Current times

[oldhouseman]

Well, I got quiet a shock this morning. Upon coming into the office the staff was called into a meeting. It appears the State budget has gone south and massive cuts are being planned. We were given notice there will be staff cuts soon. All across the board.

Several staff members were called aside and told to prepare for the worst.

My partner and I talked and decided to stop work on the house for the next few months to cut back on expences and costs. I will finish work on the guest room because I have already bought the supplies but everything else comes to a halt until we are on safer ground. The other half planned on retiring next June but if I loose my post that could change things. He may go ahead and retire now so another staff member can keep their position.

We are certainly not hurting financially but the fact that the State is looking at massive cuts in a department like ours means things are getting serious.

Will and Dave I appreciate your help, you guys have been great. I will have the guest room done soon. If my post gets cut at least I will finally be able to leave Atlanta and do some entertaining at home before I pull down Ms. Ellens portiers to make a new outfit for job hunting!!

 

[panthera]

Greg,

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I hope they cut the jobs of all those who voted Republican first, they deserve it.

 

[maytagbear]

Greg-

This is very distressing. I hope neither of you are "rightsized" or whatever the current HR term is these days.

Best of luck.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[oldhouseman]

This is not

something that has to be done and that makes it a really sad thing. My "boss" is the Secretary of State and a republican. The Governor asked that all agencies cut 6% out of their budgets to make up for the shortfall. My good boss has her eye on running for Governor so she has decided to cut 12% to make her look good. She also looks at the Archives as an office that not needed in government.

We did the 6% and were able to keep all the staff. We can't with the 12% cut. This is the first time I have seen management get cut also.

I will remember for the rest of my life how republican politics put people out of work. I may be safe but I can't be certain. I know the last few people hired will go. Departments will be consolidated and managers will go also. My direct supervisor is up for the chopping block. People are going to jump ship pretty quick now rather than wait to be laid off. We were working with a skeleton staff as it was. Now services will definately go way down.

Good old republicanism at work! Bastards.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Our department is asked to make cuts every year, but then they turn around and give it back to us in supplementals. They just want to show taxpayers that they made cuts in an election year.

I hope it works out for you. I am surely hoping things get better after November.

Speaking politics: Hillary is requesting that the delegates be counted at the convention in Denver. I think the ole girl still has a shot I do.

 

[sudsmaster]

I used to work for a company which shall remain nameless which subscribed to the GE philosophy of cutting 10% of the workforce every year, whether it needed it or not. Of course, the cuts were not spread evenly out among the departments/teams. Some teams lost 75% of their staff; others, less than 10%. Oh well.

I think all these cutbacks, both in private industry and public sector, do not portend well for our nation's economy. I was listening to PBS the other day and one expert (didn't get his name) believes that we are headed on a downward path in terms of quality of life as compared to the rest of the world. It makes some sense; we have a huge national debt; our balance of trade is way out of whack; much of our manufacturing has gone overseas; the dollar is in what look to be chronic doldrums; the baby boomers are starting to retire and will draw down social security and medicare reserves, and the social security reserves need to be made up out of the general budget. Our vaunted productivity rests in large part on our disproportionate consumption of oil. One of the few positives is that we still have a fantastic agricultural base and lots of land and natural resources (other than oil). And of course we still lead, more or less, in the high tech and biotech sectors. But it seems to me that for most of my life, outside of a brief five or so years in the late 90's early 2000's, the economy has been one of progressively lower expectations.

All of this is not so bad if you think that the Europeans manage to do as much if not more than we with far fewer resources, and they have managed to achieve a higher quality of life for their citizens as well. Too much we equate happiness with accumulation of material wealth, whereas you can't take it with you; being able to stop and smell the roses, or the coffee, enjoying the few years we have on this planet without madly dashing about in ever more expensive private autos, etc... all amounts to what can be a more pleasant existence than our current way of life. It amazes me when people here look down their noses at the French and Germans because their houses and cars are smaller. As if that has anything to do with feeling good about life.

 

[frigilux]

It infuriates me that your "good boss" is willing to double the recommended cuts for her own political benefit. And where does she think the Archives office belongs if not as a part (and an important one) of state government?!

I certainly hope your jobs are spared, especially since you and your partner work in the same place. Hope that seniority will work to your benefit in this situation.

When are the exact cuts going to be announced? We'll keep our fingers crossed for both of you.

