Will the last tech to leave SRS, please turn off the lights

[BetaAnt]

The Savannah River Site is dead. It is a dry hole. The money is gone (mis-spent). $100M in the hole and heads up the nether regions.   All the jobs are out west. GO WEST, YOUNG MAN, WEST!!!!!!!!

BA

[BetaAnt]

As a word of caution, if you decide to give ANY notice of leaving for another job, be prepared to be escorted off site at that time. SRS has now instituted a today layoff notice (Come out on break from a CA, be escorted to the body counter, taken back to your vehicle then escorted off site).

Per diem is becoming a pain in the @$$ (provide all your receipts and proof of residency in another state -procurement will decide if you are paying enough rent at your other residence for the per diem allowance- greater than 100 miles from SRS). The rules change quarterly. Mismanagement of monies have lead to massive subcontractor layoffs (400 in the last two months).

DO NOT TELL THESE PEOPLE YOU ARE LEAVING OR THEY WILL CUT YOU OFF AT THE KNEES!!!

Good Luck, DFR

BA

[owsi84621]

Remeber how many jobs this created or saved... If you throw money into a hole and don't supervise its use it just goes away.

[gravy58]

Beta is right. If you tell them your leaving or want to give notice they'll take your badge right on the spot. The key phrase is " I'm thinking of leaving tomorrow" or when ever. They don't really care, so tell them the morning of, like a two day notice "I'm leaving Today!". They have wasted so much money out there that they are laying off contractors every two weeks or so. About half of the ARRA techs that were hired last summer have simple not had their contracts  extended for this year. The site spent about 2 million dollars a day this year. Next year they want to spend $250k a day. You do the math, by the end of the year it won't just be contractors. 

[steelbeam]

The lights WERE out, but job postings are picking back up. Are we to continue throwing tax-payer money at this STIMULUS fiasco. Come on...........have a little compassion for the rest of the American Tax Payers.

[BetaAnt]

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

SRS did it before, they will do it again and again. SRS's instant layoff policy bit them in the @ss last time and they promise not to do it again.

DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR LIPS MOVE.


BA 

[mostlyharmless]

If you want long term go house at SRS or some other place. If not ,stop complaining. DFR is a way of life for road techs. Every outage I worked I had the understanding that I would hit the body counter sooner or later. Its just the nature of the business. The folks at SRS are not evil. Many are self serving autocrats that cant think past their noses but many are good people. We had a manager once that told us he was going to lay off techs but told us not to tell them. I argued ,to him, that this was wrong, that these techs had lives and families to support and it was only fair to give them as much notice as possible. I told them. Most people care less about you than they do about themselves. Its normal. You must look out for yourself. The site can only go so far until it becomes criminal. Then you have recourse. But if you want to stay here apply for a position with SRR or SRNS. If not,do what every other road tech in the industry does,find a job. While your negative posts may make you feel better they do absolutely nothing to hurt the site or dissuade the locals from working here. And after one of your last posts I talked to a few of the managers of jobs employing subs. If you or anyone else thinking of working at SRS wants advice,help,contacts,etc for comming here or staying here give me a pm. Not a nasty gram, I have been were you are. I still travel light. I can be packed up and out of the place I work in minutes. But I know a lot of people in all levels of management in many disciplines. And if you just want to vent I will vent with you.Its not perfect for me either.

[Rennhack]

Please do not use all capital letters in the topic titles.  Thank you.

I have edited the first message, changing the title from all capital letters.

[Simple Country HP]

Beta you reminded me of a top notch old DOE RCT who once said to me about a manager -- "If he told me it was raining outside and I were standing next to an open window watching the rain hitting the window sill and coming in the window - I would not believe him until I walked outside to the parking lot, stood there for 5 minutes and got soaked to the skin from the rain drops hitting me."
I don't think Beta is complaining, he is just passing on information. Every outage I have worked I have the understanding that I will get laid off but not instant same day layoff. That is unfair. I have seen unfair too.
People are not evil or unfair but people do evil or unfair things and those actions are unfair. People also always choose whether they do good things or unfair things. Any road tech very quickly learns to look out for themself and some of them also pass on information. That information may be negative and also very useful.
SRS will continue on just fine. SRS will also continue just fine without me and that does absolutely nothing to hurt me.
I am currently working at Hanford as a senior RCT, have worked six DOE sites, am a commercial ANSI 3.1 senior tech, and also NRRPT. I work hard and am very good at what I do.
If I needed information I might send an email. I also know the system and I have no need to have smoke blown in my face. I already have that done on a daily basis right where I am.

[mostlyharmless]

What I know is this. Among the subs at srs many have been escorted off site immediately because of fighting,ignoring site procedures,one guy pulled out his willy in front of everyone. I know of no tech immediately removed for verbalising a desire to leave. Of course that doesn't mean it did not happen. I was poking along at North Anna just fine when the plant manager decided he wanted all subs gone. We were all gone by end of day. It was all business,we didn't cause any trouble.
Some people have an ax to grind.
I know many folks at srs and have a lot of respect for many of them. I have worked there as a sub and now house. I have first hand accounts of some techs both house and sub removed from the site.
What I read was not just a tech passing along information. It was a general negative rant. Sounds like a disgruntled worker. He maligned everyone at the site and I will not let it go uncorrected. I understand what you are saying Country and many on nukeworker do just pass along information,good or bad. But most do it in a reasoned way, not just a shot at thousands of people they don't know or have anything to do with.As for me,I draw on my experience and personal knowledge of people and events at srs and a desire to help any tech that comes here. Doe is a different world from what most of us know and it takes a bit of adjusting.

[Rennhack]

What I read was not just a tech passing along information. It was a general negative rant. Sounds like a disgruntled worker. He maligned everyone at the site ... ... many on nukeworker do just pass along information,good or bad. But most do it in a reasoned way, not just a shot at thousands of people they don't know or have anything to do with.

I couldn't agree more.

[Simple Country HP]

Mostly, I gotta agree that your posts have far better information than Beta's.
What you describe about techs being escorted off site immediately rings true. At Hanford I have seen techs escorted off site immediately for fighting. One tech working the Step Off Pad saw someone coming out wearing shorts which accidentally showed his willy and immediately called everyones attention to that. Another tech lied about medical (which later cleared up) when he hired in. DOE does not forgive stuff like this.
It is very good to hear that no tech has been immediately removed for verbalizing a desire to leave. That doesn't really ring true although it could happen. For me it was Surry -- they promised us more and delivered less but we did get more than same day notice. Oh well!
You are right about a general negative rant. I was not seeing clearly. That was from all the smoke being blown in my face out here. 
Last year I almost came to SRS. I got a call from Bartlett and then a manager from SRS called and interviewed me and said they needed me right away. Then we waited and heard nothing. I went and did a job in Ohio and then came to Hanford. I may be at SRS yet.

[pbooth]

HEY, this note is for anybody coming to SRS ! When you seek lodging here be aware of a lady advertising Donna's Lodging! She will try to cheat you anyway she can! Don't deal with her!!! It will only cause you headaches! She doesn't care about us or our way of making a living, all she cares about is money and she will lie to you and cheat you. Sounds like some of the companies we deal with, don't it ? Take it from me this is somebody you really don't want to deal with!!!!!!! pbooth old school roaddog.

[johnnyreb]

 sounds like a bartlett operation

[BetaAnt]

SRS update

The same day layoff policy has been changed (for now). SRNL RPD got burned by a few subs that turned in their TLD at the end of the day and said, 'Bye-Bye'. This is not to say that the policy will not return at the end of the day.

SRNL (ARRA) RPD was the only department to enforce the instant layoff policy (that is what WSI security told them what the 'corporate policy' was). Other departments were having 'going away' parties and ARRA RPD was escorting subs off-site. I had accepted a position with an Oak Ridge firm to fill a higher paying SRR position (+$5/hr). A house-mouse global emailed RPD of my impending departure and management, instead of allowing me to finish or renew my contract, escorted me off-site. Then I lost my alternate slot with the SRS hiring freeze.

My warning is to avoid sites with 'Blind Compliance' issues. Instead of management, some facilities use zero tolerance in subcontractor worker loyalty (kind of like BNI's 'YOU'LL NEVER WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY AGAIN!!', until we need you for the next outage). Not all SRS RP departments (SRR and SRNL) are blindly compliant. It took SRS RP management over five years to terminate a sexual harassing racist RP supervisor (it was the promised SRNL sexual harassment lawsuit and stalking charges that pressed the issue). When it comes to subcontractors, we are prey to the SRS predators.

It is better to forewarned instead of getting a forearm to the back of the head. Information is like a ghost. You may or may not believe in ghosts but, when you have an experience, you believe.

