"Bechtel is all but immune to the debilitating effects of government oversight for its flaws and shortcomings due to its long-established and firmly entrenched relationship with government decision-makers at the highest level." Sally Denton
http://m.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/books/readings_signings/investigative-reporter-details-bechtel-s-influence/article_7520013c-32ad-5af8-b836-5ba9c8710b5d.html?mode=jqm
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Speaking of Bechtel’s labor practices, Denton told Pasatiempo: “I don’t know how one could examine the 2008 massive layoff of 440 career employees at Lawrence Livermore Lab and find evidence of significant improvement in labor relations. Bechtel’s long history of questionable labor practices cannot all be written off to the laissez-faire oversight of previous generations or
he went on to add... that in fact we are far worse and more corrupt than the book made us out which shows that the author did not dig deep enough or was simply lazy.
March 3, 2016 at 11:34 PM"
BS, subtracting value, reducing efficiency for self gain, sounds like a parasite.
March 4, 2016 at 6:39 PM
inefficiency = taking 100 million a year and adding nothing, putting hundred of useful people in, not listening to experts, adding corruption, and not following regulations for additional profit with no added value to the organization or the mission. Sounds like Bechtel added some real value to the labs.
In the review, it appears that she placed more importance in the negative aspects of Bechtel's work than in the positive. The construction of the Hoover Dam was a masterpiece, something still amazing 100 years later. The hiring of Shultz and Cap was genius, for they are both more responsible for the successful Reagan presidency than Reagan. Managing construction in the holy war zone of Muslim-fractured-corrupt dangerous Iraq was tough and wasteful. They were much more successful building the oil infrastructure of peaceful Saudi Arabia and in the post communist -stans.
They did not provide top talent to join and manage the labs, which are an intimidating and complex society to learn. Better to have been reared here to understand and manipulate the culture. They were also forced into some policy positions, such as layoffs by poor, duplicitious and foolish practices inbedded in the management contract by the NNSA authors. They screw up as well, but the blame rests more in the unfunded mandates buried in the new contract, the debilitating oversight, and sponsor mistrust. Also, remember that both labs weathered a period where either one could have been closed.
So I see the same facts from a different point of view than the author. I would like to attend the events at Bohemian Grove, not speculate about them.
UC can do the other stuff well, so perhaps partnering with someone that can manage DC was and still is a good choice. Speculation to be sure, but with some evidence, no?
Industry style Human Resouces management was instituted under Soderstrom which has been a disaster, Taking management of compensation from the matrix leaders has resulted in poorer performance management. The ponderous hiring process is bringing in fewer high quality candidates. This adaptation is widely regarded by Programs and Matrix leaders as a NNSA mandated ponderous failure under Wong,
Oh and yes, LANL is very non-compliant to the DOE regulations (again in operations, don't get bent out of shape scientists). Ask anyone who has operated anywhere else in the nuclear weapons complex.
Industry style Human Resouces management was instituted under Soderstrom which has been a disaster, Taking management of compensation from the matrix leaders has resulted in poorer performance management. The ponderous hiring process is bringing in fewer high quality candidates. This adaptation is widely regarded by Programs and Matrix leaders as a NNSA mandated ponderous failure under Wong,
March 5, 2016 at 11:48 AM
You are giving G. W. Bush way to much credit. Bush was just a dumbass country jackass that believed everything that Slick Dick Cheney spoon fed to him.
Please keep that strsight in your comments.
Take a ritalin. Focus.
March 5, 2016 at 11:48 AM
You are giving G. W. Bush way to much credit. Bush was just a dumbass country jackass that believed everything that Slick Dick Cheney spoon fed to him.
March 5, 2016 at 2:17 PM
Too drunk to post on the right thread, both of you. Sad.