Nearly 900 local United Space Alliance employees today are reporting to a Cape Canaveral office to process paperwork on their final day of employment. The 877 layoffs are part of long-planned reductions as the shuttle program winds to an end next year. Of that total, 344 of the layoffs, or nearly 40 percent, are "self-nominated."
At the NASA Shuttle Logistics Depot, employees are going through a final review of benefits and severance compensation and turning in company-issued property including their badges providing access to Kennedy Space Center or other facilities. For every year of service, workers receive one week's salary, up to 26 weeks.
The workers and company officials called it a bittersweet day.
As the workers completed their processing, they received two souvenir posters from USA: one showing the space shuttle and another the International Space Station.
"You turn in your badge and you get a poster and you're on your way out," said Cyndy Knight, 54, of Cape Canaveral who worked for United Space Alliance for 10 years in the shuttle processing operation.
Read today's newspaper coverage here.
The cuts represent about 17 percent of Houston-based USA's 5,100-person Florida workforce. Another 333 employees in Texas and 12 in Alabama are also being let go.
"Today, United Space Alliance says goodbye to more than 1,200 friends and co-workers," read a message on the company's Facebook page. "We want to recognize the tremendous commitment of those who are leaving and congratulate them on their achievements. We are grateful for their contributions to our nation's human space flight programs and to USA."
"God Bless the 900 United Space Alliance employees that are losing their jobs today out here on the Space Coast," one person posted on the page this morning.
Local congressional representatives issued statements today thanking the employees for their shuttle service.
"I offer my sincere thanks to men and women of the shuttle workforce for their commitment over the past three decades to keeping America first in space," said U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge.
Added U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach: "Each individual should take immense pride in the impact they have had in solidifying our country’s leadership in manned space exploration."
Another 200 shuttle contractors working for seven other companies were also slated to lose their jobs today as part of the program's gradual shutdown.
If you're being laid off and would like to share your story, send an e-mail to jdean@floridatoday.com.
-Includes reporting by Dave Berman
101 comments:
This is just the beginning. Watch Brevard County's unemployment top 12%. Can you just watch the mass exiting down I-95 as people leave this state for other jobs? People knew this was going to happen and this area did nothing about it except stand around and whine and bellyache and cry. We need to diverse the economy here and quit thinking the NASA is going to hold our hands forever. Smart Counties and Cities are always pro-active and re-invent themselves to stay ahead of the game. (Texas is a prime example) What has Brevard County done?
So sad, I'm just in tears over the news. On a good note, I did hear China is now hiring, and so is Russia!!!
Perhaps Mr. Obama can hire these people he's forcing to lose their jobs at the White House, since it seems people are starting to leave there, too.
One of the worst decisions this country made was electing this buffoon president. I never thought I would miss Bill Clinton, but I would take him for infinity over this monster.
WOW......two posters?
To bad they were laid off today instead of ealier in the week. They could have signed up for section 8 housing. Another missed opportunity.
What's the over/under for posters found in the trash vs. making it off the grounds?
It's not just USAA,not just the space industry. My husband was released from his job yesterday along with about 50 people from his company. No severence package for these guys! They will all just fall quietly into the ever increasing Brevard County unemployment pool.
These people have been provided with resume help and many job fairs..with barely less than 10% showing up......Most of the companies in this area or in the US [not DOD] will not hire cape workers they are too lazy and have no idea what deadlines are. Good luck finding another employer who allow people to sit and chat all day long
Next layoffs, Bill Posey and Bill Nelson. Vote them OUT OF OFFICE!!!
Now they are going to need the Public Option Health Care that Kosmas voted against.
Support the President and be better off.
We shouldn't have to work for a huge corporation or the govt in order to have Health Care.
Access to health care is how the rich get their hands around our throats, they have a strangle hold on us as long as we let them get by with it.
Vote against all Republicans.
Yeah, let's blame Obama for this. BS. Bush made clear this was happening in 2006, and Constellation was a horrible program from the jump. All those yelling about government waste don't seem to mind spending billions on a stick that astronauts refused to ride and is totally unnecessary...
People blaming Bush do not understand politics and have no common sense. Use your brain before saying something so stupid.
Here's the HOPE AND CHANGE, coming. And I know, some of those being laid off voted for, good luck.
How's that Hope and Change working out for 'ya?
Yes, I'm curious how many of the laid off workers knew they were the "CHANGE" when they voted for "Hopey and Changey"?
At least they get a severance package, when the stimulus funding for my position expired on June 30(which had already been in existence for 8 years but funding was changed)so did my job. No severance after 8 years, just unemployment. On the up side there are lots of jobs in brevard county paying $8 - $10 per hour. How is that hope and change working for you?
I really feel bad about the people of Brevard County, as they face this layoff. I understand, because I am a resident of another county in another state that lost 426 good people yesterday. You may not have heard of Box Elder County, Utah, but it is where the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters have been built since the program began in 1977. The lie we have been fed about the "unsustainable trajectory" of Ares has caused such a scenario as the one Florida, Alabama, Utah, Louisiana, Texas and other states are facing as thousands of workers go out the door. Our government doesn't skimp on manned space due to lack of money (they have plenty for things they consider important), but lack of passion for space exploration and apathy about the special people who got us as far in space as we have gone. It is time for the space community to quit bickering and rally to get manned space back on a priority one track by extolling the overwhelming long and short-term benefits.