BA

[Rennhack]

We have had numerous complaints about BetaAnt, and this thread, requesting that we delete it.  They claim that BetaAnt is a disgruntled worker and is libeling the site.

We don't disagree that he sure sounds disgruntled, and we would love to delete this thread because it sounds like a truck load of crap.  But we will not do it.  BetaAnt is allowed his opinion even if it is wrong.  We will not delete this thread because we started this site so people would have an open forum to speak their mind.  It is up to the users to decide if BetaAnt is full of BS, or if he is correct.

If we deleted this post then we are no better than the ‘other sites’ that cater to the employers instead of the workers.

[Camella Black]

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

SRS did it before, they will do it again and again. SRS's instant layoff policy bit them in the @ss last time and they promise not to do it again.

DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR LIPS MOVE.


BA 

I just don't understand. If you are so unhappy why not pack up and leave... there are many jobs available and well life on the road ain't so bad. I have never worked for SRS but have many friends and family that do or that have and like most jobs it has its ups and its downs.

I would rather see you give some sound advice and pointers rather that ranting like a mad man. You'd accomplish more in my humble opinion.

[Already Gone]

We have all had some bad experiences as employees - especially as contract employees.  Some helpful things I have learned along the way are:
1. "management" are people too.  You can make them angry.  They won't always be perfect.
2. The archaic custom of giving notice is as long-gone as severance pay.  Don't tell anyone that you are ready to leave a job until you are ready to either work two more weeks or leave that day.  You may feel that it is only the fair and polite thing to do when you give your employer two weeks notice, but all they hear is that you are quitting.  If they let you work out your notice, some people will see it as "making" you work out your notice.  You have to be prepared to go or to stay before you say a word.
3. Never, ever, ever, no, not ever, I really mean NEVER, talk to anyone about how much you are getting paid, how much your next job is going to pay you, how much they are getting paid, ... etc.  It isn't anybody's business anyway, and nothing good ever comes from the knowledge.
4. People rarely quit a job that they like without first seeking opportunities within the organization.  If you are happy with what you are doing and the company you are working for, money isn't a good enough reason to quit.  You'll work toward a raise and/or promotion to get more money.  You won't jump ship until you are no longer happy where you are.  (Failing to make any progress toward that raise or promotion may be the reason for your unhappiness, but you will be unhappy in any case before you take a job elsewhere.) The moment you indicate your desire to quit, you infect the workplace with your discontent.  Even if you are grinning ear-to-ear about the good deal you are leaving for, everyone else sees it as gloating.  You might be dancing on air, but it is still negativity.
5. Happy workers are better workers.  They are more productive and cause fewer problems than unhappy workers.  Happiness is contagious among the workforce.  Unhappiness is a cancer.  Even workers content with their jobs may be unhappy about having to work with you if you bring your negativity to work.  It only takes one malcontent to destroy the morale of the whole organization.
6. It takes two distinct actions to keep a workforce happy (and, therefore productive, ...etc.) One, you have to treat your workers well.  Two, you have to fire the unhappy workers.  If you don't fire the unhappy ones, you are mistreating the happy ones by subjecting them to the negativity.  It has to be done.  I used to think that was pretty dastardly, but it (unfortunately) makes perfect sense.
7. There are THREE necessary and logical correlations to 4, 5 and 6.  If you are quitting, you are unhappy.  If you are unhappy you are a cancer.  Cancer must be excised quickly before it spreads. 
8. Therefore, the minute you let on that you are leaving, it is already past time for you to go.  Period.

We have all been, at various times, the happy employee, the unhappy employee, and maybe also the boss who has both in his employ.  The perspective of each is different, so at different times we react differently to similar situations.

When the act of wasting $100million involved direct deposit of part of it into your account every payday, it wasn't such a problem.  When they booted your ass, they suddenly became the inept mis-managers who blew millions with nothing to show for it.  (Go figure, it is a government job after all.)

[mostlyharmless]

Its not about one tech with a bad attitude bringing every one down ( though what you say is true and well said) and its not about just speaking your mind or worker vs employer. Its about one guy getting run off for things that would get any tech released from almost any site in this country. I work at SRS. I worked there as a sub before I accepted a more permanent ( no job is permanent) position there and I know many of the more than 400 RP techs that work there, not counting the subs. I also know many managers.
What this guy says is an absolute lie. Because he is mad he further debases himself by slandering SRS in open forum.
I agree with Renhack and thank him for reminding me of the tolerance exhibited by the staff of NW.
No site is a nuclear Nirvana and SRS with over 10,000 employees is no exception. Like most of the places I have worked your experience is largely your responsibility.How you behave is how you are perceived. But techs,sub or otherwise are treated well here and its my observation that you really have to fire yourself from SRS. They do not just take you to the gate for complaining or talking about leaving. You will,however, get shown the door for falsifying documentation,ignoring procedures,failing drug tests etc,the usual stuff. I have been here for ~14 yrs.
And you guys are wrong about the 100 million. We received more than 1 Billion dollars in ARRA money,more than our entire fiscal year budget. That to me is the difference between here and commercial. We are not driven by proffit and consequently the ownership is low and waste is high.
Thank you folks for recognizing rant when you hear it, disgruntled or gruntled. And now I gotta go refill my cool aid.

[Frankie Love]

Howes comme know spelle cheke? Phat wood bee gode fore thys sight.

[uRiaL]

   :(EMBARRASSED by some of these coments.Donna lodging not that bad,she is a miser though,but a safe place right down from the hospital.stayed there a year.WSI thought subs would a sabotage the site if they left on their own. ???There are good and bad apples here,representative of the world we live in.Some individuals acknowledge you,speak,conversate,some want to hang you.Aiken residence are smiling all the way to the bank with this stimulus moolah. []I'll leave my (HIS) light on for you all, my friends.Nuff SAID

[UncaBuffalo]

We have had numerous complaints about BetaAnt, and this thread, requesting that we delete it.  They claim that BetaAnt is a disgruntled worker and is libeling the site.

We don't disagree that he sure sounds disgruntled, and we would love to delete this thread because it sounds like a truck load of crap.  But we will not do it.  BetaAnt is allowed his opinion even if it is wrong.  We will not delete this thread because we started this site so people would have an open forum to speak their mind.  It is up to the users to decide if BetaAnt is full of BS, or if he is correct.

If we deleted this post then we are no better than the ‘other sites’ that cater to the employers instead of the workers.

Okay, I've already been smited AND deleted for asking this question, but...since I'm kind of slow...I'm going to ask it again:


What would BetaAnt sound like if he was 'gruntled'?


People took this question as me just being a smartass, but I was being serious.  I am against throwing labels on people and thinking that means you can disregard them after that.  BetaAnt = 'Disgruntled Worker'...therefore no one needs to weigh his information when they consider SRS as an employment option.  Very possible, but there is another VERY likely scenario:

BetaAnt = 'Gruntled' worker with poor communication skills.  Maybe he really DID get poorly treated by his former management thru no fault of his own.  In that case, he is bringing us valuable information that will help us make a correct decision in our own situation....


You can look at any thread and glean information from the relative numbers of positive & negative posts.  If BetaAnt was the only poster with something negative to say about SRS, I'd be happy to treat his post as 'Disgruntled Worker' (although I'm still uncomfortable with that label) and believe only the positive about SRS.  If BetaAnt has other posters chiming in to echo his complaint, I have to weigh the possibility that he was still very 'gruntled' and SRS treated him poorly.


Note to BetaAnt:  I DO agree with the view that your posts occasionally cross the border into 'rant' and would be more effective if written in a more professional tone.




Thanks.  

[hamsamich]

I agree with buffalo.  Also, even if he is disgruntled, he still could have been treated the way he was treated.  I've seen worse.  It is a great data point whether or not.  I am going to heed his warning.

[ladyinrad]

Thank you, BetaAnt, for helping me last year. Your advice was dead on. Wished you could be at every job site!

 

Ladyinrad

[t_tarbox]

I have spoken to BA via PM, a few times over the past year, some about SRS, some about other places..and always found him to be pleasant, informative and honest.

Now do I see the frustration in some of his posts? Sure...and at one time, I probably would have been sending him a PM to try and "talk him down" and encourage him revise his post a little to remove some of the emotion..but..

Over the past year, I've been coached by peers for trying to hold the open forum to a higher standard than what may be necessary or even intended..to the point the site might migrate away from it's "breakroom" appeal (as described to me)..

So where do we, as a community draw the line between professional site and breakroom? I think that line is still a work in progress.

Obviously something has set BA's emotions on high and he wants to vent among his peers; he came to the "breakroom" to do it.

Perhaps we should try to talk to him via PM, instead of at him via post..

I see there are still some jobs being posted for SRS..

