra large next year.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incomes_policy)
When the price of a good is lowered artificially, it creates less supply and more demand for the product, thereby creating shortages.
The Labs need to prepare for shortages in "world class" "best and brightest" scientists and engineers who want to work at the Labs, especially as the economy recovers and competing industries lure these candidates to workplaces without abusive polygraphs, clearances, drug testing, suffocating bureaucracy and frozen wages.
It's obvious that no one in the Government thinks nuclear counter-terrorism, the stockpile or non-proliferation is too terribly important.
Egypt approves 15 percent raise for govt employees
AP – Feb 7
CAIRO – Egypt's embattled regime announced Monday a 15 percent raise for government employees in an attempt to shore up its base and defuse popular anger...
Without a strong union (no matter how distasteful that may be), the scientists at the NNSA labs have no hope in holding back the declining salaries, pensions and benefits that are headed their way. NNSA and their LLCs only respect unionized strength and lawyers, not whining.
The deficit ballooned when our government was raided by corporate thugs who sent the Treasury funds into wall street. Now we pay the price as they swim in their average 480000$ bonuses. Hank told us it was either that or face
martial law in America. What a con. You really want to take a pay cut to help the deficit, knowing it was created to feed wall streets rich? Why not roll up your money and send it directly to Goldman instead?
February 8, 2011 12:49 AM
Better yet, send the "savings" from your lab pay freeze directly to Riley Bechtel. I'm sure he would appreciate the kind gesture. You might even get a summer invitation to the next "Bohemian Grove" party!
February 8, 2011 12:49 AM
Jeez, are you stuck in the 60's or what?
And where is the rest of the government in this? Are they ignoring the sham that Chu has pulled off?
Keep this topic going. Chu needs to be exposed.