Conference 7.286::digital

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Note 659.0                            Salem                           No replies
BUSY::KLEINBERGER "Most of an angel is in the insid" 12 lines   9-NOV-1988 08:30
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    I have heard through the informal DEC network that manufacturing
    in Salem is leaving the Salem plant...  Since we are in Manufacturing
    in Marlboro, we are always looking for good people who are
    transferring...
    
    Question:  Who exactly is leaving?...  Where are they going if
    anywhere?...    If not anywhere, how many people will be being declared
    excess?
    
    Thanks in advance for any help...
    
    Gale

    For those of you who don't know, Salem (NIO) NH is a manufacturing
    plant opened over 10 years ago for FA&T (Final Assembly and Test).
    DEC doesn't do (much) FA&T any more so NIOs role in the company
    has been changing for the last 5-6 years. Lately it has been a
    new product introduction plant. That is, pilot production is done
    here and when the manufacturing process is debugged it moves to
    a volume plant. The Nautilus and Scorpio production started here.

    CSS (Computer Special Systems) is in need of manufacturing space.
    They are mostly in leased space now. They are going to be taking
    over the NIO facility. CSM (Computer Systems Manufacturing) is
    mostly moving out. Some (many) people are now looking for new
    jobs. I'm not in manufacturing so I don't know too much detail.
    The engineering organizations and the POM qualification groups
    in Salem are staying put. No one else has the room for our labs
    anyway.

    NIO is one of DECs biggest (in size, floor space) facilities in
    the world.

    				Alfred

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Note 659.0                            Salem                           No replies
BUSY::KLEINBERGER "Most of an angel is in the insid" 12 lines   9-NOV-1988 08:30
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:    I have heard through the informal DEC network that manufacturing
:    in Salem is leaving the Salem plant...  Since we are in Manufacturing
:    in Marlboro, we are always looking for good people who are
:    transferring...
:    
:    Question:  Who exactly is leaving?...  Where are they going if
:    anywhere?...    If not anywhere, how many people will be being declared
:    excess?

		ALL of Salem Manufacturing are now without "jobs".
		Plant staff, management, IL, DL, etc. have been notified
		that they are "excess" and should begin finding new work.
		This means that there are approximately 1300 people who
		will become excess over the next 12 months as Salem Mfg.
		shuts down and Computer Special Systems (CSS) takes over
		management of the facility.

		The manufacture of Nautilus and Polarstar will be done
		in Phoenix.
	
		Traditional Products (TPL) will remain in Salem and will
		become part of CSS.

		Custom Systems Integration (Government Mfg. &  Clusters 
		Integration  -- both located in WMO, but reporting to NIO)
		will cease to exist, but Government Mfg. as a single entity
		will become part of CSS and will reside in NIO.  It is unknown
		what will happen to the Clusters Integration business.

		There are many, many, many good manufacturing employees,
		and quite a few _excellent_ technicians now looking for work.

		Attached below is the memo from CSS regarding the transition:



		[ . . .   headers removed . . . ]

Subj:	CSS SALEM ANNOUNCEMENT

From:	NAME: Carl Kooyoomjian @NPO         
	FUNC: CSS MFG                 
	TEL: 264-6281             <KOOYOOMJIAN AT A1 at WOODRO at MKO>

To:	See Below
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH USA MFG THE NEED WE HAVE 
IN CSS FOR A NEW MFG FACILITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE EXISTING MFG 
SPACE.  THE CONCLUSION OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS IS THAT THE CSS NASHUA PLANT 
WILL RELOCATE TO THE DIGITAL MFG SALEM, NH FACILITY.  AS PART OF THAT 
MOVE:

        - THE SALEM PLANT WILL BECOME A CSS MFG FACILITY

        - THE CSS SALEM PLANT WILL MANAGE GSG AND TRADITIONAL PRODUCTS 
          MANUFACTURING RESIDENT WITHIN SALEM.