[mostlyharmless]

When the posts become reasoned instead of BS, the responses will continue to be reasoned. Put it in the no holds barred area or maybe make a new area for this kind of talk. I will defend anyones right to speak but reserve the same right to my self and to rebut when I feel it necessary. But to my chagrin,ignorance needs no rebut, it is self explanatory.

[Already Gone]

I don't know that we are talking "at" anybody, or that we aren't really talking "at" everybody.  This isn't really a live discussion where everyone is in the same room at the same time.

BetaAnt isn't the first, and won't be the last, person to be upset over what happened to him at work.  I was there way before he was.

If somebody rushed you or me off site the moment we uttered a thought about taking another job, we would be embarrassed, humiliated, insulted, ... add whatever negative emotion you care to name.  But, if I feel like I was treated like a criminal, it doesn't mean that anyone thought of me as a criminal.  The guy who escorted you to the gate didn't necessarily think that you were a threat to vandalize or steal, he probably didn't have any suspicion of you at all.  He just needed you to be gone.  No, it never feels good to get fired - even from a job that you just quit.

Let's continue to look at it from the other side for a minute.  BA, said that they didn't give him the opportunity to finish or renew his contract.  This in the same paragraph where he tells us that he had no intention of doing either.  After already accepting another job, you pretty much have to expect that your current employer isn't going to give you the option to stay longer.  You didn't give them any options, they don't owe you any in return.  Hey, that's the way the game is played.  It's just business.

I don't care if he rants here until his keyboard melts.  That is his right.  A little venting can be a healthy thing.  And when he calms down he can start to realize that these people weren't evil, and didn't think of him as evil either.  It's just business.

Business is business.  People are people.  One is emotionless, the other is emotional.  But business is run by people, so there will be emotions in business.  Let them out.  Just don't expect them to change anything.

[retread]

This is way off topic but I know about the spell check button. I was making fun of those who misspell words on this site because they fail to check (or, don't care) their words. To me, it's like wearing white socks with black shorts and flip up sun glasses.

Or their grammar?

[BetaAnt]

Wow!! I hit a home run on this topic. I can't recall an SRS board getting so much feed back in so little a time. 

"Truth is a three edged sword. One side is your truth the other side is their truth and the third side is the truth." - Babylon 5
Being a subcontractor at SRS for twelve years, I have known good mangers, bad managers and incompetent managers (the ones given the position for being a golf or hunting buddy). 

I admit, I was perplexed by management's decision for the 'today' layoff notice (not their choice, but security's recommendation). But refusing to renew my contract then informing unemployment that I resigned is perjurious (at least that is what the unemployment office is telling me). Since the other company did not come through by the end of the contract, I would have opted for another year but, I WAS NEVER GIVEN THE CHANCE.

As far as libeling the site, I do have the email and database copies (and the Lotus Notes email backup can be subpoenaed). My initial problems started with ACTS, Inc. in 2008 with a Service Contract Act wage determination violation that I reported to the DOL (kind of like a tech reporting an unreported four year release to the NRC - who is at fault the tech or the company). Whistleblower laws were violated when I was retaliated against. Legal action is pending. DOL is working to settle the case. Today, when I spoke to the DOL district director, another lead popped up. Only time will tell.

On the brighter side, SRR (liquid waste side of SRS) is picking up. SRNS (ARRA side of SRS) may increase scope 2012-13.

To RenH: I will endeavor to make further posts to be more professional. SRS sometimes gets under my skin. When a news release is given,  the BS is dripping off the newspaper. Hanford may have a contamination problem, SRS is no angel. You have to look and sample for the releases.

BA

[retread]

Wow!! I hit a home run on this topic. I can't recall an SRS board getting so much feed back in so little a time. 

"Truth is a three edged sword. One side is your truth the other side is their truth and the third side is the truth." - Babylon 5
Being a subcontractor at SRS for twelve years, I have known good mangers, bad managers and incompetent managers (the ones given the position for being a golf or hunting buddy). 

I admit, I was perplexed by management's decision for the 'today' layoff notice (not their choice, but security's recommendation). But refusing to renew my contract then informing unemployment that I resigned is perjurious (at least that is what the unemployment office is telling me). Since the other company did not come through by the end of the contract, I would have opted for another year but, I WAS NEVER GIVEN THE CHANCE.

As far as libeling the site, I do have the email and database copies (and the Lotus Notes email backup can be subpoenaed). My initial problems started with ACTS, Inc. in 2008 with a Service Contract Act wage determination violation that I reported to the DOL (kind of like a tech reporting an unreported four year release to the NRC - who is at fault the tech or the company). Whistleblower laws were violated when I was retaliated against. Legal action is pending. DOL is working to settle the case. Today, when I spoke to the DOL district director, another lead popped up. Only time will tell.

On the brighter side, SRR (liquid waste side of SRS) is picking up. SRNS (ARRA side of SRS) may increase scope 2012-13.

To RenH: I will endeavor to make further posts to be more professional. SRS sometimes gets under my skin. When a news release is given,  the BS is dripping off the newspaper. Hanford may have a contamination problem, SRS is no angel. You have to look and sample for the releases.

BA

Great post BA!  Looks like things are now calmer on this thread.

[hamsamich]

thanks for the info BA.

[Rennhack]

To RenH: I will endeavor to make further posts to be more professional. SRS sometimes gets under my skin. When a news release is given,  the BS is dripping off the newspaper. Hanford may have a contamination problem, SRS is no angel. You have to look and sample for the releases.

My only request is that you don't put the topic titles in all capital letters.  It messes up the formatting on the home page.

[BetaAnt]

SoMeTimes ScrEaming is A gooD way To rElive sTress (sorry, hiccups  )

BA 

[mostlyharmless]

Thats terrible, they treated you so bad you only stayed 12 years.  Sounds like your problem is with the company you worked for. But you blasted SRS in general with implications specific to where you worked. You trashed a lot of good people in order to express your frustration. You also took no personal responsibility for your actions. There is a very specific reason why you do not work there anymore. You know what it is. Take resposibility for your actions and if you were truly misstreated, thats what lawyers,congressmen,etc, are for. And don't invoke any whistle blower stuff or retaliation. I know of folks who pushed their observations all the way to D.C. And others who successfully sued. All effected positive change at my site.
In your defence I say this.  When I worked at SRS as a sub my wife was pregnant. Durring an ob. visit I was informed that my wife had no insurance. This after I had been paying cobra for a few months. I called the ,now defunct, company I worked for and informed them of my intent to seek leagal redress, I got a call later that day that the insurance was back on.
Sounds like a good case for a union. As a sub you have no voice and little power and if you are "not from around here" no one is motivated to help. I'm with you on the complaints about the way the subcontracts work. Often the sub works side by side with house and should get treated the same, but that is not the case.
That being said, over one hundred rc techs have been hired permanent,for what thats worth, since me in 98. More are being brought in by SRR.
So, BA, raise hell and take care of yourself,no one else will. If you were wronged, take it as high as you can to make it right. Just aim a little more straight. But as always,everyone gets the red ass every now and then. Oh yea, I am just a lowly non exempt, and I took the job and came off the road for my wife and children, and SRS was not my first choice,the opportunity came my way and I took it.

[steelbeam]

Can someone please spell-check the last post. I have no idea what it's about.

[BetaAnt]

MH,

When you invest in a site and a monopoly is given to an ethically questionable company to be gate keeper for subcontractor staff, you are left with few options for local (SRS) employment. I have tried a few times for staff positions and was turned aside because I lacked the specific connections (i.e. my Daddy works at C Lab, F Canyon, etc. or lack of golf skills or providing under-the-table access to hunting club farms).

SC Employment Services posted 2 positions for degreed Health Physicists on a Friday. By Monday morning the positions were filled (by management's relatives). 

Again, not all Savannah River Site managers and supervisors are incompetent or unethical. There are several that I would sacrifice my well being to protect. It is the few sphincters in the bunch that provide the stench of corruption and incompetence for SRS.

SRS has a bad habit of protecting the more odious management when subcontractors are violated or harmed. A few reasons for immediate dismissal are time card fraud (lots of hours though), murder or threaten upper management (I didn't mention felony since there a a couple of tank farm tax felons still employed). 

I realize the futility of SRS employment and I am trying to provide a warning to outsiders. Some are accepted but most are shunned. I am looking to Hanford, Zion, IEEL, LANL, or NRDC for now. I am sure some one needs techs with experience.

BA 

[Rennhack]

I have tried a few times for staff positions and was turned aside because I lacked the specific connections (i.e. my Daddy works at C Lab, F Canyon, etc. or lack of golf skills or providing under-the-table access to hunting club farms).

If you can't beat them, join them!

