Thursday, March 3, 2016
Investigative reporter details Bechtel's influence
"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
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
17 comments:
Bechtel has been great for LLNL
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
"When Pasatiempo contacted Bechtel, Charlene Wheeless, principal vice-president of global corporate affairs, made this statement about Denton’s book: “Based on our limited review of a galley of the book, it contains many factual misstatements and significant errors. "
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.
The devil incarnate. Taking jobs away from entitlement employees.
Russo is an incomptent jackass who was hated and openly ridiculed by those at LLNL we worked with. No skillS,
"The devil incarnate. Taking jobs away from entitlement employees.
March 3, 2016 at 11:34 PM"
BS, subtracting value, reducing efficiency for self gain, sounds like a parasite.
"efficiency" = not following regulations (i.e laws)
"efficiency" = not following regulations (i.e laws)
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.
When I was kid at Berkeley I received a modest Bechtel scholarship for which I am grateful. It helped me to look at Bechtel from a different point of view than the author. The Bechtel Engineering Center also helped.
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.
Also , other than Russo alienating everyone unfortunate enough to meet him, Bechtel transfers and corporate participation at LLNL operations was and is almost zero. Leidle was a quiet non entity. Gionconda works behind the scenes. Schultz quiet advice and support of NIF may have helped retain his BFF Diane Feinstein's support at a critical time, ensuring it's continued funding and eventual success. So perhaps their vital contribution is rationalizing DC madness, scouting a path their to success.
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?
It is also ironic that none of the promised, vaunted industry best management practices, paticularly industry project management, procurement pracices and assurances ever passed muster. LLNL existing practices were judged superior to this particular application.
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,
I too wonder why Bechtel/URS/BWXT didn't force more industrial practices on the labs. I believe it is because UC never left and the operational cultural issues rolled on. This whole thing may have really been about saving UC's interest in the labs which is likely over now.
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.
It is also ironic that none of the promised, vaunted industry best management practices, paticularly industry project management, procurement pracices and assurances ever passed muster. LLNL existing practices were judged superior to this particular application.
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,
Truth hurts sometimes. Bush lied.
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.
The conflating of the LLNL and LANL experiences here are not helpful. They are much different. Two differnt social experimemts to a similar set of rules, but with different outcomes. Both worthy of study.
Please keep that strsight in your comments.
I do not believe W. publically set for in either place. How does his alleged honesty affect a review of the Bechtel family enterprise in relation to either lab?
Take a ritalin. Focus.
Truth hurts sometimes. Bush lied.
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.
Scolding is getting tiresome. Obama has scolded enough for a lifetime. Show us you tits.
Post a Comment