        - CSS, AS THE PRIME OCCUPANT OF THE FACILITY, WILL PROVIDE HOST 
          SERVICES TO FACILITY TENANTS.  THE TENANTS ARE THE TECH CENTER, 
          MANAGED BY BILL KENT AND THE MSB GROUP MANAGED BY GEORGE 
          PLOWMAN.

        - WE WILL WORK WITH THE EXISTING USA MFG MANAGEMENT TEAM IN SALEM 
          AND THE TENANT ORGANIZATIONS TO DETERMINE WHAT TYPE AND LEVEL OF 
          SERVICES ARE REQUIRED TO THOSE TENANTS.

        - USA MFG IS IN THE PROCESS OF REASSIGNING THE WORK AND PEOPLE 
          LOCATED IN SALEM TO OTHER LOCATIONS.

        - THE OVERALL TRANSITION WILL TAKE BETWEEN 12 TO 18 MONTHS.  THE 
          CSS FOCAL POINT FOR THIS TRANSITION WILL BE PAT MCCARTHY, WHO IS 
          THE CSS MANUFACTURING PLANT MANAGER FOR SALEM.

PLEASE COMMUNICATE THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR ORGANIZATIONS AS APPROPRIATE AND 
DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU REQUIRE FURTHER CLARIFICATION.

THANKS

CARL

		[ . . .  Distribution List Removed . . . ]

    
    
    .2 AND .3 are very correct.
    
    I work for CSS and the announcement was made here (Nashua @NU0)
    only last week.  CSS manufacturing is very cramped for space and
    demand is outrunning capacity.  While this is an enviable position
    to be in in some regards, it is the opposite of the position DEC
    mfg finds itself in overall.  DEC has overcapacity.  
    
    CSS will be vacating several leased sites in and around Nashua and
    establishing itself at NI0 over the next 12-18 months.
    
    

    Exactly what happens to "excess" employees who can't find another
    organization to take them in? As an employee who's been here awhile,I'm
    curious because I know how it was in the old days:DEC would find
    another job for that person,even going so far as to "force" a
    department to take him/her.

    
    The NPSU will remain here for some time. I guees that time is
    determined by the floor space requirements of CSS.
    
    Nautilus, Polarstar, Skipjack, Scorpio, and Calypso were started
    here.
    
    My life with DEC (10 years) has been here in manufacturing and I
    for one am going to miss it.
    
    verne

    Apparently nobody in management really knows (or if they know, they
    ain't sayin') what's going to happen to excess employees.  We've
    all been cordially invited to look around in other organizations.
    
    Word has it that there are allegedly 2,000 open reqs within 30 miles
    of NIO, and there are 900 NIO employees being "redeployed."  
    
    30 miles from NIO puts most of us deep into Taxachusetts.  There's
    no promise of a 5% increase in pay to offset the 5% levy for the
    privilege of travelling 30 additional miles.  (Didn't we once write
    a definition of taxation without representation?)
    
    Supposedly, we'll all be reassigned eventually.  I'll believe it
    when I see it.  Consider this:  how many openings are there for
    production supervisors?  System test operators?  Stockkeepers? 
    Materials handlers?  The upper managers most likely all have jobs
    waiting.  Not so for us peons.
    
    NIO has provided 25% of the gross revenue of this company for the
    last couple of years.  I personally have a dark brown taste in my
    mouth about this whole deal.  "Congratulations on fifteen years
    of faithful service.  Oh, by the way, your job is in Albuquerque
    on Monday morning."  What are we, capital equipment to be written
    off after 5 years of depreciation?  Old war horses to be sent to
    the glue factory when we can't pull a caisson any more?
    
    I guess I can still sling hamburgers at the local Golden Arches.
    
    -- Don Black

re .5
  > ...in the old days:DEC would find another job for that person,even
  > going so far as to "force" a department to take him/her. 
    

    I don't think the OLDDEC solution was any different from today's
    solution of such a problem.  Another job will be found for the person.

    The catch-22 is that the job might not be in the same location.  If
    people are willing to relocate, they ALWAYS have the option of
    remaining with Digital (assuming they're good performers, etc.).  But
    often they are NOT willing to relocate, and the company does not
    guarantee a job in the same location.
    
