We are hereby proposing the following plan of action based upon advice received earlier:

1. Establish Grounds and Standing for legal action:  Each employee who is unhappy with being on the excluded list needs to do the following two tasks before the application closure date of March 14 

• Access the sample letter on this web site and prepare a personalized letter (Preferably hard copy or PDF) stating your reasons for requesting removal from the exception list.  This letter should be mailed to your Division Leader or AD.  Valid reasons might be:  That you are not a "systems engineer" or "Scientist 3" or any other such designation by training. Those designations were created by the Lab and we were assigned to them at the Labs discretion;   that you have worked for multiple lab organizations, some of which may not be excluded; Your skills are not that unique and replacements could easily be found if the Lab made appropriate effort, particularly in today's job market; while you may be assigned to an exempt organization or job category, you are not performing functions as a  "systems engineer" or "scientist 3" or whatever.  Keep all correspondence civil and professional.  Request a signed written response to your letter.
• Submitt your application for the VSP Program.  You will not be able to do this online since the online system will not accept Z numbers from us lepers.  You must download the form and submit it by fax per the following instruction:  

  Hardcopy application

  Employees may submit a hardcopy of their Voluntary Separation Program Application form as follows:
1. Submit a Voluntary Separation Program Application form (pdf) in person at the HR Front Desk, Otowi building, 2nd floor, north wing, or
2. Fax (505-606-5901) a Voluntary Separation Program Application form (pdf).

[Note: We have been advised that these two activities would be "official business" and that they can be done on Laboratory time and Laboratory Equipment.]


2.  Establish a more formal organizational structure for the "Class";  This would most likely mean:

•  "Organizing" a leadership team in the form of an advisory council or board of directors.
• Some kind of formal membership or sign up.
• Adopting a name and mission statement along with short term goals.
• Establishing a "war chest" for necessary actions be it websites, mailings, or legal action.
• Get an attorney on retainer.

3.  Change the Laboratory's current course of action by:

• Submitting appropriate requests as outlined above.
• Negotiation with Management
• Filing of a Legal Injunction to stay the action before the "Mandatory Separation" date of April 5, 2012

Comments or suggestions on this plan would be GREATLY APPRECIATED.