ALZA Corp. faces layoffs in Vacaville

For the third time in 13 months, employees at Vacaville's ALZA Corp. on Tuesday faced another round of layoffs, this time the result of the firm's parent company, Johnson & Johnson, reducing its global workforce 6 to 7 percent.

[Layoffs R Us]

A lot of good people were lost at Alza in this layoff, and all of the other ones. But everything will be just fine, since Bill Weldon, CEO of Johnson & Johnson, just bought some beachfront property for 8.5 million $.

[Blame Obama Care]

The CEO's job is to look at the big picture. As an Associate at ALZA, I can understand the decision because running a business involves looking towards the future. With the pending Obama health care businesses need to brace themselves for that but also start planning strategically. If they don't do that now, even more jobs will be lost due to Obama care.

[in the know]

Blame Obama Care wrote:

The CEO's job is to look at the big picture. As an Associate at ALZA, I can understand the decision because running a business involves looking towards the future. With the pending Obama health care businesses need to brace themselves for that but also start planning strategically. If they don't do that now, even more jobs will be lost due to Obama care.

The systematic gutting of ALZA has been going on since long before Obama was in office. And I don't know how you can rationalize some non-existant boogeyman such as "Obamacare" (Would you care to explain what "Obamacare" is, and how it is going to impact drug manufacturers) as the cause of the current restructuring, which is totally due to corporate greed.

You're not a real ALZA associate anyway.. perhaps you're PSGA or GPSG or whatever it is now. ALZA had no operations in PA. Operations in Minnesota, yes, but not PA. Minnesota was shut down in 2002 or 2003.. but you're surprisingly close to JNJ corporate Headquarters in New Jersey...

So keep going shill. The rest of us actually care about those who are thrown into the already gigantic unemployment lines. JNJ could have kept these people on, kept their families fed, and kept a portion of the American economy running, but instead: The board of directors decided that they wanted to increase their quarterly profit by 10% and look good for Wall Street.. because that's the only thing that matters to them.

Remember:

Our Credo
We believe our first responsibility is to the doctors, nurses and patients, to mothers and fathers and all others who use our products and services. In meeting their needs everything we do must be of high quality. We must constantly strive to reduce our costs in order to maintain reasonable prices. Customers' orders must be serviced promptly and accurately. Our suppliers and distributors must have an opportunity to make a fair profit.

We are responsible to our employees, the men and women who work with us throughout the world.
Everyone must be considered as an individual. We must respect their dignity and recognize their merit. They must have a sense of security in their jobs. Compensation must be fair and adequate,
and working conditions clean, orderly and safe. We must be mindful of ways to help our employees fulfil their family responsibilities. Employees must feel free to make suggestions and complaints. There must be equal opportunity for employment, development and advancement for those qualified. We must provide competent management, and their actions must be just and ethical.

We are responsible to the communities in which we live and work and to the world community as well.
We must be good citizens - support good works and charities and bear our fair share of taxes.
We must encourage civic improvements and better health and education. We must maintain in good order the property we are privileged to use, protecting the environment and natural resources.

Our final responsibility is to our stockholders. Business must make a sound profit. We must experiment with new ideas. Research must be carried on, innovative programs developed
and mistakes paid for. New equipment must be purchased, new facilities provided and new products launched. Reserves must be created to provide for adverse times.

When we operate according to these principles, the stockholders should realize a fair return.

What Bullshit. Reverse the order, and you'll figure out who comes first.

[Working Mother]

Everyone who depends on the resource in Vacaville should move out of this area.

The City of Vacaville cannot compete with other communities any longer. Vacaville is dead. Even business owners are relocating outside Solano County.

Parents are moving out of the area, because the public school system does not provide their childern a quality education.

The local police department is corrupt.

Churches are filled with blabber mouth preachers who only pump up the drama and take advantage of peoples emotions.

Vacaville does not offer enough opportunities for growing families. The whole entire city is going into the inner city slumville!!

[Fred in Vacaville]

Working Mother wrote:

Everyone who depends on the resource in Vacaville should move out of this area.
The City of Vacaville cannot compete with other communities any longer. Vacaville is dead. Even business owners are relocating outside Solano County.
Parents are moving out of the area, because the public school system does not provide their childern a quality education.
The local police department is corrupt.
Churches are filled with blabber mouth preachers who only pump up the drama and take advantage of peoples emotions.
Vacaville does not offer enough opportunities for growing families. The whole entire city is going into the inner city slumville!!