For Pete's sake... why does the myth persist that "Obama cancelled the shuttle program"? Did any of you actually bother to read the Augustine Commission report...the NASA report that made recommendations to the White House? MOST of the options presented to them did not include Constellation -- even NASA knew it wasn't a good idea. The President simply chose the option that was deemed the best for the future of NASA. People said all these same things at the end of Apollo -- but NASA recovered just fine.
To "Anonymous" who says cape workers won't get hired because they are too lazy:
Can I get some fries with my burger?
"...Most of the companies in this area or in the US [not DOD] will not hire cape workers they are too lazy and have no idea what deadlines are. Good luck finding another employer who allow people to sit and chat all day long."
It is hard to teach old dogs new tricks. The NASA engineers do not know how sharp-thinking and hard-working capitalist engineers are. They will probably need another government position or downsize.
You are right; we can't expect NASA to hold our hand forever. However, the good ole boy syndrome in Brevard is going to prevent any more big businesses into the county; Titusville is a prime example, they do not want to grow any more than have already. Melbourne does not want factories or larger businesses that could/can employee many workers. Brevard is going to be a retirment community only; the people left with young families will be service industry owners or employees to serve the needs of others.
Ask yourselves, "how can Brevard County have such poorly function schools and so far behind in education when we have so many employees of Harris, Boeing, USA and NASA. We should be on the leading edge of education and our schools should be the leader of the pack in math, and science. It's the good ole boy syndrome. Try to change it and see what happens.
Dear KSC haters-
Not ALL laid off workers are getting severance packages. Many KSC workers are so specialized that the companies coming to job fairs have nothing to offer them.
I went to one of the job fairs last month and one Federal agency showed up with all of it's literature printed in Spanish. Big help. Before you piss and moan about what the government is spending to help displaced workers, you need to understand that the majority of the money is being spent on bureaucracy and fluff, very little is actually getting to displaced workers.
It seems that all the transition counselors and administrators do is have meetings and conferences with more bureaucrats from the beltway. Many KSC workers have given up on getting meaningful help for the workforce transition racket.
For the people out there that think NASA spends way too much money please take a look here. http://costofwar.com/ NASA's entire budget is less than 1% of the country's entire budget.
"Not ALL laid off workers are getting severance packages. Many KSC workers are so specialized that the companies coming to job fairs have nothing to offer them."
It is very specialized work to browse Facebook, chat, read books, email jokes, look at porn and generally avoid work for 8 hours per day. I guess with those skills it would be hard to find a job.
Good luck and God Bless all those laid off today.
I find it ASTOUNDING that all many posters can do is complain about Bush and Obama. Is this community that bloody stupid? We did it to ourselves! We want to be a dumbed-down, under-educated, dying community supporting the dying because: THE SNOWBIRDS WILL SAVE US!
We've know about these layoffs and the ones to follow for YEARS. Let me ask y'all: WHAT DID ANY OF YOU DO TO HELP DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY IN BREVARD COUNTY?
Think hard...
Allow me to enlighten you:
1. We allowed rampart development in the housing market. First market to collaspe: the housing market. No more building equals loss of a LOT of Brevard $$ being put back into the economy by those no longer employed, PLUS empty houses/strip malls have no inhabitants, no WORKING inhabitants who can buy things to put cash back into the economy. DUH!! But that's OK: the SNOWBIRDS WILL SAVE US!!!
2. We have NO diversity in the job market. We have NO diversity in post-secondary education. Believe it or not---they ACTUALLY go together! Just BCC, the feeder school to state universities across the state or Florida Tech, where the majority of students are not from Brevard county and who most likely it couldn't afford it, anyway. Got it. One must either come here educated or get one's employer (ie., Space Center employers or Harris) to pay for one's education. But that's OK: The SNOWBIRDS WILL SAVE US.
2A. What's the median age here--100? Why are our young people leaving? No jobs and no opportunities. Newsflash! Not everybody wants to open a small service job business that employs three under-educated GED grads who are desparate for work and will do ANYTHING at any time of day or night just to feed themselves/their kids. Some young people acutally ASPIRE to something more and this community DOES NOT offer it. But that's OK: THE SNOWBIRDS WILL SAVE US!!
3. We want to be a dying community supporting the dying! Yes, that's right: SNOWBIRDS! Our elected officials (and yes, folks, YOU are responsible for this by YOUR vote and/or YOUR apathy)focus our county economy (by ignoring the importance of the above first two points)on snowbird-
retiree/tourism, one of the lowest-paying-paying fields which require minimun (if any) education. By rampart build-out (the snowbirds will buy those houses!) and an under-educated workforce (who get paid in "sunshine")we have become a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY whose workforce comes complete with knee pads because they will do ANYTHING to stay alive.