    As an editorial aside, I personally have no problem with this, and
    consider us lucky to work for a company that doesn't just lay off 1,300
    people when it closes a plant such as the Salem facility.  I respect
    someone's personal decision to refuse relocation, but do not feel
    Digital should be obligated to "make a job" for someone just because
    they don't want to move. 
    
    Someone please correct me if I'm wrong about this.  I know it has
    been the practice in locations where I've worked, and the memo about
    DECwest's disbanding stated a similar policy.  But I can't testify
    that it's the policy throughout the entire corporation.
    
    							Pat

  >> Selling a home and taking on a new home, with a new mortgage is just
  >> not an option for many, especially those in the income bracket of
  >> "manufacturing." 
    
    I was operating under the assumption that Digital would pay relocation
    for whichever employees find jobs in other locations.  If that is not
    the case, then I believe Digital is *not* living up to its obligation
    to those displaced employees.  If it is the case, then the cost of
    relocation should be minimal. 
    
  >> For many, this means uprooting from one's community, schools, friends,
  >> etc. 
    
    Almost four years ago, I relocated to Alabama when my Digital job
    in North Carolina went away.  I was single, alone, and literally
    scared to death.  I left a strong (20-year-old) network of friends
    as well as my family to move to a town where I did not know one
    single, solitary soul.  It's tough, but it's a choice we sometimes
    have to make.
    
  >> My heartfelt sympathy and good wishes to all those who will be
  >> dislocated. 
    
    I also extend my sympathy, and apologize if my prior note sounded
    hard-hearted.  Changing jobs is not easy, and moving to a new town
    AND a new job is downright stressful.  I certainly wish the best
    to all those who are affected by this change.
    
    							Pat

Perhaps someone can share with us the successes and failures involved in closing
the board shop in the Mill, or moving manufacturing out of MR1.

I can recall reading job postings for positions in security at Marlboro when I
was in the hallway outside of the Board Shop.  Hardly an identical position, but
at least an effort was being made to find jobs for folks.
				/AHM/THX

re : FXO ALLUMNI...
    
    Working at FXO was a very good experience,
    
    although.....getting out of manufacturing was the best thing that
    could have happened to me.
    
    TRUST DEC.
    
    Bruce

Since the organization moving into NIO will be doing manufacturing there,
and since they intend to expand, I would think that there will be some jobs
right there.  Contact CSS.

    Not too long ago, Marlboro Manufacturing suffered the same fate
    as Salem Plant.  For too long, several individuals rode the
    nonproductive program, waiting for a job in the Marlboro area. 
    This was not fair to DEC or themselves.   All of us are extremely
    lucky to work for a company like DEC.  A company who will allow
    an employee to do nothing for months, while they find the right
    job in a locaton of their choice, or change careers through the
    many programs that retrain or reskill individuals.  DEC has absorbed
    it's excess people, and has never "shown them the door"; another
    local company takes the opposite view, if I don't need you now or
    if an operation is not viewed as profitable, goodby.  In the same
    period that DEC found new jobs and new careers for over 3000 people
    in Mfg (WMO, MRO, FXO, MLO), this other company layed off 2500 without
    blinking an eye.  Who would you rather work for?  Think hard about
    the difference before you take a position that DEC owes you a job
    where you want to work.  Free rides hurt DEC and the many people
    who are proud to say "I WORK FOR DEC AND IT'S A GREAT COMPANY".
    
    Jay

    I think the NIO decision is just another in a long line of decisions
    that tells me this: If you like working for DEC in Manufacturing,
    you cannot live in Eastern Mass or Southern NH.
    
    If you compared tghe DEC snapshot from 5 years ago with today you
    would see that manufacturing has essentially stopped in WMO, MRO,
    FXO and, to an extent, MLO. That left NIO and BOO as the only mfg
    sites left in eastern Mass and southern NH. There's a trend, here
    folks, and it seems, to me, that the company has decided that the
    cost of manufacturing in the above named areas is too high. 
    
