Age Discrimination

My name is Grady Lollis, I am 56 years old. I have work for a Company a total of 32 years. 17 of those years, I have worked at two of their overseas locations (Panama, and Cyprus), as a Field Engineer (airplane mechanic). 10 months in between these two assignments I spent in Lancaster, California. I was what they called a Crew Chief, Shift Supervisor or Phase Chief Supervisor. 03 July 03, Two managers came over and told all personal that there would be a major downsize in the amount of personal to be needed here. We were told that only a few would be staying, but were all told verbally that those that didn't get the jobs, they would be helped by the company to get jobs back in the States. They wanted to keep everyone. Everyone was to give the site lead their resume, who would forward them back to the company. To anyone listening this was a verbal contract by the company to get everyone a job back in the States. Also said was that no one was safe, everyone was in the same boat, no one knew who would have the remaining jobs. All personal would be getting their pink slips, 1 August 03, giving all personal 60 day notice. We thought that we were just getting redeployed to another job with the company, not laid off totally. This 60 day notice is now being worked. All leave was cancelled. They never stated that the jobs that were still needed, needed certain specific specifications. If I was told this, I could and would have got what was necessary, easily, even if it meant using my own vacation time. One week later, the company told all personal that we would have to go after the jobs ourselves instead,(not the company), by going on the companies web site. First off, the computers at here are continually down. The jobs that are online, can not be got by the personal here as, all jobs ask for a Bachelor degree etc, but not much experience is needed. Hourly jobs going are for those that are on recall, or a friend of a friend. Also the job requisition list online is outdated, the person that was to keep it updated has not done his job, as some are up to two years old. Now the job requisition number is to be given to the company, I have heard no one so far has got a job thru him. Some of the personal here, have up to 38 years experience with the company. At least two others, not including myself are very near retirement age. I am still under doctors care. I can not hold job back at the plant, as the job qualifications that I am using here are not recognized back at the plant. Though the plant sent out it's own people to certify myself. I said I have been doing my job seventeen years, but to hold a job, back at the plant I will be demoted.
On 31 July 03, an emailed copy of a pink slip was given to me, saying you are out of here and out of a job. I found out that the personal on the mechanical side, that was being kept were egress certified. When asked by personal why others had not been considered for the job, the company said, are they egress qualified now. Everyone from the 3 July to 31 July 03 could have got either, re-certified or trained on this system. I was not given that chance, nor am I now. There is plenty of time still, to allow us to get trained or re-certified before the 30 September 03. One person asked to get trained on the system just before anything was said about downsizing, he was refused his request.

All leave has been cancelled, no one who received their pink slip can leave the island until 30 September 03. From 1 October 03, I will be dumped by Lockheed as soon as I put my foot on the ground in the States. I will arrive back in the States homeless, jobless and have no way of getting around. I will not be allowed back into the plant, to see if I can get a job, or try to go and see people that might help me with the situation that I have been put in by the company. I will not get the 30 day hotel, or car rental, which is usually given. The reason given why was I was already given 60 days notice at Det. 1. Though I will be working these 60 days. I was not given the choice if I wanted to spend the 60 days at Det 1. I am not been given the chance to go back to the States, before being are laid off to either look for a job at the plant, or elsewhere, or find a place to live. There is no one here at that we can go talk with, no one helping us in anyway. There is no union, no HR, no ETHICS, nothing. We can't go no where for help. I think this is just how the company wants us, completely helpless, unable to tell anyone what is going on. Even when I get back to the States, I will not be allowed back into the plant, even if I might have bumping rights, it has happened before. The only thing that is keeping everyone going is the odd carrot that is put in front of our noses, that there still might be a chance of other jobs here or another overseas assignment. I have also just found out that at least two more people have been given letters stating that they will have a job either here, or another overseas assignment. One was given a choice to go to either, he chose here. The other was at the other overseas assignment. Both are less qualified than I am, they can't even do engine runs. One has only five years with the company, against my thirty two, with at least seventeen of those on field assignment. I also found out that they are sending one of them for two weeks training in the States to get trained on the egress system and palletizing. It was only the egress system that they had over me. The others that were retained, have a lot less seniority than me. One is a lot less qualified, than myself, I still show him what and how to do things. I was also told that there definitely wouldn't be any more jobs on offer, than those already given. I know that since finding out that we were to be downsized, all I have been told is that I can retire. I am more qualified than those that are being retained, only just alot older. There is alot more than what I have said, this is just a piece of what is happening here. All I would like to know is do I have a case for at least age discrimination.