Let's build another strip mall selling cheap Made in China goods! THE SNOWBIRDS WILL SAVE US!
Let's open another restaurant selling fattening food where our un- and-unemployed can work serving snowbirds and tourists 'cause THE SNOWBIRDS WILL SAVE US!
More retail jobs selling cheap crap that doesn't last and please, let's make sure we are OPEN nights and weekends, too--you know THE SNOWBIRDS WILL SAVE US! (and their grandkids, too!!)
Like it or not folks, YOU ARE ALL PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS COMMUNITY GOING TO HELL. What has the EDC been doing all these years? NOTHING. Our elected officials have done what...NOTHING! But hey! It's October and all those old/rich/smug/life-sucking tourists will be coming back, acting like they are better than the residents/natives because we HAVE to be on our knees or our economy goes right down the crapper...and they KNOW IT and act accordingly.
Next time anybody in Brevard whines about there being no work here, REMEMBER: THE SNOWBIRDS WILL SAVE US! Now, dust off those knee pads and find a job!
Strip clubs will he hiring
"It is very specialized work to browse Facebook, chat, read books, email jokes, look at porn and generally avoid work for 8 hours per day. I guess with those skills it would be hard to find a job."
This is obviously a jealous McDonalds or Walmart employee with no education who thinks that since they exert more physical energy at work they should be paid more. Well you go get a masters degree in engineering and tell me if a lazy person or somebody with average intelligence could get that piece of paper.
Good riddance, teatsuckers. Don't let the doorknob hit you in the YugoMary on the way out
I have a friend who worked at NASA and used a professional resume writer to help his search. You should check out www.precision-resumes.com . That's who my friend used. The prices were good and he found a job really quick.
Ha too funny. Not talking about getting the degree talking about actually working at your job. If you have a degree you should be somewhat marketable. Most of the "engineers" rise to their own level of mediocrity anyway..just so happens they all got there at the same time. Have fun with that 275 a week.
Now you should pay attention you might miss your time frame to retrieve that poster!
I think the severence pay is generous. I think I got similarly rewarded when GE's contract ended in 1971. I found another job several months later and did have to leave the area.
I know a few people out there who bought their degree's online. Wonder if it work at the next job too?
They're actually getting their full pay for up to 6 months, which is most likely 4 or 5 years worth of your salary. And no, I'm not getting laid off and have no reason to worry about that every happening because I have 2 advanced degrees and tons of experience and success, so I know that I could go get 20 job offers tomorrow for more money than I'm making now. But I love what I do and and where I live and I'll take a $40-$50K pay cut to live and work here in my dream job... I'm sure you're giving up the same kind of salary to work at Walmart because you love it so much right?
"This is obviously a jealous McDonalds or Walmart employee with no education who thinks that since they exert more physical energy at work they should be paid more. Well you go get a masters degree in engineering and tell me if a lazy person or somebody with average intelligence could get that piece of paper."
You are incorrect, I am in the engineering field and currently employed. Have fun on the unemployment line!
You would think that all the people losing their jobs having degrees in engineering would be able to find another job fairly quickly. Why can't they find a job then? Because they're LAZY. It must be great to make 80-90k a year sitting around playing cards and watching TV at work when theres no shuttle to work on. (And by the way, I am no employee in retail or the service industry either)
I'm not a FL resident or a NASA/Govt. employee.I'm not rich,old(yet),or smug.But I've been to Fl many times and hope to many more because your home state is where I like to be.It doesn't have to cater to my personal wants nor do I want it to because Fl buisness is none of my buisness.Don't think all tourists look down at you,I can promise you this country raised boy and family say please and thank you while we're there.
I know the the stigma that goes with gov't.employees and I have to say there are plenty of slugs here in the private sector avoiding as much responsibillity and work as they can while raking in a wage they surely don't deserve.The same with most of our elected officials.
I was "right sized"before with a "great" severance and I have to say it was pretty lousy.
I'd like to say to the hard working and dedicated Nasa employees/contarctors and their famillies who have lost their jobs,Good Luck!To those who didn't pull their own weight I hope you learn and do better.In any case I will still go to KSC and marvel at what this country was capable of and think of the great people that did it.
Dan Myers
So, why do they need a transtion board? If I get laid off, I dont have a transition board. I don't have squat. I have to fend for myself. You remind me of the people in NOLA after Katrina... Balking at people giving water because it isn't soda. You should feel fortunate that you have these things...
The people who blame this on Obama or Bush are completely ignorant. The shuttle program wasn't even supposed to last this long. It's time for something better and new. All of these people who have been layed off weren't shocked. It wasn't a surprise. All I can say to them is thank you for your service, and I hope you find another job.
America has become a cannibal society, devouring its best. The competent, numerically outnumbered by the incompetents, are being corralled, restrained, confined and milked like barnyard cattle. The giants who created our skyscraper civilization are now ordered to obey Lilliputian bureaucrats. Common men—who owe their jobs to uncommon men who create jobs—gang together to shackle their providers.
