Is it Access, or is it Corruption?

[Flubber]

hmmm The bottom line seems to be that you have lost a good job and been offered some crappy alernatives. Is there any point in pursuing a wrongful dismissal claim. Does the US have the concept of a constructive dismissal??

Accept for the moment that you have no union. Couldn't you hit them up for something like 2 years pay in lieu of notice, given your length of service?

There are a bunch of government and US specific things so there are probably reasons why you can't sue but here in Canada this would be pretty much a no-brainer-- If someone has their job radically changed, it can count as dismissal. Damages would include notice and any pension valuation losses.

Or will someone point out that employment is "at will" in the US and employers can fire you whenever

[Last Conformist]

They're doing this if a trifling two million dollars?

[Theben]

Originally posted by Az
Unionize. You must. It's the only way.

Word. And strike! See if any other unions will support you.

[Mr. Harley]

It's not trifling when it is given to the party appartus to dole out as they see fit. Also, remember that Mrs. Cheney was on their board - access, it's all about access.

Flubber, I get a year of severence pay. Actually, they weaseled us out of over 300 hours of on-duty time (for job hunting inside the government) because of a typo that had gotten into all three FAA union contracts, and it was the only way to get back about 20% of my severence pay.

Wrongful dimissal - I haven't been dismissed, but instead suffered a reduction-in-force, with the FAA organized along new "Lines of business" that prevent traditional transfers into other divisions - all this reorganizatoin done during the contracting process (it was "just coincidence" that it created the effect of freezing us out of transfers).

One guy has found a "Oops" (about two weeks ago) that everyone else missed in the FAA regulations. I am going to contact a lawyer who is well known for winning employment lawsuits against the FAA. It seems the FAA in lieu of a RIF is supposed to make every effort to place us in other divisions, including freezing new hires. Since they are hiring 14,000, and put in writing their guarantee to the winning company 80% retention - who knows. It cannot hurt.

Also, the FAA offered us no alternatives. The contractor is offering us a job that is decent right now, but given what is written into the contract will turn truly crappy in three plus years. The benefits are mediocre, except for the college tuition sharing. I intend to take full benefit from that and then bail out. Maybe if I become a nurse I'll visit you folks up in Canada on a semi-permanent basis. It sounds like a regular worker has much better rights up there, and upon reading your political threads - you may have some morons, but they are not in the process of looting your economy.

[mrmitchell]

bump, because this is a big deal happening to shawnmcc

What's the story on Lockheed Martin? They do nothing but good here in Camden. Nice clean facility, high paying jobs, they sponsor things, and they donate a lot of used equipment (like computers). But all I ever hear from the nation is negative negative negative...

Nevertheless, I feel for you, and this is definitely something that shouldn't be going on...do like everyone says, and unionize, and fight for your rights.

[Mrs. Tuberski]

Wow dude that pretty much sucks man. Did I read corred that you were gong in to nursing?? Well I can help ya a bit there. There is a dire need for them every were, but it may not have occured to you why. We are way over worked the hospitals dont hire enough staff to cover the patients you are assigend. You rarely get to eat lunch unles your a desk monkey nurse, and you never get off work on time. That doesnt include the on call hours you are required to take by the facility you work for. and you cant have a union in the hospitals.
For the record i have been doing this lie of work close to 10 years and have recently signed a 9 month contract with a hospital close to home to earn some good money and then take 9 months off to go to school.. for forensic techniican Dude once you finish school and get a year under your belt dude agency is the way to go. I tell ya tis cause i have been agency for a couple of years now. My recent contract has me being paid a minimal salary of 12 an hour that is taxable, plus 500 and 250 a week that is non taxable that i am guaranteed to get if i work any hours or not. the 500 is for housing and the 250 for transportation. This is about 1200 dollars a week bring home. I couldnt do that working staff.

[Joseph]

I sorry you lost your job.