[mostlyharmless]

Most of what you say is true. Most. Or rather ,I have made the same observation. Everyone is trying to get their children employed there. And golf goes a long way. I cant defend the lack of ethics I also see. I also know about being an outsider. I am second generation at SRS. I came here off the road after my son was born. I ended up here only because I could not find long term at Oak Ridge. Ive known some of the people here most of my life, but when I showed up I was called rent a drunk and in general treated like crap, like an outsider. My father retired long ago , he and most of his cronies are dead. I will never forget my first day. After turnover I got up to get my meters and go to work. Everyone else got up to get breakfast.
I believe I understand your posts a little better now. Thanks for being cool. MH

[mostlyharmless]

Steel beam, spell check this. Do I need to spell it out for you?

[steelbeam]

On to more business as usual.

Interesting read:

Nuclear Waste: Actions Needed to Address Persistent Concerns with Efforts to Close Underground Radioactive Waste Tanks at DOE's Savannah River Site
(http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-816) GAO-10-816 September 14, 2010

"Emptying, cleaning, and permanently closing the 22 underground liquid radioactive waste tanks at the Savannah River Site is likely to cost significantly more and take longer than estimated............more than $600 million of this increase is due to increased funding needed to make up for significant losses suffered by Savannah River Site workers' pension plans as a result of the recent economic crisis"

What?HuhHuh??

[Already Gone]

What part don't you get?  SRS employees pension plans got shredded along with everyone else's.  In order for SRS to pay out the pensions, they need another $600million.

Fortunately for them, their pensions are covered by contract.  Everybody else lost our pensions years ago and are looking at 401(k) balances that ain't what they were supposed to be.

They get to retire, we don't.

[BetaAnt]

Just came on the news this afternoon that SRNS will be laying off 1400 people that were paid with ARRA bucks. 
They are asking for volunteers for RIFing next year. These are house positions, not rent-a-techs. 
I have no idea how the mix will play out. They didn't have that many worker bees before ARRA. 

 

[BetaAnt]

Here's the article and link.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2010-11-10/srs-work-force-be-reduced-1400-employees?v=1289432509

 

[MrHazmat]

Here's the article and link.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2010-11-10/srs-work-force-be-reduced-1400-employees?v=1289432509

 

We were told by a VP that the 1400 did not include any ARRA JOBS!!!!!!!!!!  I guess they are just going to leave the managers and hire subs to do all the work?

[steelbeam]

I know the locals at SRS will not bury their heads in the sand over another mass-layoff, and I hate to be redundant, but the ARRA money will be pulled and the GAO will not give their approval for any more tax-payer wasted money on these "clean-up/austerity preserving" efforts.

See the interesting read below, It's only a matter of time:

Nuclear Waste: Actions Needed to Address Persistent Concerns with Efforts to Close Underground Radioactive Waste Tanks at DOE's Savannah River Site
(http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-816) GAO-10-816 September 14, 2010

"Emptying, cleaning, and permanently closing the 22 underground liquid radioactive waste tanks at the Savannah River Site is likely to cost significantly more and take longer than estimated............more than $600 million of this increase is due to increased funding needed to make up for significant losses suffered by Savannah River Site workers' pension plans as a result of the recent economic crisis"

This actually is the best time to be at SRS, watching the much hated nepotism fall apart. What a show!!

[GA boy from PA]

300 took voluntary retirement from SRNS, now they are looking for the other 1100.  Not going to be a good year down at SRS.  Lots of costs overuns and management problems.  They lost several million due to the accidents.  Guess that's what DoE gets for bringing in a company that has no clue what they are doing.

[snowman]

Any idea what they offered as an incentive to get folks to take early retirement?

[HenryBlack]

One weeks pay for every year of service.

[MrHazmat]

One weeks pay for every year of service.

Up to 26 weeks Max.

[Rennhack]

Not even a goodbye luncheon! (LOL!)

If you ever visit DC Cook/Palisades, I'll buy you lunch.

[gravy58]

Hey Sun Dumb, If I was the instructor I would tell you to kiss my a$$. For myself kiss my a$$!. Savannah is screwing everyone, everyway they can, and it always rolls down hill, and I'm sure you will be one of the biggest criers when it happens to you. The man should worry about his health, but I'm sure he's thinking about, "what good is health If you don't have an income?" He's was doing his job best he could, instead of taking your attitude and sitting on his a$$, with no tools, not getting his lesson accross and shouldn't care as long as SRS is paying him.
SRS in it's Hay day had 25,000 people. Aiken now has 30,000 people total, 5 or 6 thousand at SRS. One third of them will be gone sometime this year. Do the math!. This part of South Carolina should go back to growing cotton and tell their employees that they should be thankful for even having a job. The South will rise again, riding lawn tractors, caring shotguns and demanding more money from the government for gas and ammo.

[gravy58]

As a Licensed private practice attorney,worth my weight, I would not take a JOB as a court appointed attorney.
As a Licensed private practice physician, I would not take a JOB as a DOE Doctor.
As a individual I would respect the advise of a private MD over a Savannah River DOE Doc.

[gravy58]

Regardless of his condition and advise, after 12 years the man was rudely fired, without concerns of his future and his contributions for the years served.

[azkidd]

Sun Dumb, you are such an idiot!  Such an ass!  You are pathetic!  You remind me of a member called "Blackballed Snake" that was once bounced from this site for the same type of Rhetoric you type.  It is as if you are trying to be a "Broadzilla" type of personality...  It doesn't work! Broadzilla is a one of a kind, but makes better sense of things!  You... useless! Stop with your ridiculous input!

[techtoolong]

This is not the Navy.  I agree with Instructor.  That is some rude behavior and I am a Yankee.

[Iceman24601]

Wow!  Sun Dog, you touched a few nerves.     Let's get a few facts out there for those who do not live in South Carolina.  This is a "no fault" state which means if your employer wants to fire you they do not need to have a reason even if the employee is "not at fault."  And yes, I do believe the SRS doctor was erring on the safe side with his employer's best interests in mind.  SRS was tactless, rude, and heartless to kick a man when he was down but instead of dragging anything out they cut the cord (not meant to be a medical pun).  Where I work we've been placed in the same position of informing an employee not to do something to exacerbate the situation even if his primary physician said he could.  This is not only in that individual's best interest but his coworkers, too.  As stated earlier, it has cost SRS millions in lost money and time due to injuries on site.  I would like to say that where I work we would not be so crude as to clean out someone's desk while he's in the hospital.  SRS is at fault for that but don't hate Sun Dog for pointing out that SRS not only has to worry about the individual but the entire workforce.  If you feel wronged and are able to, sue and good luck!

[BetaAnt]

I guess the SunDog/SunDumb posts must have been so onerous that they deserved to be deleted. But it begs to losing the translation when only one side of the conversation is heard or posted. 
On to news from SRS.
DeNuke is bringing in 28+ people for the TRU project.  More rent-a-techs. 
Surprise layoffs are scheduled for house people next month. 
20% reduction in house radcon has been proposed. 
RPM quit, RC facility mgr. retires, and couple of good RC supervisors retire/quit for better offers.
Per Diem issues are still so f***ed up. 
One tech hasn't been paid PD since Oct. and another had his PD pulled due to a $0.52 error in the paperwork. The PD inquisition is still alive and well at SR Nuclear Solutions. 
As the DeNuke job posting reads "Documentation required and proof of eligibility to receive per diem must be flawless." 

Good luck in the future,

BA 

[snowman]

I spent 5 years at SRS in the '90's so I speak from a little experience. Even a place as unusual as Savannah River I'd be shocked if they're bringing in rent-a-techs and laying off house techs at the same time. It used to take 6 months to get a technician there fully qualified and trained. Why would they lay off fully trained house techs who know the procedures and how SRS likes RadCon to be performed just to turn around and bring in a bunch of newbies. Something here isn't passing the snicker test. Sounds like DeNuke is fishing for resumes to put a proposal together.

[Content1]

I saw on the posts that SR pays $54 after 31 days, with $20 for food.   Are rooms available at that rate and can you eat even at Mc Donalds for $20 per day?   Are people short of the desperate taking this?  If you are maintaining another home, I don't think I could afford to take such a job, essentially losing on the traveling pay as this one is described.   Am I alone in such thinking?

[Sun Dog]

I saw on the posts that SR pays $54 after 31 days, with $20 for food.   Are rooms available at that rate and can you eat even at Mc Donalds for $20 per day?   Are people short of the desperate taking this?  If you are maintaining another home, I don't think I could afford to take such a job, essentially losing on the traveling pay as this one is described.   Am I alone in such thinking?

For the minimum requirements of a HS dimploma and three years of experience, grossing $1750 on a 40 hr week for swinging a meter ain't that bad.  Especially when you figure 30% of that $1750 is untaxed.

But, if you don't need the cash, wait for the back up contract - it will be more lucrative - sure it will.