    With excess mfg, the choices could have been to close ABO or PNO
    or BTO or ASO. But I think the company thought long and hard and
    decided it was easier to relocate employees within the eastern Mass
    - southern NH area than to do so from the Yukon of Vermont or the
    desert of Arizona. I think this was a great decision from a company
    faced with hard decisions.
    
    Rich
    

    
    A simple note on the "desert" and the "yukon".
    
    One may find that ones present salary has much more
    buying power in a different geographic region.

    Is relo available outside of the 30 mi radius?
    
    cbc
    
    (how bought some "excess" success stories and encouragement)

    
    	Originally from Massachusetts, I attempted for almost a decade
    	to settle in peacefull, picturesque Maine. I found employment
    	sporatic, seasonal, and low paid. I threw in the towel and came
    	to southern New Hampshire where I eventually took a job at NIO.
    
    	If I were: a) on excess, and b) not seeking a technical degree,
    	I would relocate in a minute to Maine, Vermont, or better yet,
    	Puerto Rico. All are excellent, affordable places to live, and
    	the permanent Digital job helps. I hope to do this some day.
    
    	/sl

Gentlepeople:

     Kindly understand that I make no apologies for what I have said in this 
Notesfile.  I have received mixed opinions for what I have said concerning the 
goingson at NIO.  It ranged from "Give it to 'em!"  to utter ridicule.  Now 
even the bullying has started.  It seems I am not supposed to be the wheel 
that squeaks or the nail that sticks up.  

     What I had the giblets to express are feelings that are felt by numerous 
people in this facility, who fear reprisals if they say it themselves, or who 
do not have access to Notesfiles.  I placed in writing feelings of many which 
need to be expressed, which need to be vocalized, which need to be transmitted 
one way or the other to management.  Management at all levels needs to be 
receptive and understanding to those feelings.  Those of you outside of NIO 
who will be experiencing this same process should be prepared to deal with 
these exact same human reactions.  

     Those of you who know me, you know that quite often I have the tact of a 
caveman.  Well, folks, guess what -- Value My Differences.  

     Back in the 1960's, we all thought it was the greatest thing in the world
that the Hippy college students should express their opinions so eloquently
about social injustices.  History praises the Bread and Roses strikes in the
Merrimack Vally mills, when the women of the textile factories wanted better
working and housing conditions.  Today a man named Lawesa -- a shipyard worker
-- is the most highly regarded man in all of Poland. 

     What do these people have in common?  Lawesa, the millwomen, the students 
of Harvard and Kent State?  It's obvious, people!  They all have enough 
intestinal fortitude to speak out against an unjust, unfair, or otherwise 
intolerable status quo.  They are not content to Laissez-Faire (Let it be).  

     I live in a small town in New Hampshire, on the Maine state line.  It's a 
mill town.  My neighbors work in shoe shops, the tannery, the Bleachery, or 
the navy yard.  $6.50 an hour is big money, and $9.00 is unheard of.  Working 
two jobs just to pay the rent is the rule rather than the exception.  Yet, 
there's a ingrained sense of self-pride and common respect in the people.  Men 
are not afraid to be men in the old sense of the term; women are not afraid to 
be women in the old sense of the term.  Being outspoken is another rule, 
rather than the exception.  If my neighbor doesn't like something that I'm 
doing, I get told about it, and shame on me for not doing something about it 
before he spoke up.  

     So, like it or not, I speak up.

     The "redeployment" of some 900 workers out of NIO makes sense for the 
Corporation from a business standpoint.  It makes good business sense to 
consolidate CSS under one roof.  It makes good business sense to "trim the 
fat" in terms of headcount.  Reducing costs increases profit.  

     But at whose expense??  If 1,500 people leave jobs in New Hampshire, and 
take jobs in Massachusetts, who loses?

     The 5% tax comes right out of my net pay, not out of gross wages.  That's 
5% less cash that I have to spend in my own community.  That's 5% more going 
to somebody else's wallet.  Do I gain benefit from taxes paid to Massachusetts? 
Not one iota.  