Americans are becoming congenital dependents. Even as loafing relatives extort a livelihood by claiming they have a “right” to your money—so today eight million homegrown moochers insist that you are responsible for their welfare! Thus, we subsidize promiscuous mothers and their illegitimate babies and lazy feather bedders and goldbricking government pay rollers…While we penalize the strong, the purposeful, the productive with disproportionate burdens of taxes, pressures, red tape.
We praise ventures which are “non-profit” and grant them tax advantages and social acceptance, yet we damn the men who make the profits which make the “non-profit” ventures possible. Americans want to keep the electric lights but destroy the generators. What if the men of brains and initiative and industry should go on strike?
It happened once. “The Dark Ages” were a period of stagnation when men of exceptional ability gave up, figured “what’s the use?” and went underground—for a thousand years. Ayn Rand, author of “Atlas Shrugged,” thinks it may have to happen that way again. Dr. Charles Mayo says, “I know of no individual, no nation, that ever did anything worthwhile on a five-day week.” Already many American industrialists are turning the keys on their corporations and going to Florida—either part-time or full-time—to become non-productive beachcombers.
Curiously, Russia is beginning to reward the uncommon men. Soviet scholar Vadim A. Trapeznikov—not without Kremlin sanction—is now referring to the Soviet system as “obsolete.” He says Russia’s economy must now rely on the “more productive profit motive.”
We, on the other hand, continue to play the democratic con-game which pretends that all men are equal and that anybody who demonstrates any inequality should be punished for it.
Any insolent beggar can wave his sores in your face and plead for help in the tone of a threat. You are expected to feel “guilty” for having more than he. Any barefoot bum from the pestholes of Asia or Africa cries out, “How dare you be rich!” And we beg them to be patient and we promise to give it all away as fast as possible.
The economic creed of “enlightened selfishness” which made our nation the powerhouse of this planet has been so maligned that now it sounds like heresy when I say:
Any man who claims you owe him a living is a cannibal.
Whether foreign or domestic, he is a cannibal.
If you choose to help him, that is one thing.
If he demands you “help” as his “right,” he is a leech,
a sycophant, a parasite.
He is a cannibal seeking to survive by consuming you.
Paul Harvey, 1964
Correction 2530 people were laid off today but don't know it yet. For every one KSC job it makes 2.3 non-space related jobs for Brevard County according to Brevard Workforce. Make sure you thank your repesentives for the decisions they made about the space program and Brevard county at the next election. Unemployment will be 15% when the program is over and home prices will be going down again. 10% my guess.
I would like to talk to some of the people calling KSC workers "lazy" face to face. When we slowed down I volunteered to go work for Lockheed on the PTDS contract down in Melbourne (with about 30 other KSC workers). Outside in the heat for ten hours a day. What do you do when your company gets slow? All we can do is what's asked of us. Some of us go a little above and beyond.
"I would like to talk to some of the people calling KSC workers "lazy" face to face. When we slowed down I volunteered to go work for Lockheed on the PTDS contract down in Melbourne (with about 30 other KSC workers). Outside in the heat for ten hours a day. What do you do when your company gets slow? All we can do is what's asked of us. Some of us go a little above and beyond." Theses are the same people who can't pass a background check and piss test.
Who can't pass a background check or piss test? I have a secret clearance and have passed multiple drug tests. You?
The position I held with one of the KSC contractors was eliminated in October 2009, along with 450 other positions. My job skills are easily transportable to the private sector (IT, database, and programming skills)I have been actively looking for, applying and interviewing for work on a daily basis, for both mid-level and entry-level positions. I am willing to any level of work, yet the underlying response is almost always, "You are overqualified for the position". I keep plugging away, both here and away, but with the new influx of unemployed, the situation will get worse for all of us. Then we will stop spending money locally, and the snowball will start its roll downhill....
Job fairs do not mean the same thing as 'we are hiring'....just saying.
God Speed Our Friends. Your departure is felt nation wide - as well all mourn the beginning of the end. We all saw it coming since the end of Columbia but the time is upon us now. Whatever the reasons there are people on here saying others are playing "cards" means little. It is more of the small brain jabber of those that only carry envy and resentment. The KSC workforce is one of the very best in the world - make no mistake - with them goes a vacuum of businesses and people who actually pay their taxes. I'm so sorry to see this day upon us - the worst is yet to come.
So how do the haters know so much about what happens at KSC and the contractors? I've never seen someone fired for drugs. I've seen people fired for slacking. I've seen many fired for computer misuse (fired, no benefits). I've worked in terrible weather in California, freezing rain, with the shuttle 12 hour shifts 7:00PM-7:30AM for days on end. I've endured 3rd shift at the pads (mosquito hell). I've seen the clockwork precision of prepping a machine that has literally millions of componenent go from the OPF's to launch and landing and the work that it takes to get it through that process safely. There is down time without a doubt, but the estimations spouted here are far from accurate. I'm not an engineer (probably obvious) or a tech. I do not earn a jillion dollars a year let alone 40K a year. The haters will not change their minds, most are looking for a reaction like a typical 3 year old. Those on the fence, trust me, if you could spend time seeing the entire process it is amazing. I'll be one of those 900 soon enough, stuck with a house I cannot sell in a local job market that will not pay enough to pay the bills (no, my home is well below 90K now due to the housing bubble...but I still have a mortgage payment). Constellation and Ares would have lessened the impact of all of this. Perhaps I could have started a business....now, not likely. Oh well, I have rambled. Sorry, it's been a carpy day.