[BetaAnt]

House techs have a project billing rate of $85+/hr and are very hard to get rid of (not to mention the 6 month school and 2yrs+ to get up to speed for independent job coverage). 
Rent-a-Techs have a project billing of ~$50/hr and can be disposed (without question and warning) at the end of the project (also qualified for independent job coverage within 2 months). 

Do the math. RATs are cheaper and easier to get rid of in a right-to-work state. House techs take HR and a documented record be get rid of. With the RIF, house techs can be laid-off without the usual paperwork. 

This is corporate math plain and simple. Cut back the RP techs without justification while you can . House techs can be rehired as RATs later on and disposed of as necessary later. 

We are all numbers and project cost assets. As a project manager stated last year "run them till they break".

Good luck, BA 

[Content1]

For the minimum requirements of a HS dimploma and three years of experience, grossing $1750 on a 40 hr week for swinging a meter ain't that bad.  Especially when you figure 30% of that $1750 is untaxed.

But, if you don't need the cash, wait for the back up contract - it will be more lucrative - sure it will.

It is more than 3 years of experience, that is the minimum and if you are a traveling tech it takes more like 8 + years to get the 3 years, and we do more than "swing a meter."   In many sites it takes at least 6 months to get fully trained at a DOE site.  The question was not if $1750 gross is a good salary, it is the net a traveler lives on and if you are truly spending more than $54 per day for a room and more than $20/day on food, then all you earn is the $28/hr gross but netting $800 per week which you pay for your expenses to maintain a far away home plus daily travel to and from work.  The $3.5 hr for medical coverage is insufficient to pay for any plan, even under Obama care.   If you state it is a great income, yes, it is better then starving in the street as most incomes are, but a traveler who is trained above "Swinging a meter" which sounds more like a deconner who empties the trash, is a trained professional who we collectively give the responsibility to keep themselves and the public safe.

[Smart People]

Sounds like DeNuke is fishing for resumes to put a proposal together.

Denuke does have the contract. their request for resumes is to fill real positions.

http://denuke.com/press-releases/press-release-srns-awards-radiological-control-support-subcontract-to-denuke-for-tru-project-support/

[BetaAnt]

@ MARRSIM,

Today, the Savannah River Site is part of the Department of Energy (DOE) complex and is managed and operated by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC (SRNS). SRNS is a consortium of Fluor Daniel, Northrup Grumman, and Honeywell. DOE may own the site but SRNS calls the shots. DOE has already bought off on the RIF plan. It is up to SRNS to implement the plan. DOE has always kept hands out of the site operations as long as it is operated legally (not necessarily ethically and morally). SRNS has been bleeding money and is trying to reduce overhead costs. Management and RP will be reduced. RP is one of the few organizations that can advance to a grade 20. Operators were reduced (attrition) to grade 18. A few topped-out, grade 20 RPs draw bigger paychecks than their First Line Manager when overtime (20hrs +) is worked. SRNS wants to change this.

BA 

[uRiaL]

 :- :(A little correction beta-ant,no tech has received per diem since OCT.,It's a ongoing process  I GUESS

[05Dyna]

No you are not alone in thinking that people filling these positions would be losing money unless they share a room with 50 other people and eat beans every day. What has happened to our (Health Physics) profession when we are classified as meter swingers only. Most of the technicians I work with have years of educational experience and use a lot more judgement than putting pen to paper. This is why we as a whole get treated as just above decon material.

[Sun Dog]

No you are not alone in thinking that people filling these positions would be losing money unless they share a room with 50 other people and eat beans every day. What has happened to our (Health Physics) profession when we are classified as meter swingers only. Most of the technicians I work with have years of educational experience and use a lot more judgement than putting pen to paper. This is why we as a whole get treated as just above decon material.

It may be tough, but try not take it as a personal attack if someone refers to an RP/HP technician as a meter swinger.  To some, that is a term of endearment.  Or, if someone says the only delta between a deconner and an RP is an ink pen (I always thought it was the wrist watch).  They are using an old adage, usually in an attempt at being funny.  They rarely mean it as an insult to either the deconner or the HP.  Refer to a sailor as a squid...not an insult to most.  Refer to a carpenter as a saw jockey or scaffologist...no problem...craft in general as knuckle draggers...ok with that? Pencil pushers, sparkies, jarheads, wingnuts, pipefighters, ironheads, grunts, mop&glo techs, millwrongs...relax, it is not that bad.

You must admit, the overwhelming majority of job responsibilities for an HP/RP technician are not very challenging.  It is not because the individual technician is incapable of doing more, they are just not needed to do more.

[Content1]

It may be tough, but try not take it as a personal attack if someone refers to an RP/HP technician as a meter swinger.  To some, that is a term of endearment.  Or, if someone says the only delta between a deconner and an RP is an ink pen (I always thought it was the wrist watch).  They are using an old adage, usually in an attempt at being funny.  They rarely mean it as an insult to either the deconner or the HP.  Refer to a sailor as a squid...not an insult to most.  Refer to a carpenter as a saw jockey or scaffologist...no problem...craft in general as knuckle draggers...ok with that? Pencil pushers, sparkies, jarheads, wingnuts, pipefighters, ironheads, grunts, mop&glo techs, millwrongs...relax, it is not that bad.

You must admit, the overwhelming majority of job responsibilities for an HP/RP technician are not very challenging.  It is not because the individual technician is incapable of doing more, they are just not needed to do more.

If all we had to do was swing a meter, they could fashion up some kind of Ibot to vacuum and do our job at the same time.   What we actually do is support work where the radiological conditions are known, but not a "for sure" situations and when something goes wrong we know what to do.   Yes, if you know for sure what everything was going to be you could use a deconner.  If things can get out of hand you have experienced people who take control, like a spill, equipment failure and contaminated personnel.   You might say Chernobyl was using deconners who used a dust mask to try to limit uptake.   If you run your facility with the low caliber of people you are stating, you will have a similar result.   The ranks of the Senior Rad Techs are also engineers, lawyers, teachers, who do their traveling work on the side or are taking a break from other careers.   I have been to law school and have held a teaching credential, and I choose to work in the field to make it better and the pay is OK.

[Already Gone]

No you are not alone in thinking that people filling these positions would be losing money unless they share a room with 50 other people and eat beans every day. What has happened to our (Health Physics) profession when we are classified as meter swingers only. Most of the technicians I work with have years of educational experience and use a lot more judgement than putting pen to paper. This is why we as a whole get treated as just above decon material.

Unfortunately, we are usually judged by the lowest common denominator.  There are those (and have been for a while) who would object to you ever referring to your job as "Health Physics".  HP is a scientific/technical field.  Radiation Protection is a procedural driven field, with only minimal technical/scientific knowledge required.  It has been so always.  Many RP techs have HP level skills and knowledge.  But an "HP" who is doing an "RP" level job is rarely distinguished from the RP who is barely getting by "swinging a meter" -- until something unexpected happens.  That is when you differentiate the Oxen from the Bulls.
Picasso could paint a barn red, but not everyone holding a brush is a Picasso, and nobody expects to find one painting a barn anyway.  So, don't take it so hard.  You, and the people who matter, know your capabilities.  Everyone else is just making noise.

[05Dyna]

You misunderstood the statement. It was decon material (crap, trash,etc) not decon techs I was referring to. I respect decon personnel since I started out in that position years ago and work with some of the best now.

[Sun Dog]

If all we had to do was swing a meter, they could fashion up some kind of Ibot to vacuum and do our job at the same time.  

Be careful what you say out loud.  They may hear you and start working on that gadget if the aren't already.

Look how "improvements" in technology have eliminated or reduced the need for scores of RP techs.  The PED (aka tech-in-a-box) has all but eliminated the need for constant coverage in high rad areas.  The PED and self service dosimetry kiosks have eliminated many dosimetry tech positions.  The SAM allows even the greenest NUB to release material from the RCA.  The current generation of portal monitors have made the the WBC all but obsolete.  The use of cameras, communication devices, and computers have even further reduced the number of RP Techs we need.

Throw in the softer administrative type changes that have been implemented over the years and the numbers of RP techs required to support a site are further reduced.  Back in the day, it was not uncommon to see multiple Jr RP Techs and a few Seniors employed solely to support the use of respirators.  Wash them, survey them, maintain them, issue them, train people to wear them, etc.  Now, we rarely wear respirators so those jobs have vanished.  Nothing has really changed other than the industry finally realized it was not working smartly.  RP Techs used to double as GET Instructors during ramp up.  Now we use CBT and hire a couple of proctors to process hundreds of temporary outage workers through the training maze.  Perhaps CBT is not an improvement when you look at the instructional value, but it is certainly more efficient and requires less labor (RP techs) to manage than a GET program that relies on classroom settings.