     So what's the big deal?  Multiply a ballpark figure of $1,000 per 
taxpayer by 1,500 redeployed people.  The Commonwealth gets $1.5 million in 
additional tax revenues, without passing a single piece of legislation.  The 
other side of the coin is that the State of New Hampshire is the loser of that 
same $1.5 million in revenue.  That's $1.5 million that filters through a 
healthy New Hampshire economy before it gets to the state coffers.  In 
Massachusetts, it goes directly to a welfare state.  

     Hey, why complain?  You still have a job, but now it's in Shrewsbury, or 
Lancaster, or Boxborough, or Concord, or Franklin.  And we'll pay relocation.  
Well, maybe that's not the point.  Maybe the point is that my mortgage is 
almost paid off, and I don't want to finance another house at higher interest 
rates.  Banks love it when people relocate -- interest income, rather than the 
repayment of principal.  Landlords love it too -- new tenants mean higher 
rents.  

     Thus, the real loser is the State of New Hampshire and all the people 
therein.  This is just one more step in a process that has dried up New 
Hampshire industry since the turn of the century.  This state used to boom 
with textile and wood mills, tanneries, shoe factories, clothing 
manufacturers, even railcar and locomotive shops.  High-tech came in the 60's 
and 70's.  One by one the mills moved south, the shoe shops overseas, and the 
whole country forgot how to build a locomotive.  So now it's High-Tech's turn 
to scuttle back across the state line.  

     Where will it end?  Will it end when New Hampshire is one massive 
Time-Share Condo?  Will it end when the indiginous population has been 
replaced by seasonal tourists?  Should Salem and Pelham apply for admission to 
Middlesex County?  Should Portsmouth look for an 021 ZIP Code?  Can 
Winnepesaukee expect to be part of the Metropolitan District Commission?  

     Tell me, should I not speak up?  Should I not be disturbed?  I'm not 
particularly worried about my own situation.  I'll survive.  I've been poor 
before, and I can be poor again.  But I firmly believe that Management is not 
considering the total social consequences of this redeployment.  It would
appear that the almighty buck takes precedence. 

     The present NIO plant manager and his staff is going all-out to make our
transition as easy as possible.  At least in this time frame somebody knows
what's going on, and what our options will be.  The plans are being vocalized
decently.  This was not being done a couple of weeks ago.  As time goes on, I 
am confident that the future will be a little clearer.  Then perhaps the 
stress levels will drop.

     The current problem as I see it is that there are too many
Honeywell-Raytheon-Western Electric headsets in the lower levels of
management.  I get mixed messages, one from a doom-and-gloom group who tell us
that we're on our own, and another message from upper management that says
we're being taken care of.  Without clear signals, what should we think? 

     It would help if all levels of management would walk to the same drummer. 
It does not help when one level offers us the world and then a lower level 
tells us it ain't necessarily so.  

     It would help if people at all levels would get out of the us-versus-them 
mode.  I see friends back-stabbing friends over open jobs.  If only people 
could see beyond the end of their noses.  
     
     -- Don Black

    So what should DEC do Don? Should we pay 900 people to do
    nothing so they can continue to work in Salem? Should we
    move all the CSS people to MA from NH and give the NIO
    people their jobs? I'm not saying this to jump on you
    believe me. I think most of us understand the problem and
    what it means to people. I've got a lot of friends in this
    building (NIO) who are looking for work right now.

    But I don't have a better answer for the problems. Were you
    here in NIO about 6 years ago when we went through this before?
    DEC went over backwards trying to find people jobs. Yes some
    people left the area but not all of them went to MA. Some
    when to areas in the country where housing and living costs
    are a lot less then they are around here.

    Give us an answer Don. What should DEC do?

    		Alfred

Just a nit to .18.  You *>DO<* use services in the state in which you work 
and those service are for YOU not the corporation.  You use the police, 
fire, and medical serivices every time you travel into the state you work.  
You wouldn't want to be in an accident and have these services denied you 
just because you were from out-of-state.
Just a nit.

    re.18 That would be 
    
    Lech Walesa,  b. 1943,  Polish labor leader.

