February 27, 1998

Dear Sir/Madam,

At the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), the "Society of Professional Scientists and Engineers" (SPSE) is fighting a vigorous legal battle against the University of California. The details are covered in the attached press release that went to three local papers (Valley Times, Tri-Valley Herald, and Independent) on Friday, February 20*.

Beyond our immediate concern, expressed in the press release about the weakening link to UC, the bigger picture deals with the civilian oversight of the Nation's nuclear weapons complex.

By uncoupling the LLNL personnel policies from the basic UC policies, the Lab's Director, Bruce Tarter, is allowed to run the Laboratory more like a private corporation than the public service organization it is. Corporate efficiency in government is applaudable, but not when academic freedom and public accountability are at risk. We are very concerned about UC taking the path of least resistance and acquiescing to the Director's course.

In the past, the University was careful that approved changes to the Laboratory's policies kept the Laboratory in line with the university-wide policies. That practice has given way to one of rubber-stamping any policy changes desired by the Lab's Director. Ultimately, the accountability of DOE-UC-managed weapons laboratories to the public will suffer. Let's face it, in terms of nuclear safety, environmental controls, and waste management, this community under the Department of Energy has a poor track record.

We believe that of the three agencies involved, only UC instills confidence in civilian oversight. The only way that UC can continue to live up to this confidence is by vigorously enforcing university-wide policies at the weapons laboratories (LANL, LLNL, LBNL).

Perhaps you will find this an issue you or your readers would like to explore. It is certainly an issue that is on our minds at LLNL. We welcome any questions you may have about this issue.

Sincerely,

George Craig and Patrick Weidhaas

Editors, SPSE Newsletter

Attachment a/s

* On February 15, PERB denied SPSE's petition for an injunction. On February 26, hearings in regard to the "Unfair Labor Practice" charge began in front of PERB. PERB denied UC's motion to dismiss the charge. The hearings are continuing today, and may stretch into next week.

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