Nobody is saying that RP techs are not smart.  Most are very smart.  But if you are honest with yourself, and us, you'll come to the conclusion that the RP tech does not have a really difficult or challenging job.  Trust me, I know.

[hamsamich]

I don't agree.  I think once you get to be a high-experience senior rp then yes, it is fairly easy most of the time.  But I've seen many newbie's eyes get big when they have to do crazy hi contam/ hi rad job coverage, or go cover cavity decon, help with diver ops near fuel.  Stuff like that, there is plenty more.  Knowing all the ins and outs to make decisions in complex, different, and ever changing radiological environments is fairly tough, for me anyway.   Plus contract technicians have to know more than one way to do it right according to the site they are at.  I was at north anna one year and we had some techs who had the experience on paper but couldn't do the job.  They panicked and let the pressure get to them.  Some hid, some tried and failed (multiple dose alarms for one ex-rad engineer with little field experience).  If it was as simple as you say, I don't think these people would have failed so badly or ran away.  Have I seen and been on easy jobs?  Plenty, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of hard ones out there as well.  It can be a daunting job at times.  I'll admit there are plenty of times I was uneasy with what I was asked to do but got enough of it right not to ever be sat in a corner.  Doable yes, easy in some situations, yes, never difficult or challenging, no.  You may be the bees knees sundog, and more power to you, but for the average HP tech, is this job really that simple?  If you say yes, I don't think you are looking at it from the average tech's point of view considering the varying difficulty of jobs out there.

[hamsamich]

wow we are way off topic.  I like working at the tank farm at SRS and so far don't feel threatened or unhappy in my own little world.  sorry it is so bad for the SRNS people, hope it doesn't come our way.

[Content1]

I don't agree.  I think once you get to be a high-experience senior rp then yes, it is fairly easy most of the time.  But I've seen many newbie's eyes get big when they have to do crazy hi contam/ hi rad job coverage, or go cover cavity decon, help with diver ops near fuel.  Stuff like that, there is plenty more.  Knowing all the ins and outs to make decisions in complex, different, and ever changing radiological environments is fairly tough, for me anyway.   Plus contract technicians have to know more than one way to do it right according to the site they are at.  I was at north anna one year and we had some techs who had the experience on paper but couldn't do the job.  They panicked and let the pressure get to them.  Some hid, some tried and failed (multiple dose alarms for one ex-rad engineer with little field experience).  If it was as simple as you say, I don't think these people would have failed so badly or ran away.  Have I seen and been on easy jobs?  Plenty, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of hard ones out there as well.  It can be a daunting job at times.  I'll admit there are plenty of times I was uneasy with what I was asked to do but got enough of it right not to ever be sat in a corner.  Doable yes, easy in some situations, yes, never difficult or challenging, no.  You may be the bees knees sundog, and more power to you, but for the average HP tech, is this job really that simple?  If you say yes, I don't think you are looking at it from the average tech's point of view considering the varying difficulty of jobs out there.

Way to put it.  This may seem off topic, but it came up about the pay at SR did not pay enough due to the inherent nature of a Senior, like at SR, and contrary to being a cakewalk job anyone can do, it does takes skill to do the job there as any DOE site, and to get the better workers you need to pay compensation to attract them.   Sundog went off on a rendition of how easy it is to be a Senior so any pay is overpaid, not recognizing the reality to do a good job it takes brains and experience to be ready to handle whatever the job may throw at you.

[Sun Dog]

Sun Dog went off on a rendition of how easy it is to be a Senior so any pay is overpaid...

Wrong.

It is obvious that some Senior Techs think their job is difficult and they are underpaid, just like some cashiers at Wal-Mart believe they have a difficult job and are underpaid.  Both may be right.   

What I said was that $1750/week for a 40-hour/week job, any 40-hour/week job, that requires nothing more than a HS diploma (or GED) and 3 years of experience is pretty damn good, whether you are counting smears or counting change.

Remember, you are paid for performing a specific function that you are told to do.  Not for a function you are capable of doing.  Big delta.

[Marlin]

Remember, you are paid for performing a specific function that you are told to do.  Not for a function you are capable of doing.  Big delta.

   Very sad if that is what HP techs have degraded to. If reading a meter and taking a smear at someones direction is what you believe is the task of a technician, I am very glad I moved on some years ago. Evaluation of the hazards incident to material was the job at one time. We did this by measuring the presence, type and quantity of radiation and contamination and by understanding the principals of radiation interaction. The evaluation was also done by experience and monitoring of work in progress. What you describe would have been the job of a junior technician who lacked education or experience or both.


   Somehow I would believe that it has not changed that much, there have always been those who stepped up to the plate and cared about their job and those who were along for the ride.

[Sun Dog]

   Very sad if that is what HP techs have degraded to. If reading a meter and taking a smear at someones direction is what you believe is the task of a technician, I am very glad I moved on some years ago.

It is sad.  Beginning circa 1989, the decision making portion of the job began being surgically removed.  It has snow balled to what we have today...95% of the technician's functions are scripted, often by folks who never clipped a pocket ion chamber to their PC's let alone know how to zero one.  Thinking on your feet, intuition, and common sense have all given way to robotic-like functions that can be be performed by a 3-year wonder senior as effectively as it can be by a 30-year super senior, more so probably.

You should be glad you saw the writing on the wall and moved on.

[OldHP]

   Very sad if that is what HP techs have degraded to.

It is sad.  Beginning circa 1989, the decision making portion of the job began being surgically removed.  It has snow balled to what we have today...95% of the technician's functions are scripted, often by folks who never clipped a pocket ion chamber to their PC's let alone know how to zero one.  Thinking on your feet, intuition, and common sense have all given way to robotic-like functions that can be be performed by a 3-year wonder senior as effectively as it can be by a 30-year super senior, more so probably.

Actually it began: commercial with the creation of INPO (post TMI)and the push for definitave procedures; DOE the publication of 10CFR835 and the direction to create definititive procedures.  This aided and abbeted by the EEI "Human Factors" in procedures created an "IF" statement in the proceduralized mind - "If it is not 'this way' call your supervisor. And for the supervisor on up.  Thus if it is not something you have ever seen before the tech on the floor can now take him/her self out of it and stay within the 'book'!

[OldHP]

Sorry, but how did this topic degrade to this?   

[Marlin]

Sorry, but how did this topic degrade to this?  

But still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing there
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Sorry still  

Here is the start of this long and winding road.

The Savannah River Site is dead. It is a dry hole. The money is gone (mis-spent). $100M in the hole and heads up the nether regions.  All the jobs are out west. GO WEST, YOUNG MAN, WEST!!!!!!!!

BA

[BetaAnt]

Now it's getting vicious. SRS is prosecuting RATs for per diem issues. I'll post more when it goes to trial.

http://www2.wjbf.com/news/2011/feb/04/two-srs-contract-workers-facing-federal-embezzleme-ar-1424949/

BA 

[Fixin2]

My experience with SRNS was a good one.  Best I have had in years.  SRNS manager was a super guy and gave me ample notice of my impending layoff, even though he didn't have to (and wasn't supposed to). I believe in speaking out when I have something positive to say as well as when I have something negative to say. 

[SloGlo]

Now it's getting vicious. SRS is prosecuting RATs for per diem issues. I'll post more when it goes to trial.

http://www2.wjbf.com/news/2011/feb/04/two-srs-contract-workers-facing-federal-embezzleme-ar-1424949/

BA 

dat's a hole bunch of change four per diem issue...

[jkj]

Sorry, but how did this topic degrade to this?   

i think the topic improved.

[jkj]

wow we are way off topic.  I like working at the tank farm at SRS and so far don't feel threatened or unhappy in my own little world.  sorry it is so bad for the SRNS people, hope it doesn't come our way.

naw, this new topic is the best i've seen on nuke----and don't feel too bad for SRNS--I'm in SRNS  and I heard it's heading your way

[metalman40]

Money aside, which facility is the TRU project working? Is it in one or both canyons or the over at solid waste?

[Smart People]

E area burial ground

[metalman40]

Who is supervising the project?

[namlive]

Money aside, which facility is the TRU project working? Is it in one or both canyons or the over at solid waste?

Parts of the TRU project are being worked at the burial ground, and at both canyons. In fact today on SRS news they had a blurb claiming they did their highest curie box to date without incident, meaning no one got jabbed and filed a lawsuit, as if that could ever happen at the safest plant in the universe of all time, space, and dimension. Roy Windham is the facility manager of the burial ground and TRU project. I believe he is the main guy who looks at resumes.

[jkj]

No one here, gets out alive.

[pbooth]

   BEWARE OF SRS FOLKS !  REMEMBER THE FAMOUS ROADTECH SAYING
         NO PERDEUM,  NO SEE EM ! Enough Said !

