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

[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.