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UPTE meeting al LANL

I don't know how many have received the invitation to the UPTE presentation in Los Alamos, so I thought I post it here:

To a reprise of UPTE’s presentation to the National Academy of Sciences Committee to Review the Quality of the Management and of the Science and Engineering Research at the Department of Energy’s National Security Laboratories:



“Effects of Privatization on the DOE/NNSA Labs’ Science and National Security Missions”



Date: Thursday, April 7



Place: Best Western Hilltop House Hotel

400 Trinity Dr at Central, Los Alamos



Time: 5:30 pm

Comments

Anonymous said…
If you sign the "information cards" it means you are voting to join a union.
Unions are so 80's.
The California construction unions are down to 11% from 18 % of total workers just a year ago. And guess what? They have asked for a raise to further price themselves out of the market.
If you have seen the shady dealings of unions in California with Democratic politicians like I have you wouldn't touch a union with a 10 foot pole.
Unfortunately the public unions are now a part of the problem not the solution.
State and Federal construction jobs cost easily 15-30% more of tax money because of the union prevailing wage law passed by our wonderful Democratic politicians. These are facts.

But in "my opinion" a lot of the people in unions have become drones.
Anonymous said…
Unions workers are about 12% of the private workforce and about 36% of the public workforce. The latter includes federal workers, who do not have collective bargaining rights (removed by Carter in the '70s). So, you are correct. Unions are dead but have not yet been reliably informed of it.
Anonymous said…
Like all human institutions unions are subject to abuse. They accomplished a lot while also in many instances over-cooking the golden goose. I don't underestimate the ability of employers to subsequently overplay their own hand as they are just as susceptible to abusing their power.
Anonymous said…
A few of you would change your stance quickly on Unions once you have been "slammed" by a few times LANS/LLNS "Executives" like Bret Knapp.
Anonymous said…
So I post an invitation for the Union presentation, and immediately the
union bashing starts. I wonder, where this comes from.
If you don't like it go away but spare me your ideological garbage.
Anonymous said…
If you don't like it go away but spare me your ideological garbage.

April 1, 2011 7:09 AM

So, no opposing viewpoints are to be tolerated? Yeah, that's what the protesters in Wisconsin said, too.
Anonymous said…
"But in "my opinion" a lot of the people in unions have become drones."

So, its no different than what we have today. Back before the privatization the benefits and salaries where somewhat in line. Now since LANS the big shots have all received 300% increases and the worker bees have received squat. At least Sandia and LLNL received bonuses. Going to be interesting Monday for Mike Anastasio's All-Hands meeting. Knowing Mike it will probably be a ALlis well political speech and nothing about what REALLY interests employees.
Anonymous said…
March 31, 2011 5:26
Yes I dislike unions and let me tell you why. Because I have seen first hand what they do.

For example the Steelworkers union had 1 million members at one time.
"Common wisdom" is that the Chinese dumping steel in the United States is the reason for all the steel mills closing.
What do you bet that half the problem were the unions. Management unable to fire poor performing workers or even sleeping workers on the graveyard shift.
Ya the unions had nothing to do with the steel mills closing (ha).

I heard (but cannot substantiate, yet) that New York City public schools have 4000 teachers who are not allowed to teach but cannot be fired because of the unions. I heard that they meet in rooms and do not have a lot to do during the day. But because of the Union environment in (liberal) New York they still keep their jobs.
That is insane, nuts.
That hurts our children's education.

That is why I dislike Unions, period.
Anonymous said…
"That is why I dislike Unions, period.

April 1, 2011 1:09 PM"

Like it or not... we are all badgers now.
Anonymous said…
Brett is still in charge, unions not so much. Wanna place bets on the balance of power after Mikey bails?
Anonymous said…
Brett is still in charge, unions not so much. Wanna place bets on the balance of power after Mikey bails?

April 1, 2011 9:20 PM

If by some prayer Younger is the new Director, I will personally help Knapp pack-his-bags and load his Cayenne back to Livermore. I heard his back-up plan is to work for his brother Corey at Sandia. On a side-note I find it interesting that Knapp has not slaughtered off X-Division physicists to the extent he's done with W-Division engineers. Hello, did I hear "coward"?
Anonymous said…
Steve Younger could save LANL, or he could sink it. If he is given major authority by the LANS Board, it could work. I worked with Younger at LANL and found 1) if he found a reason to doubt your competence he would treat you like a piece of dirt until you proved yourself; 2) if he respected your competence, he would joke with you and show his actual self, which was intelligent (blindingly so on occasion), and his humor; 3) if he thought you were trying to snow him, or working against his wishes, you were toast. If LANL in its present state can stand Younger's no-nonsense approach (an open question given the victim attitude on display here), he could be their savior. Beware what you ask for. Be ready for a boss that you know is doing the right thing, but you (sort of) hate anyway.
Anonymous said…
You are right, unions are corrupt and greedy, but corporate executives? Why, there are as pure as the fresh fallen snow. Right, Tea Party advocates?
Anonymous said…
You are right, unions are corrupt and greedy, but corporate executives? Why, there are as pure as the fresh fallen snow. Right, Tea Party advocates?

April 3, 2011 12:09 PM

If you actually knew anything about what the Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party advocates, you might have a chance at a coherent comment. As it is, you are just another liberal know-nothing. spouting liberal talking points.
Anonymous said…
Beware what you ask for. Be ready for a boss that you know is doing the right thing, but you (sort of) hate anyway.

April 2, 2011 9:22 PM

I too worked for and knew Younger. I would rather work for a tyrant (i.e. Younger) than the cowards from Livermore (i.e. you know who they are) that are here.
Anonymous said…
Forget Younger. Let's bring back Pete Nanos as our next LANL Director. I hear he is extremely upset that he never got to finish the job that he started.
Anonymous said…
Forget Younger. Let's bring back Pete Nanos as our next LANL Director. I hear he is extremely upset that he never got to finish the job that he started.

April 5, 2011 11:21 PM

Yeah, he left two or three employees untraumatized. But you never know, the Stockholm Syndrome could be rampant.

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