The Obama administration issued new guidance intended for defense contractors Friday afternoon, reiterating the administration’s position that the companies should not be issuing layoff notices over sequestration.
The Labor Department issued guidance in July saying it would be “inappropriate” for contractors to issue notices of potential layoffs tied to sequestration cuts. But a few contractors, most notably Lockheed Martin, said they still were considering whether to issue the notices — which would be sent out just days before the November election.
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges; When the Republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus
Now wait just a minute! If defense contractors issue layoff notices 60 days before the 1st of the year then that would occur BEFORE the election. In fact it would occur right around Halloween.....just DAYS before the election.
Layoff notices wouldn't bode will as part of the message that the economy is definitely improving. It's ironic that this guidance was issued on 28 September. I wonder what the contractors will do? Shouldn't they play into the deception the Administration and media is pulling on the American people? Guess we will know soon enough eh.
This is CLASSIC stuff:
September 28,2012
MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS AND SENIOR PROCUREMENT EXECUTIVES OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Guidance on Allowable Contracting Costs Associated with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act
"The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 2101-2109, generally requires employers with at least 100 employees to provide written notice to affected employees 60 days before ordering certain plant closings or mass layoffs if they are reasonably foreseeable."
I would say that sequestration is certainly "foreseeable" wouldn't you?
"On July 30, 2012, the Department of Labor (DOL), which is the Federal agency responsible for administering the WARN Act, issued Training and Employment Guidance Letter NO 3-12 addressing the WARN Act's requirements in the context of the potential across-the-board budget cuts (known as sequestration) scheduled to occur on January 2, 2013 if Congress fails to act. DOL concluded that it is neither necessary nor appropriate for Federal contractors to provide WARN Act notice to employees 60 days in advance of the potential sequestration because of uncertainty about whether sequestration will occur and, if it did, what effect it would have on particular contracts, among other factors."
Back on 30 July they realized this would be a stinker that could upset the perception that the economy is improving. It's not necessary to notify your workforce, with fair warning, that you may lay them off? Where is the CARE people? These are Americans too aren't they?
"In reaching this conclusion, DOL explained that giving notice in these circumstances would waste States' resources in undertaking employment assistance activities where none are needed and create unnecessary anxiety and uncertainty for workers."
We certainly wouldn't want to waste State resources OR create unnecessary anxiety or uncertainty. In fact, given the track record the current Administration has with compromise and finding common ground with the Republican-run House I see no reason at all to be concerned do you? Never mind the fact that the sequestration IS a result of an inability of the Administration and the Republicans to find common ground.
"Despite DOL's guidance, some contractors have indicated they are still considering issuing WARN ACT notices...Specifically, if (1) sequestration occurs and an agency terminates or modifies a contract that necessitates that the contractor order a plant closing or mass layoff of a type subject to WARN Act requirements...then any resulting employee· compensation costs for WARN Act liability as determined by a court, as well as attorneys' fees and other litigation costs (irrespective of litigation outcome), would qualify as allowable costs and be covered by the contracting agency, if otherwise reasonable and allowable."
Legalese for "it's okay to screw your workers because they are defense contractors. We have your back." Isn't this sort of hatchet man stuff the very criticism the left is using against Mr. Romney? Do I sense some hypocrisy here?
We already know what the answer is...but I understand the left has an election to win....no matter what. What's that old saying about how bad news definitely does not get better with passage of time?
There are a bunch of workers in Illinois who are begging Mittens for the same thing:
Workers beg Romney to stop latest Bain outsourcing
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Being told to train his replacement was humiliating and surreal, but Tom Gaulrapp said the worst part was when the plant’s US flag was taken down before the Chinese engineers arrived.
Gaulrapp decided it was time to take a stand against outsourcing and the man he blames for the loss of his job: Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney, who founded the private equity firm that owns the Freeport, Illinois auto parts plant.
Romney’s ties to Bain Capital have burdened the Republican nominee’s hopes of winning the November 6 election as Democrats unfavorably paint him as a corporate raider who pioneered the outsourcing of US jobs to countries with lower labor costs.
But the situation in Freeport is a classic example of how what’s best for a company is not always what’s best for American workers, said Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp, who is no relation to Tom.
“You can’t keep sending your jobs offshore and still have a middle class,” said the mayor.
Of course, sequestration could have been prevented, and CAN be prevented if the GOTP were willing to negotiate in good faith. But since their published goal is to stop the president and screw the American people AT ANY COST, for political gain, I suppose they'll have to live with their choice. And then they can sit back and try to look innocent by saying that there was a "lack of leadership." Unbelievable....and pathetic.
"Some defense companies—including Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and EADS North America—have said they expect to send notices to their employees 60 days before sequestration takes effect to comply with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires companies to give advance warning to workers deemed reasonably likely to lose their jobs."
Do folks have ANY idea how many folks work for companies like Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and EADS North America? Some of these notices may hit very close to home in Colorado.
"In other words, taxpayers will cover the costs of these layoffs through more spending, even though the point of sequestration was to force cuts in government spending. Instead of paying contractors — mainly defense workers — to work, we’ll start paying them not to work. And why? Because the White House doesn’t want massive numbers of layoff notices coming in the last few days ahead of the election. And make no mistake — with overall durable goods orders dropping 13.2% in a month and defense orders dropping 40%, those layoff notices would otherwise be coming, and sooner rather than later."
How will the Administration and the "balanced" media spin this stinker when it hits the street on Halloween? Talk about spookey stuff!
"the White House wants taxpayers to pay to cover up the inevitable outcome of sequestration to keep Barack Obama from suffering the political consequences of his own deal. Unless those funds are coming from Team Obama, this looks pretty corrupt — which is undoubtedly why Obama chose to have this OMB edict issued late on Friday afternoon, when few would be paying attention."
Oh my but this is a stinker. I liked the "issue it on Friday afternoon so noone notices" touch though. Nothing says transparent like a smoke screen.
Of course, sequestration could have been prevented, and CAN be prevented if the GOTP were willing to negotiate in good faith. But since their published goal is to stop the president and screw the American people AT ANY COST, for political gain, I suppose they'll have to live with their choice. And then they can sit back and try to look innocent by saying that there was a "lack of leadership." Unbelievable....and pathetic.
Democracy4Sale wrote: Will the GOTP finally agree to a budget and avoid the sequestration that they caused?
The new Democrat Party slogan. Instead of new ideas, we will just blame the Republicans. Worked so well in 2010, didn't it? Only 1% growth is still "W"'s fault.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
archer wrote: And the Republicans slogan? How about "lets block everything Obama wants to accomplish and then blame him for not accomplishing anything"?
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