SPSE (Society of Professionals, Scientists, and Engineers)

• Membership in SPSE is open to all UC employees at LLNL not already represented by another union.
• Is an independent organization of professional scientists and engineers employed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
• Is a nonprofit labor organization 501(c)5 in the state of California.
• Is managed by an Executive Board consisting of four officers and ten board members, which meet on the first and third Thursdays of each month.

SPSE is an association of current and retired professionals, scientists, and engineers at LLNL. Our membership comes from a broad spectrum of Lab employees.

GOALS
Our long-term goal is to gain recognition as a union in a representation election. Such recognition would greatly increase our effectiveness and allow for improvements in working conditions and pay through collective bargaining. Protecting employee rights requires constant effort by SPSE. We have successfully influenced Lab and UC polices. We are willing to stand up to Lab and UC management and the DOE to ensure that scientists, engineers and all employees are treated with respect and fairness.

SPSE represents members in grievances with the Lab and offers support and advice with job-related problems. When necessary, SPSE takes legal action through the state Public Employment Relations Board or in the courts. In our newsletter, and on our website, we provide important information that management does not provide. This information can protect employees from erosion and abuse of their rights.

SPSE is working for a better laboratory. We know that the quality of our working lives depends on the quality of the Laboratory as an institution. We are committed to building a Laboratory that is well managed and accountable; one that will provide safe and secure jobs with decent wages along with high quality research.

SPSE is a democratic, member-run association. Our decisions are made by our members and members elected to the Board. We set our own agenda. We believe that we have an important contribution to make to the Lab. We invite you to join us.

SUCCESSES
SPSE, its members and affiliates, were prime movers in getting these policy changes:

• Access to an employee’s own performance appraisal.
• Expanded medical and dental plans.
• Expanded retirement benefits.
• Compensatory days off for holidays falling on weekends.
• Due process, the right to binding arbitration.
• Due process, the representation of employees in grievances and lawsuits. Issues resolved included wrongful discharge, discrimination, and improper or unjustified disciplinary actions.
• Lab-wide posting of job opportunities.
• Employee access to ranking data.
• Employee access to maturity curves and salaries.
• Employee access to voluntary retirement incentive data.

Since SPSE’s founding during the last layoff in 1973, there have been no new layoffs at the Lab. We have secured a “tolling agreement” (a legal procedure to suspend a lawsuit) with the Lab which preserves SPSE’s right to sue if the unfair 1995 personnel policies are used to harm employees’ interests in a future layoff.

Join SPSE Today!
Would you expect to buy insurance on your house while it is on fire? Of course not. Yet SPSE frequently hears from employees who want to join because they have problems. As much as we’d like to help, we simply can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars for a grievance action for non-members. The time to join is NOW —before the unexpected happens.

Current SPSE Efforts

• SPSE is seeking the re-establishment of UC wide personnel policies at the Lab.
• SPSE supports the objective of the class action lawsuit by LLNL women employees—equal pay for equal work.
• SPSE is monitoring the use of “flexible status” (temp) employees as a threat to career employment.
• SPSE continues to provide assistance to grievance actions by employee members.
• SPSE continues to educate employees about their legal rights and responsibilities.
• SPSE continues its efforts to make LLNL a better place to work.