"It's deja vu all over again."
-Lawrence "Yogi" Berra

[Barbi - VV]

Working Mother wrote:

Everyone who depends on the resource in Vacaville should move out of this area.
The City of Vacaville cannot compete with other communities any longer. Vacaville is dead. Even business owners are relocating outside Solano County.
Parents are moving out of the area, because the public school system does not provide their childern a quality education.
The local police department is corrupt.
Churches are filled with blabber mouth preachers who only pump up the drama and take advantage of peoples emotions.
Vacaville does not offer enough opportunities for growing families. The whole entire city is going into the inner city slumville!!

Martha? Is that you, Martha? Oh Maaaaaaartha....

[Bwhahahahahahaha haha]

in the know wrote:

You're not a real ALZA associate anyway.. perhaps you're PSGA or GPSG or whatever it is now. ALZA had no operations in PA. Operations in Minnesota, yes, but not PA. Minnesota was shut down in 2002 or 2003.. but you're surprisingly close to JNJ corporate Headquarters in New Jersey...
So keep going shill. The rest of us actually care about those who are thrown into the already gigantic unemployment lines. JNJ could have kept these people on, kept their families fed, and kept a portion of the American economy running, but instead: The board of directors decided that they wanted to increase their quarterly profit by 10% and look good for Wall Street.. because that's the only thing that matters to them.

Wow, in the know...
...YOU GOT SERVED!

[in the know]

Bwhahahahahahahahaha wrote:

<quoted text> Wow, in the know...
...YOU GOT SERVED!

Oh please, serve me. Blaming the latest in a long round of layoffs which have been occurring since 2002 (bringing the plant employment from 1500 to less than 500) on some proposed healthcare legislation which isn't even enacted (or close to it) doesn't seem to be "served". It's actually corporate shillery by someone who has no connection to the real entity.

Unlike him, I actually was an ALZA associate before JNJ, and I am familiar with climate of the Vacaville plant and how it changed under JNJ's incompetent, nepotic, greedy MBA-management.

It doesn't take a genius to realize that JNJ doesn't give a damn about the communities in which its plants are located, the employees on whose labor it earns record profit year after year, or about the quality of the products it produces (does anyone remember the hedging and hawing over the failed Duragesic systems, and how JNJ denied any wrongdoing for the longest time?).

So, Bwahahaha, let's hear it. Bring it. My dance crew vs. yours.

[Filter]

Blame Obama Care wrote:

The CEO's job is to look at the big picture. As an Associate at ALZA, I can understand the decision because running a business involves looking towards the future. With the pending Obama health care businesses need to brace themselves for that but also start planning strategically. If they don't do that now, even more jobs will be lost due to Obama care.

I highly doubt you actually work for Alza. If you did you would know JNJ’s decisions to start gutting Alza were made in 2006, far before the mortgage crisis and recession, and well before Obama came in to office. Rumors about Mountain View being closed were started in mid 2006. JNJ corporate may want people to think they need to do this to remain competitive, getting medicines to more people and more affordably, but this really is more about JNJ having this agenda ever since they bought Alza. Their agenda was to get the patents, transfer the technology and close the doors. It’s been nothing but a bunch of lies. If you believe anything other than this you’re extremely naïve.

[Filter]

"They must have a sense of security in their jobs. "

I guess JNJ will want to come out with a revision and take this out right? Of course this credo looks good to mothers buying baby powder so I guess they'll have to keep it in there. Bby the way baby powder, lotion, band aids, these are the only things JNJ knows how to make and sell. They screw everything else up.