 

[j2400]

I hope your position will be spared. But I would suggest something you've already thought of: start considering New Options. Even if your position survives, the climate may be so unpleasant that you'll want to leave. Certainly the work load will be heavier--you'll have your job and part of the jobs of the 12% who go are terminated. And then, a good Republican will see that this was a Great Success, and decide on another 12% cut next year. And then another cut. And finally everyone will be living in the office. Sleeping maybe one hour a night. Spending the rest of the day working, aided by a constant caffeine IV drip. Meanwhile, the Republicans will be found on the golf course, cackling about how they made cutbacks.

 

[jeffg]

Years ago I watched as Carly Fiorina gutted Hewlett-Packard, sent 20,000 of the company's 50,000 U.S. jobs overseas to Asian sweatshops, all "to keep the company profitable", then proceeded to take $150 million in bonuses for herself and HP's other execs. The company's stock value went from $68 in 2000 to $12 by 2003.

Between salary, bonuses, options etc she received over $42 million just in her last year there (2005).

Gotta keep the company profitable, ya know?

 

[andrewinorlando]

Carly did singlehandedly almost destroy that company, and that's why they ousted here...two years too late though. All these great "leaders" who don't even know the meaning of the f'n word. They lead by their own wallets.

 

[mattl]

And so it goes...

The latest blurb is the McCain was instrumental in a deal with DHL that could result in up to 10,000 job losses in Ohio.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/08/plouffe-mccains-dhl-deal_n_117790.html

 

[maytagbear]

As if Ohio

can withstand more lost jobs!

Lawrence/OhioBear/Maytagbear

 

[sudsmaster]

Well, combined with McCain's refusal to support corn subsidies for the ethanol industry, maybe he'll lose Ohio after all.

But so far the polls show him with a 2 point lead over Obama in Ohio. Strange state. Even if Obama pulls ahead, not sure that their secretary of state will allow the voting machines to reflect that.

 

[oldhouseman]

Thanks Frigilux

..I appreciate your comments. Sometime in the next two weeks we will find out who is next on the bread line.

I do feel very sorry for our Director. He has a tough row to hoe right now. He is the one that has to make the list of who to let go. I have never seen him so pale and haggard. Because we are an Archives he knows what every person contributes. And he knows we are not a large staff. We all cover several areas.

I work several positions myself. My primary role is to do all telephone and mail reference, I work in the conservation lab to restore and repair books and paper. I am in the research library everyday to help people find the information they need. I work with the education department and public outreach. I am also the contact for the Attorney General's Office for death case's (that is not a nice role to play). If you have ever watched that tv show "Bones" then I would be the file keeper along with my other duties.

This is a serious threat upon the safe keeping of our States historical records yet the republicans simply look at it "cutting costs".

I will always remember it is a republican that is killing our State Archives. May they all meet in hell.

 

[rp2813]

And now Carly is way up there helping to call the shots for Mc Cain's campaign. She gives Condie Rice a run for her money in being evil personified.

The republicans are the wrecking crew that's demolishing the U.S economy. They call the dems "tax & spend" types. Well, at least the dems find a way to support their spending plans. Meanwhile the likes of Reagan, Bush I and now Bush II just spend and spend money they don't have and the consumers follow suit. How does that make any sense?

Greg, things happen for a reason. My layoff couldn't have happened at a better time considering all that's been going on with my personal and family situations.

Ralph

 

[filter-flo_rob]

Oldhouseman: a librarian?

While reading your previous post on this thread, A question is begged to be asked: Are you a librarian?

I am! My ft job is an academic librarian cataloging theses and technical reports; pt job is cataloging rare books,manuscripts, and organic and artificial archival collections. NEDCC (Northeast Document Conservation Center) does all our repairs on the rare books. If you're ever in the Andover, Mass. area, take a tour, you won't be disappointed. If you're interested, I'll tell you about my last visit there [don't want to ramble on too much and stray from this thread].

 

[filter-flo_rob]

... p.s.

Scarlett, Sir. Don't pull down Miss Ellen's fortier and make a job hunting outfit yet.

Conservators, particularly ones that work with books and papers are in high demand! Is there such a conservation lab in your area that is not state-run?

Rob.

 

[rp2813]

Greg, a guy with your smarts and dedication should have no problem finding a new job. Best of luck to you.

Ralph

 

[peterh770]

Good luck, Greg...

Link for Matt

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/distorting_the_dhl_deal.html