That should have read, I've seen people fired for drugs as I have in other retail jobs before I came to KSC...too bad you cannot edit posts.
Yes of course Bush caused this mess. And the Republican congress also because did not oppose him. Where was thier vote of "no" on spending back then is beyond me. Bush overthrew a oil regime namely Iraq that everyone said not to do. This caused oil to extreme highs and killed the largest economy in the world. That is a fact. Live with it. We may see it get alot worse if oil was to rise to those highs again with America still dependant on it. America needs buildan infrastructure supporting American available fuel types or we are doomed....
You all just don't get it. The people laid off today WERE the workers! The "slugs" are still out there inside the gate protecting their own jobs. Others still out there are protected by the union. I was laid off today. I only make about $2 an hour more than on the outside and I earned every penny. I worked my butt off everyday. I haven't seen any union employees laid off involuntary. There are departments out there now with zero employees and two managers!
and I didn't vote for Obama. Now I'm enjoying my "change" instead of a paycheck!
The millions of dollars given to Brevard Workforce to help the KSC workers transition is a joke. No local jobs. They just want everyone to move away so Brevard's unemployment numbers don't skyrocket. Too little too late. Money to retrain us? For what? There are NO JOBS out there.
Anon 6:00 so, the 'slugs' that are out there are the ones launching the shuttle coming up (and the added one as well, if it happens). Non-union here as well. All of the involunatary lay-off's where I'm at were union positions. I'm one of the low earners out here, non-tech,non-eng.I too work my butt off everyday.
I didn't vote for Obama either. Stop it with the 'left overs are the slugs'. Most of the 900 laid off were volunatary and hopefully they could afford to do so. The rest have jobs to do until the lights are shut off. Should the rest of the employees just walk away from work that there to be done, or work until the program is shut down? Perhaps they are still planning what to do next or may not be in a position to voluntarily quit. Trust me, in several months there will be lay-off's that will eclipse this one. So much broad paint stroking going on it's sad. The people that work there are no different than anyone else, with families as complex as any one's else. All these armchair directors, economists, psychologists, managers, judges and finger-pointers need to concentrate on their own lives and let everyone get on with theirs.
I've spent the majority of my life listening to conservatives tell me how government doesn't or can't create jobs, how it stifles ambition, creativity et al.
This is a lie, particularly when it comes to NASA.
Every job on the Cape, in Houston, North American Acft and Rockwell on tne Mercury & Apollo capsules and the shuttles was a govt created job, paid for with our tax dollars.
The return on investment was immeasureable.
The current job crisis was created from the greed of conservatives.
You started it by votiung for Jesus Reagan himself, followed by GHWB, GWB and the congresses of Jan 1994 thru Jan 2007, led by Gingrich, Lott, Hastert, McCOnnell and Boener.
You are now reaping what you've sown anbd a difficult lesson has been learned.
Now you see that you have to vote issues that primarly impact your wallet.
You people put men on the moon when th tax schedules were at 70+ percent.
Now that they're under 35%, where are you and where are the coprorate big shots that out sourced so many of our jobs tol Asia.
Did you thank 43 for hiring the Russians to ferry our astronauts and gear back and forth to the space station?
You can now kick the dems out of office, show them how unhappy you ae with thew conservatives that turned your lives upside down and hire a buncjh of red neck teabaggers who want to cut more of your taxes jobs.
Don't come whining to me complaining about the limp you're forced to live with for shooting yorselves in the foot.
Titusville needs casinos
You just don't get it, your contractor management decided who they could cut at this time. There are no slugs except the person who wrote that. Perhaps your manager saw your attitude as being dangerous and questionable. Perhaps he is trained to root out imbalance of a person who might come in to work with a 9mm one day. Perhaps the manager of the "slug comment" person was wise beyond their years.
EVERYTHING IS TEMPORARY.
For whatsoever NASA sowed it also reaped. Actions or better yet lack of actions on focusing towards NASA's future left it redundant. The consequence was ending the Space program with huge layoffs. Not to worry since each laid off worker receives plenty of benefits to get by through this transition.
Why is there so much hate out there for people who are losing their jobs.
The US military recruiting open 9-5 daily and accepting applications. No experience necessary & No need to stand in long unemployment lines. Great benefits provided. The CIA has an opening for an assassin with free airfare to Pakistan to capture Bin Laden. Risk for the traveler varies with itinerary.