[Son O Fire]

in the know wrote:

<quoted text>
The systematic gutting of ALZA has been going on since long before Obama was in office. And I don't know how you can rationalize some non-existant boogeyman such as "Obamacare" (Would you care to explain what "Obamacare" is, and how it is going to impact drug manufacturers) as the cause of the current restructuring, which is totally due to corporate greed.
You're not a real ALZA associate anyway.. perhaps you're PSGA or GPSG or whatever it is now. ALZA had no operations in PA. Operations in Minnesota, yes, but not PA. Minnesota was shut down in 2002 or 2003.. but you're surprisingly close to JNJ corporate Headquarters in New Jersey...
So keep going shill. The rest of us actually care about those who are thrown into the already gigantic unemployment lines. JNJ could have kept these people on, kept their families fed, and kept a portion of the American economy running, but instead: The board of directors decided that they wanted to increase their quarterly profit by 10% and look good for Wall Street.. because that's the only thing that matters to them.
Remember:
Our Credo
We believe our first responsibility is to the doctors, nurses and patients, to mothers and fathers and all others who use our products and services. In meeting their needs everything we do must be of high quality. We must constantly strive to reduce our costs in order to maintain reasonable prices. Customers' orders must be serviced promptly and accurately. Our suppliers and distributors must have an opportunity to make a fair profit.
We are responsible to our employees, the men and women who work with us throughout the world.
Everyone must be considered as an individual. We must respect their dignity and recognize their merit. They must have a sense of security in their jobs. Compensation must be fair and adequate,
and working conditions clean, orderly and safe. We must be mindful of ways to help our employees fulfil their family responsibilities. Employees must feel free to make suggestions and complaints. There must be equal opportunity for employment, development and advancement for those qualified. We must provide competent management, and their actions must be just and ethical.
We are responsible to the communities in which we live and work and to the world community as well.
We must be good citizens - support good works and charities and bear our fair share of taxes.
We must encourage civic improvements and better health and education. We must maintain in good order the property we are privileged to use, protecting the environment and natural resources.
Our final responsibility is to our stockholders. Business must make a sound profit. We must experiment with new ideas. Research must be carried on, innovative programs developed
and mistakes paid for. New equipment must be purchased, new facilities provided and new products launched. Reserves must be created to provide for adverse times.
When we operate according to these principles, the stockholders should realize a fair return.
What ****. Reverse the order, and you'll figure out who comes first.

You got to love it! What do you expect when mealy mouth, diversity is everything morons get a hold of corporations and forget the primary purpose of business is to make money and that's all. As far as "mission statements" and all that fluff, it is bull shit! Goodbye ALZA! Remember all those labor disputes and employee/mamagement dissatisfaction problems? All is moot! China, India. No bitching from them. They will gladly take the work!

[greed is good]

Private sector businesses are not charities. They owe their employees nothing except a day of productive hard work in return for a fair rate of pay. Anything beyond that is mere window dressing.

The only altruism expected from the board of directors is toward the stockholders, NOT THE EMPLOYEES.

If anyone hasn't observed it yet, the ratio of available jobs to labor (both white & blue collar) is way out of balance. An extreme surplus of workers. That makes the American working stiff a cheap commodity. As Max always harps, "you are paid what you are worth". And now, American workers aren't worth all that much when considering the supply/demand/salary curve in macroeconomics.

Are the boards of directors of private and public held companies obligated to pay a living wage or provide benefits such as a retirement pension or health care insurance?

I say not only no but, HELL NO!

This is what makes outsourcing labor to cheaper markets overseas seem so attractive. Even countries, such as China, who employ convict and slave labor are an attractive option that helps maximize profits for the corporation.

If I am the CEO of a major company and I have to make a decision between my job or the welfare of my labor, I'd chose my job any day.

Again, the object of business is not to be a charity but to make a generous profit for the share holders and directors.

While this may sound like pure greed, remember the words of the Michael Douglas character in the movie "Wall Street".

"Greed, for the lack of any other words, is good."

[Son O Fire]

in the know wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh please, serve me. Blaming the latest in a long round of layoffs which have been occurring since 2002 (bringing the plant employment from 1500 to less than 500) on some proposed healthcare legislation which isn't even enacted (or close to it) doesn't seem to be "served". It's actually corporate shillery by someone who has no connection to the real entity.
Unlike him, I actually was an ALZA associate before JNJ, and I am familiar with climate of the Vacaville plant and how it changed under JNJ's incompetent, nepotic, greedy MBA-management.
It doesn't take a genius to realize that JNJ doesn't give a damn about the communities in which its plants are located, the employees on whose labor it earns record profit year after year, or about the quality of the products it produces (does anyone remember the hedging and hawing over the failed Duragesic systems, and how JNJ denied any wrongdoing for the longest time?).
So, Bwahahaha, let's hear it. Bring it. My dance crew vs. yours.

