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- Newsgroups: comp.org.decus
- Subject: Re: Staff layoffs - Huh?
- Message-ID: <23DEC199216300787@bpavms.bpa.arizona.edu>
- From: kaplan@bpavms.bpa.arizona.edu (Steve... friends don't let friends do DOS.)
- Date: 23 Dec 1992 16:30 MST
- References: <20DEC199213375260@bpavms.bpa.arizona.edu> <1992Dec20.231201.4721@spcvxb.spc.edu>
- Distribution: world,local
- Organization: University of Arizona MIS Department
- Keywords: DECUS staff cuts
- Summary: Argh :(
- Nntp-Posting-Host: bpavms.bpa.arizona.edu
- News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41
- Lines: 69
-
- >In article <1992Dec20.231201.4721@spcvxb.spc.edu>, killeen@spcvxb.spc.edu (Jeff Killeen) writes...
- >>In article <20DEC199213375260@bpavms.bpa.arizona.edu>, kaplan@bpavms.bpa.arizona.edu (Steve... friends don't let friends do DOS.) writes:
- >>> As many of you know, DECUS is going through the same economic trauma that
- >>> DEC (and the rest of us? - yes) are. So, it came of no surprise to me to
- >>> hear that 6 of the DECUS staff were to loose their jobs when they returned
- >>> to Shrewsbury on the Monday after the recent fall 1992 Las Vegas Symposium.
- >>Jeff
- >>Would you post up that message I sent you...
-
- Thanks Jeff and Marg.
-
- >Digital is clearly undergoing a restructuring that includes both
- >re-engineering and downsizing. As we saw at symposium, some of the engineers
- >and industry support people from Digital were putting their home phone numbers
- >on their business cards when asked a customer question because they too are
- >affected by the layoffs.
-
- Yep - just like the rest of the world.
-
- >In a general way I suspect we all understand the need for what Digital is
- >doing -- after all it is trying to make itself competitive and productive for
- >the future. Or as Palmer has been quoted as saying, he is trying to save
- >85,000 jobs and that is the focus( versus a focus of downsizing). But on an
- >individual plane, be it people or product, it is painful, very very painful to
- >watch. And when individuals whom we have worked with or relied upon are
- >affected, it is even more painful.
-
- Not to mention - relied upon.
-
- >A month ago, Ted Grenham (DECUS exec director) let myself and then the Board
- >and Management Council know that our staff would be affected in this round.
- >All of the staff managers met and after what must have been a wrenching couple
- >days, unanimously agreed on the course of re-engineering the staff and which
- >positions would have to go to meet the head count. As I am sure most of us are
- >aware, no corporation is at liberty to discuss personnel actions about any
- >individual -- it is just not legal. So the how and why particular people were
- >selected or not selected remains in the personnel department files and are not
- >ours to discuss or gossip about.
-
- Glad you mentioned this. While I have tried to promote the idea that there
- is such a thing as DECUS all of these years, the truth of the matter is
- that there is not - DECUS = DEC. I'd argue that the membership should have
- had a say in it - but, as you put it so well - we (mere members and
- volunteers) have nothing to say about it. A price we all pay for not
- having the guts to incorporate DECUS as a stand alone entity? Yes.
-
- >We have been assured by Ted that ALL DECUS businesses will continue to be
- >fully supported. Re-engineering and consolidation for more effectiveness is
- >what they are doing.
-
- Sure, now if all of the Symposia commitee does not quit....
-
- >So, I can only repeat that I personally hate to see the personal pain, but
- >frankly, I do not know what else Digital can do -- it MUST get competitive,
- >fighting trim, and productive as well as learn how to deliver messages to its
- >potential customer base (i.e. marketing), all in addition to having product.
- >Marg (Knox)
-
- Certainly, however - to see THE TWO key Symposia people disappear is a clue
- that there is much more to it than that, me thinks.
-
- >Jeff Killeen - DECUS U.S. Chapter NLC Chair | Email:killeen@eisner.decus.org
- >DECUS is for folks who are responsible for delivering computing technology.
- >The NLC is the national council for DECUS's Local User Groups - come join us!
-
- Jeff, DECUS is for those who don't mind being under DEC's skirts.
- Incorporate DECUS as a seperate, independent entity now!
-
- RayK 8)
-