This has been a rough week. On Tuesday we were informed that our company lost the contract recompete. We've had this contract for 15 years, and apparently that's the problem--too many of us have been on the contract too long, and are making too much money. We were underbid by $10M on what had been a $90M five-year contract. To add insult to injury, my function (computer systems training) has been cut completely from the new contract, so the new company won't be offering me a job.
Now that the initial shock is over, though, I find I'm ready to leave. My company, Northrop Grumman, is great about placing people in jobs on other contracts, but if it won't be in a job I'll enjoy, I'm going to look elsewhere. If they don't offer me a job, I'll get a good severance package (12 weeks' pay), which will give me time to find a new job.
Sorry to hear about your job....I am holding my breath on mine too...I’m not going to get myself sick over it though....I’m preparing myself and remembering when one door shuts—another one opens. That is was meant to be.
My first job with this company (at Galena, Alaska) ended when the Air Force decided to close the base in 2008. However, with the F-22 being deployed they said they would no longer need a Forward Operating Location weather observer so I was let go in 2005.
The other base in the contract (King Salmon) stayed open but the weather observer couldn’t take the strain of worrying if his job was cut or not so he quit. I got a call in California from the site manager asking if I wanted to come back to Alaska. After a day of talking it over with my wife, I accepted the offer. They have guaranteed me a year of employment so if it lasts longer than that, it’s gravy.
My wife had back fusion surgery in April so she went on disability and this job offer came up 3 months later. Door closes, door opens! ;-)
I know what you mean by being priced out of a contract. We recently voted (union shop) to put any pay raises into retirement because we were also getting up there, salary wise. We want to keep the contract (up for renewal this year).