WTH is an "associate" anyway? some contrived name for employee? HUH? Does the "title" seperate you from the rest of the peons in the company? This is exactly the mealy-mouth BS corporations have turned into. Concocted crud, disquised as "leading-edge" approaches to the "real world". Bullshiis! Corporate America has turned into nothing but a bunch of self-important, lazy, good for nothing morons and we just cry like babies as we watch our jobs go overseas and blame the CEO! Bullshiis! So what if the live in the Hampton's? You would too, if you could.

Jealous bunch of fools you are! Even if JNJ has made mistakes, all corporations make mistakes. It is called enterprise and you move on!

[greed is good]

Son O Fire wrote:

<quoted text>WTH is an "associate" anyway? some contrived name for employee? HUH? Does the "title" seperate you from the rest of the peons in the company? This is exactly the mealy-mouth BS corporations have turned into. Concocted crud, disquised as "leading-edge" approaches to the "real world". Bullshiis! Corporate America has turned into nothing but a bunch of self-important, lazy, good for nothing morons and we just cry like babies as we watch our jobs go overseas and blame the CEO! Bullshiis! So what if the live in the Hampton's? You would too, if you could.
Jealous bunch of fools you are! Even if JNJ has made mistakes, all corporations make mistakes. It is called enterprise and you move on!

In the current job market, there are two types of workers, Employees and Associates.

Employees are usually union workers earning a "living wage" along with other benefits as specified in a labor contract.

Associates are more than likely, non-union organized workers who work for minimum wage and no benefits. The term "Associate" is just a euphemism for wage slave. To see the difference between the two, compare the workers at Walmart with those of Raley's. You will probably notice a big difference, especially in their attitude toward customers. Those Associates at the big box are just marking time and are often rude or, at worse, indifferent toward the needs of the customers. At Raley's, the workers are always friendly, courteous and helpful toward customers.

That which is good for the company is good for America. Therefore, greed is good.

[kmar]

greed is good wrote:

<quoted text>
In the current job market, there are two types of workers, Employees and Associates.
Employees are usually union workers earning a "living wage" along with other benefits as specified in a labor contract.
Associates are more than likely, non-union organized workers who work for minimum wage and no benefits. The term "Associate" is just a euphemism for wage slave. To see the difference between the two, compare the workers at Walmart with those of Raley's. You will probably notice a big difference, especially in their attitude toward customers. Those Associates at the big box are just marking time and are often rude or, at worse, indifferent toward the needs of the customers. At Raley's, the workers are always friendly, courteous and helpful toward customers.
That which is good for the company is good for America. Therefore, greed is good.

Not all Walmarts are created equal.

[lol]

Son O Fire wrote:

<quoted text>WTH is an "associate" anyway? some contrived name for employee? HUH? Does the "title" seperate you from the rest of the peons in the company? This is exactly the mealy-mouth BS corporations have turned into. Concocted crud, disquised as "leading-edge" approaches to the "real world". Bullshiis! Corporate America has turned into nothing but a bunch of self-important, lazy, good for nothing morons and we just cry like babies as we watch our jobs go overseas and blame the CEO! Bullshiis! So what if the live in the Hampton's? You would too, if you could.
Jealous bunch of fools you are! Even if JNJ has made mistakes, all corporations make mistakes. It is called enterprise and you move on!

You must be severely disconnected from labor if you cannot understand a term as simple as associate. An associate is an at-will employee who can be terminated at the drop of a hat. An associate's salary can be revised at whim, and an associate can see his health-care costs and other benefits dramatically reduced without contractual agreement.

The American workers have little choice but to accept such maltreatment, as collectivization has become a dirty word.