I was a Federal Employee until they decided to close Mare Island Naval Shipyard in March of 96. I left Nov 3, 1995 to take the bonus money (25,000), so a Congress person will tell you that I volunteer to retire. In a way yes I did. Either take the 25 or wait 4 Mon. and get no bonus, just retirement with penalty for being under 55 year of age. I had 33 years plus but at 51 years 7 months and some days I lost 7% of my pay. You will find out that 1%= about 100.00 for me.
Since you are probably a GS 12 or 13, it will be a few dollar more.
I now work for the School Distr., were I live and now qualified for SS. Like you I will not get much. Last Nov SS sent me their little update and told me If I work until age 66, I will get 320.00 a month. Of course they will take MC out of that so I would only get 240 a month. SS people pay 80 bucks a month for MC.

But not to worry. A member of Congress when they retired, they get their full pay in retirement, free medical and a few months ago in the Homeland Sec. act voted to keep their prescription drugs at today cost for the rest of their life. That means that if he/she is now paying let's say 10.00 for a drug and he/she lives 40 years after serving in the congress they will still pay 10.00 for that drugs, while you and I will pay whatever that drugs cost 40 years from now.

Our Congress, the best money can buy.

[Mr. Harley]

Joseph - sorry they f*cked you over to. I am at GS12, but no bonus or anything and the 16 year compounded interest working against me is the killer. What grates on my nerves is that the FAA is hiring 12,000 new hires for jobs I am qualified for, but they won't permit us to transfer.

Mrs. Tuberski - my mother was a charge nurse in Pediatrics before she became so ill. My youngest sister is an ER Trauma nurse, and does pretty well. I know about how much they are worked. I WANTED to become a history teacher, teaching HS students as a second career. However, preserving part of retirement is more important than "doing what I want." I've been poor, and it sucks. I have no interest in being poor and a parent, and then poor and old. After the effort of getting a nursing degree, I would simply probably stay with it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Damn man.. that sucks .

Though hopefully your lawsuit against the FAA for not putting you in positions you are qualified for while hiring so many out of college will succeed. It sounds like you have a good case!

Good luck man

[Mr. Harley]

Only problem Imran is that it is not a government regulation - it is the FAA's own internal regulations. I won't even pretend to be an expert in Government Employment law, but from what I understand that is an important difference - unfortunately not in my favor. However, while it sucks - my little girl is healthy, my Blood Pressure is mostly under control (now you see why controlling it has been such a bear - add in a natural rapid spiking and then this), and some other things concerning factors I won't post here are improved, though still a major problem. I also have a worst case exit strategy that, while far from ideal - is alot better than many people have, here at Apolyton included. So it could be much worse. But yes - it still sucks.

And as a quick just posted edit - the little quote after the initial post was - lightning strikes.

[mrmitchell]

I WANTED to become a history teacher, teaching HS students as a second career. However, preserving part of retirement is more important than "doing what I want." I've been poor, and it sucks. I have no interest in being poor and a parent, and then poor and old. After the effort of getting a nursing degree, I would simply probably stay with it.

Yeah, I was about to mention, there are openings for teaching in AR, it's a nice job, and AR teachers make more money in retirement than they do when they're actually working. Just in case you're not 200% sure on nursing.

[duke o' york]

Originally posted by Mr. Harley

I am going to contact a lawyer who is well known for winning employment lawsuits against the FAA.

Don't just do it yourself. Get all of your colleagues, and anyone else across the country who has suffered in a similar way, together to hire this guy. Hell, hire more than one lawyer if there are enough of you. It won't cost a great deal if you act together, and you'll have a much stronger case by weight of numbers. Take 'em to court!

[Joseph]

Originally posted by duke o' york

Originally posted by Mr. Harley

I am going to contact a lawyer who is well known for winning employment lawsuits against the FAA.

Don't just do it yourself. Get all of your colleagues, and anyone else across the country who has suffered in a similar way, together to hire this guy. Hell, hire more than one lawyer if there are enough of you. It won't cost a great deal if you act together, and you'll have a much stronger case by weight of numbers. Take 'em to court!

I agree, fight those ba$***** all the way to the top.