Anonymose@8:15 PM I think people are just using humor to get through this difficult time. I doubt there's that much hate for these workers who kept us in awe ever time a shuttle was launched into space. Sometimes humor is the best medicine.
well the NASA people can join the WM employees that will be loosing there jobs and looking for one. Atleast the NASA people have a higher level of training. But oh wait no jobs for that training. So let the competition begin
I already lined up a job with GE Healthcare due to my electonics background as a Biomed Technician repairing medical equipment. I was offered a position doing field service for CT scan machines (but will require a month training in Madison Wisconsin). Sure I will take a pay cut from my job at NASA, but with healthcare I feel I will always have work somewhere in the state. I hope you guys find work soon and stay positive. I only have electronics training through the USAF (Associate Degree in Electronics).
NASA workers are not the only ones losing their jobs. Check out all the companies laying off hundreds of workers daily. dailyjobcuts.com
I have advanced degrees and do not work at KSC. I do, however, have many friends and family members who work out there. Some work hard but alot "BRAG" about how little work they do, including one who brought a TV to work so they could watch the basketball playoffs every night since there was no work to do and another who spent most of the day knitting. Yes, many good workers will lose their jobs and those are the people i feel for, not the ones who have enjoyed their free ride and are complaining that it has come to an end.
NASA workers are not losing their jobs. They do not work under a contract. They are sworn into to service.
Anonymous@8:36 Good luck on your new job in Wisconsin. A might bit cold compared to our Florida weather but a White Christmas is like a postcard. Didn't NASA offer continued education relative to electronics with the space program ? Guessing, if you were interested in continuing your training in that field?
See you later.
The big card game is over.
It will take you all a year to get over your brain washing.
Now is your chance to do "what others dream"
I can hear it now when you get a new job...."Thats not the way we did it at the cape...
KSC workers have been institutionalized with skills that do not work anywhere else.
Yep, see you later
Thanks,
I am staying in FL but there is mandatory GE training in Wisconsin, then I will be in the central FL area (Tampa/St Pete, Lakeland, Orlando area) doing field service for their Diagnostic Imaging business. I didn't want to stay in the aerospace industry, too many sleepless nights worrying about the future. I started looking for work about 3 months ago when I knew the end was getting near.
http://www.gecareers.com/GECAREERS/jsp/ul/campusInterview/campusinterview_index.jsp
Then choose:
Business-Specific Internship, Co-op, & Full-Time Positions
They had an fulltime intern position for DI and I thought I might apply. I was interviewed by two managers and pretty much offered the position that same day, but had tons of paperwork to submit , fill out....etc.
For those looking for work, check the website often cause the job openings are always changing. Good Luck and God Speed to my fellow brothers and sisters at KSC.
Too bad those at KSC drank the Obama koolaid! Now all they will get is "Government cheese." It's time Americans do their homework and check the voting records and other history of those they wish to elect. Let's see, didn't the Bamster show up at the space center in 2008 to promise everyone how important space exploration is?? My goodness, I thought only those nasty Republicans lied!!
Most people I know are not worried. They have been stocking up on money for the past three years and paying off debt because they knew this would happen. Now they have a nice fat severance package to take with them and up to two years of unemployment since they do not have take a job that pays less then the Cape. I don't think you will be seeing any of them working at any low paying jobs anytime soon in Brevard. It is more like a long vacation before they relocate out of this state to spend their money elsewhere. The great thing is, they had warning. Most people at other companies don't. You are just walked out the door. BTW. I don't think your home values will be going up any time soon if you live in the Space Coast.
"You are incorrect, I am in the engineering field and currently employed. Have fun on the unemployment line!"
Employed as a hater, with too much time on their hands at work able to post all day. Pot calling the kettle black...LMAO@U loser.
Remember who to vote for in November....
No one from NASA is being laid off. It is the contractors.
My crystal ball prediction for 2011:
Space Coast unemployment 15%, Home Mean Value: 100K, and a GOP majority.
Bring it on HATERS! We can get new jobs but you can't fix stupid...
jeal·ous /ˈdÊ’É›lÉ™s/ Show Spelled
[jel-uhs] Show IPA
–adjective
1. feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages (often fol. by of ): He was jealous of his rich brother.
2. feeling resentment because of another's success, advantage, etc. (often fol. by of ): He was jealous of his brother's wealth.
That is where people's hate postings come from....
Who can't pass a background check or piss test? I have a secret clearance and have passed multiple drug tests. You?
The losers who usually post on Florida Today except for you. Don't take it personally and get your feathers all ruffled.
jeal·ous /ˈdÊ’É›lÉ™s/ Show Spelled
[jel-uhs] Show IPA
–adjective
1. feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages (often fol. by of ): He was jealous of his KSC neighbor.
2. feeling resentment because of another's success, advantage, etc. (often fol. by of ): He was jealous of his KSC neighbor's income and great job.
That is where people's hate postings come from....
