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Technical professionals at LLNL are understandably uneasy. The Laboratory's mission is unclear. The demand for our services is far less certain than it used to be, both inside the Laboratory and in society at large. Change is in the air, and it brings apprehension. That's natural and reasonable. What is not natural or reasonable is the further anxiety generated by the proposed changes to the layoff policy.
It is one thing to know that our assignments may change and that some staff reductions may become necessary, but quite another to be put completely at the mercy of management's whim. Yet, that's exactly what the proposed layoff policy does. It even spells it out for you, "management determines the order of layoff...."
Assurances about reviews by various levels of management do not change the fundamental fact that the process is arbitrary. You are asked to trust management. In the last few years, this management has brought you employee rankings and staff raises that average little more than half of the DOE allocated pay increases. Now, this management also wants to determine who goes and who stays based on "needs" that are not even clearly spelled out! Our management is treating technical professionals like seasonal farm hands!
You don't have to buy this bill of goods! Alone, you may not have much choice, but together, through a Scientists and Engineers Senate, we can challenge the proposed layoff policy and participate in framing the future of our Laboratory. This Senate would debate policy matters and use the force of California law to require management to negotiate any policy changes with the staff. This option may not solve all of the problems facing us, but it sure beats total reliance on management's assessment of our skills, knowledge, and abilities! All it takes is for you to reject unconditional dependency and actively choose to participate in a democratic process representing your interests.
So, sign an authorization card and empower yourself. The only thing you will lose is some of your fears!
If you fear reprisal, don't! Your signature is confidential and, by law, cannot be divulged to the LLNL administration.
What is an Authorization Card?
June 1995
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