    It takes a lot of guts to say what Don Black just said in .18 -
    Daniel Webster was from NH too wasn't he?

    re .18 :
    
    For the second consecutive year, New Hampshire has been determined
    to be the "most manufacturing-intensive" state in the Union.
    
    Though I no longer have the entire news article, (and can't quote
    the source -- one of the manufacturing trade magazines), I do remember
    that this was determined by some organization that took into account
    the percent of the population employed in manufacturing, the tax
    structure, the wage levels, and the percent of state's economy coming
    from manufacturing (among other factors).
    
    So, while you see NH as becoming a hostile environment for
    manufacturing, there are national organizations believing exactly
    the opposite.  I suppose (like anything), the truth lies somewhere
    between the two extremes.
    
    -Don-

DEC moving manufacturing out of NIO does not mean that NH is a bad place
for manufacturing.  DEC had other reasons.

In fact, NH is the third-fastest growing state in the country.  (Which does
not bode well for the environmental situation.)

    NH may be the third-fastest growing state (according to whom?),
    but the overhead costs of running a manufacturing plant in NH aren't
    any less than in Mass., despite the 5% fewer taxes, etc.
    
    The future of manufacturing in DEC and other companies lies in selected
    sun belt states (not surprisingly those that border on Mexico) and
    in far-flung off-shore locations.  Like it or lump it, that's the
    situation.
    
    David

    
    
    Before you all go crazy exporting manufacturing to who knows where,
    CSS is a manufacturing organization that is taking the Salem site
    for a number of reasons, among which is CSS's need for more
    manufacturing space.
    
    

    RE: .27 The fairness or unfairness of the Massachusetts income
    tax is really outside the scope of this conference. It fits very
    well in RAHAB::SOAPBOX though.
    
    If someone wants to provide comments on .27 or give technical
    corrections please do so by mail.
    
    		Alfred

        RE: .27 -- I can't think of any reason why your husband would
        pay taxes to MA on your NH income when you both live in NH.
        To the best of my knowledge, there is no MA state law that
        requires you to do this.  But, as Alfred suggests, this is
        not an appropriate topic for this conference.  Perhaps you
        should raise the question of the justification for paying these
        taxes with your husband and your accountant.  The question
        of "injustice" or "fairness" probably belongs in SOAPBOX or
        in ISWS::MASSACHUSETTS.
        
        Tom

    Also try your NH tax office, check the white pages under New Hampshire.
    

	In case people are wondering how DEC trys to help people find new
	jobs here are a few things I've picked up on from signs here in
	NIO and talks with people in groups affected by the reorg.

	o Wed of this week there was a job fair sponsored be a manufac.
	  group with facilities in NH and MA.

	o Today there is a job fair sponsored by manufacturing in Augusta ME

	o Next week is a two day job fair sponsored by the field organzation.
	  This will include presentations on relocation assistance to which
	  spouses and SOs are explicitly invited.

	o In the area of relocation, the plant has committed *in writing*
	  to fund relocation for employees that find jobs in other areas.
	  What this means is that the hiring manager can hire and relocate
	  an NIO employee even if they are not funded to relocate for the
	  job. NIO will pick up the relocation. It's a great deal for a
	  hiring manager and means that NIO people can look at any job
	  without worring about relocation funding.

	I believe that there will be more job fairs in the near future.
	There are some really top rate people here so if you've got openings
	this is a great place to look.

				Alfred

	PS: My group is *not* moving or I'd prabably have more detail.

:    	o Wed of this week there was a job fair sponsored be a manufac.
:	  group with facilities in NH and MA.
:
    
    		Not exactly.   It was an engineering group:  United
    States Manufacturing Engineering and Technology, located mainly
    in Tewksbury, but with "satellites" all up and down 495 and 93.
    
    The Salem plant management are doing a very good job at managing
    this "transition" well.   Still, it is, and will continue to be,
    a very difficult thing to pull off (redeploying 1300 manufacturing
    personnel in a company with ever-dwindling manufacturing).
    