Let’s take a look at Titusville’s history. Harris Corporation in 1972, was ready to move into the empty industrial park just south of Titusville. But Titusville officials would not have it, so they went too Palm Bay. 1974, the year the economy was not only in recession, but the year KSC had massive layoffs from the closing of the Apollo program. The result was a massive unemployment in North Brevard. At that time Harris was now finished with the new facility and starting to hire, in Palm Bay. No help to North Brevard. Then you had a never ending string of elected officials openly running on a platform of “0 growth” for Titusville/North Brevard, and being elected. These politicians openly spurned any industry and still do to this day. The City made it so miserable for McDonnell Douglas they shut the cruise missile plant down and left for Arizona. The next joke was trying to get McDonnell Douglas to come back and build the Delta IV rocket in the same facility. The facility was perfect for it but The City of Titusville literally ran McDonnell Douglas off in the first place, why would they be misguided enough to come back now, after all this wisdom the facility has become a low paying sweat shop, I know, I’ve worked there. The result is all of you people who live in North Brevard and worked at KSC, are partly to blame for the City of Titusville/North Brevard being way it is. You will now be forced to work in the same low wage environment you created for the rest of us, or relocate. You will have to travel thousands of miles to see your grandchildren grow up, or worse, never get to see them until they are old enough to travel to you. You asked for it, now you will suffer with it because at least south Brevard was smart enough not cut their economic throat. The proverbial chicken is coming home to roost.
someone on the space staff at FT should be fired....the delta iv launch was rescheduled to november a week and a half ago and the front page still says the 19th of october.....no wonder they can't sell ad space anymore.
I was one of the people laid off. And yes. I know of people who were fired for drugs. I also know of an individual who owns two business out in Brevard and spends time at KSC taking care of this business and charges that time to the shuttle program. His management is aware and approves. I also know of an old pervert who didn't get laid off. He spends time at KSC giving a young girl back rubs. He also forces unwanted hugs from many young women. He makes their skin crawl. But USA management approves of that.
Maybe I'm glad I got laid off. It's time to more on to greener pastures.
Hey james...ask nasa about the stained mattress on the 36th floor of high bay 4 inside the vab where ALL THE MARRIED WOMEN take their 'UNION' breaks.Ask about the fire inside the aft compartment of an orbiter while in the high bay of an OPF about 2 years ago and how it took nearly 10 minutes to find someone from USA management who could authorize putting water on the fire to extinguish it.Ask why the AIMAW technicians on duty at the time never called fire services to report the incident. Sorry charlies but sometimes you reap what you sow, even in government work.
There are some good USA management and there is also some lousy USA management. The SQ&MA directorate has some lousy management. They play favorites. The director of SQ&MA is a great guy but a lousy manager. He plays favorites and has his entire career.
The senior management at USA has been very supportive during the last two months.
Yep, Titusville has never learned from the layoffs during the Apollo days to bring in other industries and quick depending on NASA jobs. Titusville should be called Stupidville. Plus there were past Titusville mayors who worked at the space center. Why didn't they do something to bring in more industries to Titusville, I mean Stupidville?
It's true that there are some USA workers that spent numerous hours on their personal electronic devices and surf the Internet while at work. Some of those workers escaped the recent layoff.
But not all KSC workers are like that. Some are hard workers. Or I should say, they were hard workers as they got laid off on Friday.
Interesting that so many with such perceived "convictions" post as Anonymous. I have worked on the shuttle program myself and there were good and bad, lazy and hard workers so as usual generalizations are consistently wrong however I do admit that most I worked with wouldnt last at a private sector job with deadlines and a profit to make a day let alone years.
Ah now I see why everyone posts as anonymous..."verification failed...at least I tried to post my real name.
On the bright side, at least the cost of housing should go down even more before I move over next month.
The great news is that nice pool homes will be affordable in Brevard County for so many people which NASA workers once thought were beneath them. What comes around goes around. All the laid off workers had 3 years notice of the inevitable layoffs. It doesn't seem like there's many people who sympathize with your shortcomings since many NASA workers thought their lucrative govt jobs were indispensable. Hah to those of you who thought you were better than the rest. Best wishes for those who treated others with respect no matter where they worked.
To Anonymous 12:00AM who said you can't fix stupid...Sorry, I guess you can't fix yourself then. Too bad.It must have been all that space dust you were inhaling for years. Time to come back down to Earth, the kiddie ride is now over. Stupidity didn't seem to travel far from you either. Don't feel bad though since it was one of those addictions of many NASA workers who thought they were better than anyone else. Even Buck Rogers wasn't as conceited to immortalize himself like some NASA workers did.
Anonymous at 10:55 AM, You didn't mention any of those MARRIED MEN who were also using that stained mattress on the 36th floor.
How about those other places where THOSE MARRIED MEN received their 10 min worth of glory that even a successful space shuttle launch couldn't do. Maybe Florida Today can post names from Anonymous who know all those MARRIED WOMEN using that stained mattress on the 36th floor of high bay 4 inside the vab where they took their 'UNION' breaks. Breaking News at 10:00 with all those NASA secrets from behind closed doors. LOL
NASA is still hiring. They just wanted to get rid of all the high salaried workers to make room for people who are willing to work for less and actually do a honest days work. Seen way too many who abused the privileges that came with space jobs. Be grateful for all the addition benefits paid for by taxpayers that non-govt workers don't receive. That's why most people don't feel sorry for NASA layoffs. Time to come down from that high pedestal you all have been on for years. The good workers left 3 yrs ago & have already received better jobs elsewhere.