[MrRealistic]

greed is good wrote:

Private sector businesses are not charities. They owe their employees nothing except a day of productive hard work in return for a fair rate of pay. Anything beyond that is mere window dressing.
The only altruism expected from the board of directors is toward the stockholders, NOT THE EMPLOYEES.
If anyone hasn't observed it yet, the ratio of available jobs to labor (both white & blue collar) is way out of balance. An extreme surplus of workers. That makes the American working stiff a cheap commodity. As Max always harps, "you are paid what you are worth". And now, American workers aren't worth all that much when considering the supply/demand/salary curve in macroeconomics.
Are the boards of directors of private and public held companies obligated to pay a living wage or provide benefits such as a retirement pension or health care insurance?
I say not only no but, HELL NO!
This is what makes outsourcing labor to cheaper markets overseas seem so attractive. Even countries, such as China, who employ convict and slave labor are an attractive option that helps maximize profits for the corporation.
If I am the CEO of a major company and I have to make a decision between my job or the welfare of my labor, I'd chose my job any day.
Again, the object of business is not to be a charity but to make a generous profit for the share holders and directors.
While this may sound like pure greed, remember the words of the Michael Douglas character in the movie "Wall Street".
"Greed, for the lack of any other words, is good."

Greed, in any rational view, has destroyed America. If we went by your logic, a future american population would see a boon in welfare recipiants, unemployment, poverty, you know, the people you love to loathe. Oh wait, is that happening now?

[MrRealistic]

greed is good wrote:

<quoted text>
In the current job market, there are two types of workers, Employees and Associates.
Employees are usually union workers earning a "living wage" along with other benefits as specified in a labor contract.
Associates are more than likely, non-union organized workers who work for minimum wage and no benefits. The term "Associate" is just a euphemism for wage slave. To see the difference between the two, compare the workers at Walmart with those of Raley's. You will probably notice a big difference, especially in their attitude toward customers. Those Associates at the big box are just marking time and are often rude or, at worse, indifferent toward the needs of the customers. At Raley's, the workers are always friendly, courteous and helpful toward customers.
That which is good for the company is good for America. Therefore, greed is good.

I was in a wal mart yesterday, and a raley's today, and agree with your comparisons of the workers. However, the last line of your statement was the most ridiculous line in this forum.

[Liftman]

Filter wrote:

<quoted text>I've gotta tellya.....the gutting was in the works BEFORE 2006. Try the late 90's when ALZA was hiring folks from OTHER companies that J&J razed. These folks tried to warn us (yes, I DID work for ALZA) and nobody listened at first. Then the crap started happening...first the mass lay-offs of the temps, then the name and policy changes. J&J has the reputation of doing just what we were warned about...farming out the technology overseas then gutting the company as a whole. It's all about CEO's coming in looking like heroes and slinking away in the night like thieves......where's the honor, people??
I highly doubt you actually work for Alza. If you did you would know JNJ’s decisions to start gutting Alza were made in 2006, far before the mortgage crisis and recession, and well before Obama came in to office. Rumors about Mountain View being closed were started in mid 2006. JNJ corporate may want people to think they need to do this to remain competitive, getting medicines to more people and more affordably, but this really is more about JNJ having this agenda ever since they bought Alza. Their agenda was to get the patents, transfer the technology and close the doors. It’s been nothing but a bunch of lies. If you believe anything other than this you’re extremely naïve.

quoted text>I've gotta tellya.....the gutting was in the works BEFORE 2006. Try the late 90's when ALZA was hiring folks from OTHER companies that J&J razed. These folks tried to warn us (yes, I DID work for ALZA) and nobody listened at first. Then the crap started happening...first the mass lay-offs of the temps, then the name and policy changes. J&J has the reputation of doing just what we were warned about...farming out the technology overseas then gutting the company as a whole. It's all about CEO's coming in looking like heroes and slinking away in the night like thieves......where's the honor, people??

[lol]

Liftman wrote:

<quoted text>quoted text>I've gotta tellya.....the gutting was in the works BEFORE 2006. Try the late 90's when ALZA was hiring folks from OTHER companies that J&J razed. These folks tried to warn us (yes, I DID work for ALZA) and nobody listened at first. Then the crap started happening...first the mass lay-offs of the temps, then the name and policy changes. J&J has the reputation of doing just what we were warned about...farming out the technology overseas then gutting the company as a whole. It's all about CEO's coming in looking like heroes and slinking away in the night like thieves......where's the honor, people??

The honor? Somewhere to the tune of $100 Million in Dr. Mario's bank account. That's where it is.