A History of SPSE at LLNL
SPSE
Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Livermore, CA/May 13, 1998 |
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On Wednesday, May 20 the Society of Professional
Scientists and Engineers (SPSE) celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
SPSE is an organization of employees at the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory. Members of SPSE will tend information tables
at the three Lab cafeterias, providing an opportunity to learn
more about the organization, its activities, and its history.
On May 23, 1973 one hundred Lab scientists and engineers gathered
to form SPSE. The Lab, for several years, had been both laying
off and hiring personnel. During a series of "reductions
in force" in the late 1960's and early 1970's, the Lab's
staff actually increased in size. It appeared that many employees
were fired because of personal differences with managers rather
than poor performance. The founders of SPSE felt employees needed
to organize to resist these capricious layoffs.
The members also realized they shared many other concerns: performance
evaluations were shrouded in secrecy, as were salaries. Director
Roger Batzel refused to meet with members of SPSE to discuss employee
concerns.
From the moment SPSE was formed, the layoffs stopped. During the
next 25 years
there were no further layoffs. However, SPSE fought many other
battles, pushing for increased health benefits, like dental care,
and for disclosure of salary and ranking data.
In addition, SPSE has come to the aid of numerous employees who
experienced discrimination, harassment, or mistreatment by management.
The funds collected from membership dues have helped finance arbitration
and grievance hearings. In many cases, due to SPSE's strong support,
employee's careers were saved. Today, the challenges are as great
as ever, and SPSE is still working hard to promote the rights
of Laboratory employees.
As we hear of a nationwide increase in the formation of professional
organizations (e.g., doctors trying to stand up to HMO pressures,
or temporary high-tech workers fighting for the same benefits
as full-time employees), SPSE feels proud to have had this vision
25 years ago.
Go back to the SPSE Home Page
http://www.spse.org/