Some 3,000 Millionaires Claim Jobless Benefits. After the economy slipped into recession in 2008, millions of Americans received unemployment benefits to make ends meet Including almost 3,000 millionaires. According to U.S. Internal Revenue Service data, 2,840 households reporting at least $1 million in income on their tax returns that year also collected a total of $18.6 million in jobless aid. They included 806 taxpayers with incomes over $2 million and 17 with incomes in excess of $10 million. In all, multimillionaires reported receiving $5.2 million in jobless benefits.
Some NASA workers are no different than these jerks that abuse the system time & time again.
First I was one of the 900 folks at USA to be laid off. I did so voluntarily. I'm just shocked at the ignorance and hate of people who post here.
I worked out at the Space Center for 2 years so the lavish severance package you folks think everyone gets isn't the case. I'll get a months pay...that's it. I busted my behind while I worked out there every day knowing that when I took the job at USA that the job was a springboard to another one. I used every resource provided to me to find a new job and I'll probably be taking my skills out of the area making a decent salary.
So you can take my good money out of the local economy. The people who hate on laid off Space Workers, look at how your economy and schools will look like in a year or two. After most of the contractors leave the Space Center, you folks with jobs in other sectors will never be able to sell your homes. So if one day if you got fired or laid off from your so called "intelligent" job, you'll have the albatross of your home sitting on you. I bet then you'd love folks with decent paying jobs at the Space Center then when you are looking for a buyer.
There are people at every place of employment who slack off so stop making it seem like folks at the Space Center are so unique.
There is no job growth in this area. Highly experienced folks at many different local companies are being let go daily. There are extremely hard workers at companies like Harris, Boeing, ATK, etc. who get let go, so would you dare call those folks lazy as well?
But to the people that have no pity for the Space Center workers who got laid off...when you get laid off and are looking for a "hookup" don't you dare ask a former Space Worker for their assistance.
It's sad that instead of coming together to help each other out in these tough times, that we have people who take joy in other's pain.
"The senior management at USA has been very supportive during the last two months."
Yeah, the fluffy morale boosting weekly emails sure made me feel better. So did Patty Stratton smiling and giving her autograph at the NSLD where we all turned in our badges.
Management there is so racist,sexist, you name it. Good ol boys still have their jobs. Pathetic.
We weren't "NASA workers". "NASA" isn't laying off anyone. If the haters of real space workers had brains they would be dangerous.
There are a lot of pathetic losers among NASA workers. Been there and glad I left years ago. Kiss butt and you might get a step or two ahead of your peers otherwise you're no better than the janitors that clean your office. Higher education and skills don't mean crap anymore and you're all disposable like the rest of us so-called uneducated NASA workers.
I'm so sorry that the KSC work force is once again being downsized. I was there 10 year and went through it in the late 90's too. We got 2 weeks severance, a bit of counciling on how to exist on nearly nothing and how to look for a new job.
The best advise you're going to get is to look for jobs in areas that have low unemployment rates. Yes, that is obvious. You're not a plant, you can relocate, even if it means taking a lost on your current residence. By the way, think international. It might be interesting as well as profitable to work in another country. The pay may be less, but then too so may the cost of living. Better still if you can create a new business for yourself. I friend of mine is now a "Consultant" teaching other how to run their small business successfully, after selling his. He makes more money, works less and has fun too. Change can be good!
But I did find a great job within 90 days with another engineering firm in a related field, Transportation Engineering. I've grown a lot since then in both career and person areas.
USA should have laid off an extra 400 employees. There's still many department in USA where employees sit around 80% of the day and socialize.
It's sad for the USA employees that have to work where many of their coworkers goof off most of the day.
That's one thing bad about the space shuttle program is that it has been a haven for lazy workers who get paid great $$$ to do very little work.
And USA is King of the Lazy Workers.
Don't get me wrong, they have some hard workers, but still too many lazy workers out there.
One USA worker that was laid off went to work for Harris; they found him asleep in a closet; they he was fired from his next job as a truck driver because he actually had to work. Now that does not say every one at USA or KSC in general is lazy; but they are used to a slower pace and being paid a lot more money than the general public. When ever the technicians went on strike I had to laugh that they wanted more money when sitting on the side of the road were their 4x4's with very nice boats attached. My husband is an engineer with 30 years experience and we can't afford new cars, boats and prepare for layoffs and retirements.
In aerospace there are always layoffs; the shuttle work ride was a long haul and everyone should be thankful that it lasted so long.
Brevard County has never prepared for anything; our commissioners continued to approve new sports field, doggie parks, boat ramps and senior centers, knowing full well that Bush had announced the end of the shuttle program in 2006; I didn't vote for Obama, but he did not cause this problem; we allowed it to happen to us (all of Brevard County).
30 years of experience as an engineer and can't afford new cars or boats? What exactly have you two spent your money on?
Students graduating from college going into engineering can afford a new car on their salary.
@ 2:47am - -
They weren't spending their money. Rather, they were saving responsibly and preparing for things such as layoffs and retirements.
Post a Comment