[moochiebubble]

 Avoid F canyon like the plague

[pbooth]

   Hey, did any of you guys jump on the Lower Three Run Project @ SRS ?
I heard there wouldn't be any perdeum and conditions would be less than
desireable. How can they expect us to take a job, such as that without
deum? They know we all have homes and families to support, let alone
living in HIGH PRICE Aiken ! HELLO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE !

[thenukeman]

They will just make local burger flippers juniors and have a few seniors watch them.  Thats the way it is.

[Already Gone]

   Hey, did any of you guys jump on the Lower Three Run Project @ SRS ?
I heard there wouldn't be any perdeum and conditions would be less than
desireable. How can they expect us to take a job, such as that without
deum? They know we all have homes and families to support, let alone
living in HIGH PRICE Aiken ! HELLO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE !

Yeah, because anyone who has had the words "per diem" on his pay check stub for years, and still writes "perdeum" on the interwebs is  such an indispensable tech that the coffee just NEEDS to be smelled here ! People !
Seriously, you are talking about a job, not a welfare program.  Your home and family are YOUR responsibility - not theirs.  You take the job, with or without per diem, or somebody else will.  The burger flippers will do just fine as long as somebody tells them where to point the meter.

[gravy58]

Thats sounds like typical SRS thinking. Theres no need for experience SR. RP. Techs. to come to SRS, leave their family's behind and work with no Per Diem and the lowest pay in the country. When they can hire burger flippers to work at their nuclear government site and have the local House Monkeys who don't seem to know much more keep and eye on them.

[pbooth]

Hey I may have not been correct in my spelling, TRUE !  And I don"t need you to tell me that or to attack me !
You don't know me or know of me ! To attack me, like you did , show's our community your mannerism.
Thank you for correcting me, you need to lighten-up a little !

[Already Gone]

And you totally miss the point.

Let me say it plainly...

Quit your bitching about per diem.  Per diem is not a right.  It isn't even an entitlement.  That's right.  You are not entitled to per diem.  Out of 330,000,000 people in the USA, about 329,950,000 of them have never gotten a single per diem check.  Not once.
A job does not come with per diem.
If you can't afford to take the job without getting per diem, then don't take the job.  The project just might collapse into failure for the lack of you, but it is doubtful.  The company has the right to make that horrible mistake if they want to.  It's not your business how they treat their employees unless you are one of them.  If you ARE one of them, it means that you took the job without per diem.  If so, it is too late to bitch about it.  If not, why should you care?

So, they won't get good techs.  Not your problem.  So they will have to fix a lot of mistakes that the locals make.  Again, not your problem.  Some other poor sap took the job without per diem.  Still, (need it even be said?) NOT YOUR FRIGGIN PROBLEM.

To answer your question directly:  Nobody expects you to take this job if you don't want it.  Now, go brew yourself a pot of coffee.  Better make yours decaf, 'cause it ain't me who needs to lighten up.

[Rennhack]

With all the cuts in super fund clean ups, clean ups ending, stimulus funds ended; there are more technicians looking for work today than there is work available.

Gone are the $37/hr jobs, and welcome back $28/hr jobs.

[johnnieslingshot]

Booth, I feel for you man, but I have to agree the per diem subject for this site is just a waste of time.  The lackeys here will never change.  They would rather save a few bucks on diem and getting crappy, barely qualified subs so that they can spend  extravagantly on other things.  And, as a result, the house pukes here can still feed their superiority complex.  I only put up with it here because SC is my home.  I will be out of here as soon as I can get a house commercial job.  Contact me on my private email.

[pbooth]

Whatever alreadygone ! NOBODY ASKED YOU ANYWAY !

[retired nuke]

With all the cuts in super fund clean ups, clean ups ending, stimulus funds ended; there are more technicians looking for work today than there is work available.

Gone are the $37/hr jobs, and welcome back $28/hr jobs.

Thus, I have not regretted going house 10+ years ago. I enjoyed the road when I was there, but I likes being home at night. Taking 20 Cub Scouts camping this weekend, launching Estes rockets with them Thursday. Can't do that from the road... and perdiem don't make up for being away...

[RDTroja]

Whatever alreadygone ! NOBODY ASKED YOU ANYWAY !

You are whining on a public forum. That automatically invites others to comment. If you don't like the comments, either don't post, or don't read the replies.

But I do love the brilliant, well spoken comeback!

[Mike_Koehler]

and perdiem don't make up for being away...

Amen brother..... to you

[hotwing]

I must be one of them Burger flippers!!!! I've been here five years AND not on Obama money,ARRA money or stimulus money, whatever you want to call it. Yes SRS has it's problems, but what site doesn't? I spent five years at Fernald and survived!!! The pay here is comparable to other sites and no deum. As for that, If I wanted it I would have gone somewhere else for work. I agree with many comments posted before mine, but like most sites, complacency has become a problem here as well as other sites.You have "house" techs that have been for years that are worthless and you have techs here that are very vauable. How's the saying go? "take it with a grain of sand" it is what it is, but it's up to you to make the change,don't like the scenery, change it and work somewhere else. Us burger flippers will do just fine without you!

[RDTroja]

I must be one of them Burger flippers!!!! I've been here five years AND not on Obama money,ARRA money or stimulus money, whatever you want to call it. Yes SRS has it's problems, but what site doesn't? I spent five years at Fernald and survived!!! The pay here is comparable to other sites and no deum. As for that, If I wanted it I would have gone somewhere else for work. I agree with many comments posted before mine, but like most sites, complacency has become a problem here as well as other sites.You have "house" techs that have been for years that are worthless and you have techs here that are very vauable. How's the saying go? "take it with a grain of sand" it is what it is, but it's up to you to make the change,don't like the scenery, change it and work somewhere else. Us burger flippers will do just fine without you!

As a burger flipper, you should know that you take it with a grain of salt... please keep the sand out of the burgers.

[pbooth]

It's all good folks !Now let me go flip some burgers ! LOL

[MrHazmat]

2 more poor souls

Two indicted on charges of fraud at SRS

Updated: 6/7/2012 9:52 AM

By ANNA DOLIANITIS – Staff writer

Two men were federally indicted this week on unrelated allegations that they submitted fraudulent per diem claims to the Department of Energy at the Savannah River Site.

Richard Turner, 36, of Columbia, N.C., was charged in a two-count indictment with theft of government funds and making false statements to the government, for allegedly turning in false documentation to support his claim for eligibility for per diem payments, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Joseph Quinton, 51, of Augusta, was charged in a six-count indictment with one count of theft of government funds and five counts of making false statements to the government, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The indictment alleges that Quinton received per diem payments by submitting certifications that falsely claimed that, while working at SRS, he maintained a permanent residence in Florida.

Quinton could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the theft charge and up to five years in prison for making false statements.

He also faces fines up to $250,000 on each of the counts.

Turner could receive up to five years for making false statements and 10 years for theft of government funds.

The indictments are not the first federal cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for charges related to fraud at SRS.

In the past two years, the U.S. Attorney's Office has worked with DOE's Office of Investigations to investigate schemes related to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.

The previous investigations resulted in criminal convictions as well as civil settlements, and the recovery of more than $1 million, of which more than $700,000 was ARRA funding.

Turner and Quinton's cases were investigated by agents of DOE's Office of Inspector General.

The Aiken Standard did not have access to photos of Turner and Quinton, who were indited on federal charges.

[RP Instructor]

Hmmm....it would appear that, having been at SRS under the ARRA,  I had better maintain all my documentation for the next seven (7) years.

[BetaAnt]

And other news from SRS.....

The SRNS employee seniority system is being re-evaluated (i.e. TOSSED) to allow flexibility in site manpower management.

The House Mouses are HOT!!! All that time, all the BS, all the butt-kissing, is all to waste.   

Nobody has ever asked the question about what happened to the money made from the sale of the employees recreation area ($1.2M+)
Nobody has asked why SRNS management wasn't prosecuted for dipping into ARRA funds ($100M+ and prohibited by the Act).

Why ask questions when you can indict a ham sandwich (old legal quote - 'A good DA could indict a ham sandwich') or a poorly financed rent-a-tech.

Just some random thoughts.  BA 

[Camella Black]

Sad. I don't understand for the life of me why they just don't raise the pay and do away with the diem and hire locally; not that this is any reason for someone to steal.... why in the world anyone would risk getting caught rather than travel out of state is beyond me!

[Ksheed]

Giving false documents to receive per diem has been around since the beginning of ...per diem. It happens all the time. Some get caught and some do not. Evidentally at DOE sites you will be prosecuted. If you are willing to take the risk, then you must accept the punishment.




Edited for grammer error that spell check didn't catch.