    -Don-who-is-one-of-the-1300-

    re .18
    
    Don, I got the feeling from your note that DEC was showing favor
    towards Massachusetts and discriminating against NH with it's decision
    on NIO.
    
    First off, manufacturing in Mass within DEC has been devastated.
    Franklin, Marlboro, Westminster and Maynard are shells of their
    former selves. Many more than 1,000 employees have found other jobs
    when these organizations closed in Mass and in places like Merrimack,
    Salem and Nashua.
    
    Secondly, your reference to textiles and shoes hit Massachusetts
    even harder. Look at Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill and Maynard for
    that matter when you want to see what impact the textile pullout
    did. Check out Brockton and Stoughton and Fall River and New Bedford.
    Then there's Taunton and Holyoke and Northampton. Fact is that
    Massachusetts suffered as much or more pain as NH when the leather
    and textile industries moved south or overseas.
    
    Finally I am sympathetic to your plight. I lived through it when
    Marlboro went belly up. It was disconcerting to me that many high
    level manufacturing managers seemed to be jumping ship and getting
    jobs "just" prior to the announcement. The mixed messages hurt.
    
    But in the final analysis, DEC did do everything possible to ensure
    we all had jobs - jobs that paid well. Many of us were retrained.
    Many were relocated. But we kept our jobs.
    
    I've been too familiar with people who worked for companies that
    thought so little of their workforce that they never hesitated to
    lay off people when the going got tough.
    
    When the smoke of the NIO situation clears I think you'll feel better
    about what kind of company you work for.
    
    Rich
    

	For those people in NIO, moving to NIO, or are otherwise interested
	there is a notes conference at CVG::SALEM (KP7 etc to add).

			Alfred

    One thing that the people of NIO must do is take hold of themselves
    and start looking at this as an opportunity.  Did you ever thing
    that you might want to be a computer operator or maybe a programmer?
    Now is the time to make *and I repeat- MAKE* that happen.  Don't
    sit around and wait for DEC to hand you a job like many people did
    when MRO mfg went away. 
    Manufacturing as we knew it is going away.  I see DEC becoming heavily
    involved in chip mfg.  Everything else; boards, cabs, cables, etc.,
    will all be buy-outs.  It just wont be worth it anymore for use
    to build cabs when there are so many small companies out there willing
    to do it for us at a price probably cheaper than we can do it for.
    So, now is your chance to get out of mfg.  I spent over a year as
    a Stride supervisor and saw the difference peoples attitudes had
    on their final outcome.  I had over 40 people reporting to me at
    one time or another that changed careers succesfully.  
    
    Just wanted to throw in my .02
    
    Chris D.

    re: ?  Oh yes.  By the way.  For some reason or another, supervisors
    tend to have to worst attitude in this situation.  I would say that
    listening to upper management is your best bet.  The people managing
    know what they are doing.
    
    Chris D.

    RE;>< Note 658.35 by TYCOBB::C_DENOPOULOS >

    >......I had over 40 people reporting to me at
    one time or another that changed careers succesfully.          
               
    And I was one of those 40. DEC was willing to retrain me and I changed
    careers, work closer to home and  I could not be happier. When STRIDE
    came along I saw that as an opportunity to change careers.
    
    The question is, are the folks at NIO be offered similar training
    opportunities that Stride was able to offer?  If so, then theses
     folks should be looking for the opportunities.
    
    I know of many individuals that changed carreers from manufacturing
    to Technical Illustrators, Technical Writers, Computer Operators,
    Computer Programmers, Financial Analyst, Finance clerks, CAD Detail
    Draftpersons. These are just some of the one I know from experience.
    I am sure there are may more that Chris could tell you about.
    
    Rick

    Hi Rick, how've you been?
    
    I think NIO is still in the planning stages.  The idea though is
    that you have to be a "go-getter".  The more you help yourself,
    the more others will offer to help you.  I've had people that said
    "I want to change my career to ....." and I've had some that said
    "Oh well, I guess I'll try this".  Guess which ones made it.
    You will only be successful through this transition if you want
    to be.
    
    Chris D.