Obama administration tells contractors again: Don’t issue layoff notices

[BlueStateSaint]

I do believe that this action is highly illegal.

Obama administration tells contractors again: Don’t issue layoff notices

By Jeremy Herb - 09/28/12 07:25 PM ET

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.

But the Friday guidance from the Office of Management and Budget raised the stakes in the dispute, telling contractors that they would be compensated for legal costs if layoffs occur due to contract cancellations under sequestration — but only if the contractors follow the Labor guidance.

The guidance said that if plant closings or mass layoffs occur under sequestration, then “employee compensation costs for [Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification] WARN act liability as determined by a court” would be paid for covered by the contracting federal agency.

Senate Republicans, who accused the White House of trying to hide job losses after the first guidance, said Friday that the new OMB statement “puts politics ahead of American workers.”

The rest of this is here:  http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/industry/259305-omb-tells-contractors-once-again-dont-issue-layoff-notices

Just because the Obama Administration tells a company to violate a law doesn't mean that they should violate said law.

[rich_t]

But the Friday guidance from the Office of Management and Budget raised the stakes in the dispute, telling contractors that they would be compensated for legal costs if layoffs occur due to contract cancellations under sequestration — but only if the contractors follow the Labor guidance.

That is nothing short of government sanctioned/enforced extortion IMO.

[BlueStateSaint]

That is nothing short of government sanctioned/enforced extortion IMO.

It's the Chicago Way.

[franksolich]

Even if the companies desisted from giving out such notices, the issue's been prominently aired all over now, and the affected, or possibly-affected, employees don't need a piece of paper to tell them what's coming.

To bad for Barack Milhous.

[Boudicca]

Even if the companies desisted from giving out such notices, the issue's been prominently aired all over now, and the affected, or possibly-affected, employees don't need a piece of paper to tell them what's coming.

To bad for Barack Milhous.

Exactly.  My husband's a contractor and he is retired military, knows alot of people and that's pretty much a topic of general discussion.  I don't think Obama and his minions have enough cash to cover up the truth this time.

[thundley4]

But the Friday guidance from the Office of Management and Budget raised the stakes in the dispute, telling contractors that they would be compensated for legal costs if layoffs occur due to contract cancellations under sequestration — but only if the contractors follow the Labor guidance.

WTF is this money going to come from, and how can a government agency offer to pay legal bills for someone that knowingly breaks the law?

On the flip side, if the companies send out the notices required by WARN, and layoffs occur or they don't occur,  there is no reasoning for a suit against the companies.  They were following the law as written, not as reinterpreted by the Muslim in Chief.

[docstew]

If I were a defense contractor, I'd follow the law, as written, to the letter. Even with some holy exemption from the Won, I'd follow the law, as written. It just isn't worth my business to have the gov't promise one thing, then have the NLRB sue me after O loses. And I could completely see him having the NLRB go after every defense contractor if he loses as a means of damaging as much of our security as possible, just out of spite.

[NHSparky]

It is illegal...and having the government defend or pay off your legal bills for your breaking federal law doesn't make it any less so.

[DumbAss Tanker]

OMB and Labor are opening a can of worms with this threat/promise.  Paying all the 'Legal fees' of the good little corporations to defend following the illegal 'Guidance' does NOT mean they will pay for the actual DAMAGES in lost pay and benefits if the contractor ultimately loses, just the defense fees for the litigation...anyone who has watched the Obama administration spin on things to date has to see they parse their words very precisely and never offer as much as try to appear to be offering (Or tell a substantial truth instead of a merely technical one).  They'll also be opening the doors to many years of contract claims litigation if they really do pay one contractor's costs on this but not another's because the first followed their legally-unsupported advice and the second followed the letter of the law.
 

[Karin]

The 1,169 comments at TheHill are howling.  And, knowing that the MSM will completely ignore this, they are vowing to viral it. 

[txradioguy]

The 1,169 comments at TheHill are howling.  And, knowing that the MSM will completely ignore this, they are vowing to viral it. 

I hope they do take it viral.  As rich said this is extortion.  And it's a desperate attempt to hide even further proof of this administrations disastrous lack of fiscal policy.

[DefiantSix]

I hope they do take it viral.  As rich said this is extortion.  And it's a desperate attempt to hide even further proof of this administrations disastrous lack of fiscal policy.

I would kill for one of the "think-tanks" to start putting together and publishing the real unemployment figures simultaneous with the Regime's publication of their totally monkeyed figures.  The resulting apoplexy from the Regime would resembling a poo-flinging fest Skinner would have to lock down on DUmp Island, in order to keep the DUmmies from being seen for what they are, and the O-ministration wouldn't be able to hide it like Skinner can.