[Safety Matt]

Edited for grammer error that spell check didn't catch.

A classic.  Thanks.

[jkj]

The House Mouses are HOT!!!

 Really?--Actually, I think they're all pretty much butt-ugly.

[61nomad]

I've seen a couple of postings for RCTs with no per diem.  Does anybody know what the pay rate will be?  How do they get enough local hires to pass the CORE test?  Not implying anything, just heard that SRS had a hard CORE test (at least they used to).  I would consider it if it payed in the low $30s/hr.

[Rennhack]

How do they get enough local hires to pass the CORE test?

There are a lot of local RCT's there, all able to pass the RCT test.  The wage is FANTASTIC for the area, where others are getting $8/hr with their high school diploma, $28 looks like a dream job.  They can even afford to go out for dinner one night a week.

[61nomad]

If they tell you the job will last less than a year you can write off a lot of your expenses as long as you have a main place of residence somewhere else.  Not as good as per diem but better than nothing.

[Content1]

If they have no per diem and you do not live in the area, you have to deduct from what they pay you to get a net pay rate the cost of a hotel room and travel to and from work.  Even if you can deduct it later, money back on your taxes is speculative at best.  In my case, it would not be worth it, unless I planned to move there.  There are other lines of work or jobs within the industry if you are that desperate for a job.  I seek Bartlett is advertizing for techs there without per diem.  The problem I see if you are out of town and not getting per diem, there is no incentive to stay there when a per diem job you like comes up.  Bartlett would not penalize you for acting in your own best interest.  You never have a permanent job there, and if the funding is cut you will be dropped like a lead Zepplin.  The old saying is true, no diem, no see-um.

[61nomad]

Yep Content1, I agree (except for sentence #7).  DOE jobs without per diem will be a revolving door of RCTs.  But heh, DOE is not run like a business and efficiency does not really enter into the picture.  Still no answer on the pay rate?  I assume it is not union so each company can pay differently?  And different scales within the company depending on experience?  Just trying to get some background before I make a call myself.

[Smart People]

Just trying to get some background before I make a call myself.

The best thing to do is make that call yourself. This forum is great for speculation. Go to the source for pay rates. You can always call, get the info, and say "Hmmm.....not for me". That is one they won't hold against you.

[nukecheese]

There are a lot of local RCT's there, all able to pass the RCT test.  The wage is FANTASTIC for the area, where others are getting $8/hr with their high school diploma, $28 looks like a dream job.  They can even afford to go out for dinner one night a week.

The first new rad tech class at Aiken Tech was 12.  Then the site made a big deal in a news conference out of saying they would hire the whole class.  The next class was 63 strong.  SRNS only has about 450 RCTs.

[tolstoy]

The first new rad tech class at Aiken Tech was 12.  Then the site made a big deal in a news conference out of saying they would hire the whole class.  The next class was 63 strong.  SRNS only has about 450 RCTs.

A very similar thing happened at Hanford. A program was started at the local CC years ago which fed a few folks into the system. They recently ramped up for the 'nuclear renaissance' and most of those pre-techs are hoping like heck for their first junior job somewhere.

[johnnieslingshot]

I was in the very first RadTech class at Aiken Tech.  I remember very well the day I read in the local newspaper that the Head Rad Cheese at the time boldly stated that SRNS had room to hire every one of the first graduating classes.  I am not sure how many of the second class they hired but from the first only 5 got direct hired.  Then 2.5 years later they ALL get laid off because the site finished soooo many projects ahead of their initial completion dates (thanks to Obama) stimulus money.  Now here's a big kick in the a## ..... all of the techs SRNS laid off last Augusts were offered sub-contract jobs right after they signed their final debriefing papers.  Most went right back to work at the very same places for the very same supervisors.  I feel sorry for those who are in the Aiken Tech classes who are also being fed BS as to the likelyhood of ever being hired at SRS.  SRS management cannot be trusted.  They do not know what the heck they are doing.  The site is still very top heavy with chiefs  and all of the REAL workers only get a measly FREE lunch for all of their hard work when projects are finished early.  Working here pays the bills.  That is the only reason to ever come work here.  Pay the bills and support your family.

[MrHazmat]

Another one.... when will it end??
Aiken Standard: Man pleads guilty to defrauding Department of Energy
Publication date: 9/27/2012

An Augusta man is facing a prison term, and possibly an irate mother-in-law, after pleading guilty to defrauding the Department of Energy out of more than $30,000.

Joseph Quinton, 51, appeared in federal court in Columbia on Wednesday and admitted he fraudulently obtained $31,732 from a per diem scheme offered to out-of-state workers at the Savannah River Site.

Quinton claimed that he was maintaining a residence in Florida when working at the DOE site. He submitted copies of a lease, certifications that he resided at the Florida address, as well as a handwritten receipt for payment of rent. In court, he admitted that these documents were false.

Quinton's lie was caught when the resident of the Florida home was contacted by investigators. The resident, Quinton's mother-in-law, said that she had been the sole occupant of the home for the past decade and that she was not aware of her son-in-law's claims, according to testimony on Wednesday.

The defendant told the court that he admitted the charge as soon as it was brought to him by investigators. Adding that he signed a confession immediately.

Quinton could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the theft charge. He also faces a fine up to $250,000.

This plea is not the first federal case prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for charges related to fraud at SRS. A Graniteville man is expected to plead guilty to similar charges today with a hearing scheduled for 10:15 a.m.

In the past two years, the U.S. Attorney's Office has worked with DOE's Office of Investigations to investigate schemes related to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. The previous investigations resulted in criminal convictions as well as civil settlements, and the recovery of more than $1 million, of which more than $700,000 was ARRA funding, according to that office.

http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0927-DOE-Fraud

[MrHazmat]

Dang more people 

Aiken Standard:  SRS workers could face jail time after guilty pleas
Publication:  9/29/12

Three more former Savannah River Site employees could be headed to prison after being found guilty of fraudulently obtaining funds through a DOE per diem program.

Jefferey Richardson of Graniteville pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment Thursday and now awaits a sentencing date. He could face up to five years in federal prison and a substantial fine.

George Alan Dick, 52, of Loveland, Ohio, and Gary Don Erwin, 53, of Clifton, Texas, were charged with submitting approximately $54,800 in fraudulent expenses to DOE in February 2011.

On Aug. 3, Dick pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to defraud the government charge and has since aided the government to a point where they have asked for his sentence to be reduced.

Erwin fought his case but was found guilty by a jury in August.

In the two-count indictment, Dick and Erwin were charged with conspiracy to embezzle more than $1,000 belonging to the United States and embezzling more than $1,000 of government funds by unlawfully applying for and claiming per diem benefits paid by DOE.
Dick and Erwin were employed on-site under the subcontractor Astrid Contract Technical Services, according to DOE.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has asked a judge to give Dick a "downward departure" in the federal sentencing guidelines. He has also pleaded his own case in motions, in which he describes himself as a highly-skilled, experienced worker and a man who lives a simple life and enjoys working on his Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Dick cooperated with law enforcement when he was first approached about the charges in May 17, 2010, according to filings in the case. He admitted to committing the offenses, which were not charged until February, 2010. He was also given credit by the U.S. Attorney's Office as he did not contact counsel until after the date of the indictment.

"His cooperation with law enforcement and his not immediately retaining counsel suggests he was willing to cooperate with law enforcement further had they approached him in the eight months between the initial interview and indictment," filings state. "For these reasons, as well as those which will be more fully explained at sentencing, Dick moves this court for a downward departure."

No sentencing date has been set for any of the three defendants

[BetaAnt]

When are will the Feds indict SRNS management for misuse of gov't funds and fraud (~$100M)?   

When will the Feds indict the recruiter and procurement officers who promoted and hid the facts of these per diem cases?   

A recruiter in New Ellenton was raided and computers were seized. The recruiter promoted the per diem requests for known local techs and the procurement officer knew about the per diem fraud and covered. Neither was prosecuted. The procurement officer was still working at SRS, May 2012. The email evidence is on the SRS server backups (archived weekly and sent to repository in Atlanta, GA). I guess it’s too hard for a Fed prosecutor to dig for information in the federal archives. 

Instead of looking for the real criminals the low hanging fruit will suffice. Some have described SRS as being a dysfunctional organized crime family. I look at it as the new ‘Dixie Mafia’. People are promoted on social contacts instead of real abilities. Some people rise to the occasion. Others sit back to collect that check. A real top to bottom house flushing needs to be done. SRNS attempted the process once before (when WSRS lost the contract) but, the house cleaning was deflected to the unworthy promoted (massive SRS layoff 2009). Another SRS layoff is coming at the end of this year but, the top cockroaches will still survive. 

 

[moochiebubble]

Very true Beta Ant , Dixie Mafia ,  LOL