LAID OFF LLNL EMPLOYEES TO RALLY IN ADVANCE OF TRIAL

With the lawsuit of laid off Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory employees looming next month, a group of the former employees is planning a rally in Livermore Thursday. Gary Gwilliam, the Oakland, Calif.-based lawyer who is representing 130 laid off Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, employees, said in a press release that the employees will gather at the Robert Livermore Community Center in Livermore, Calif., at 5:15 p.m. Thursday. The first trial involving allegations that LLNS wrongfully terminated employees in a widespread round of layoffs in 2008, is scheduled to begin Feb. 6 and will include five of the laid off employees involved in suits against the lab contractor. LLNS laid off a total of 440 scientists, engineers, technicians and other support staff in 2008, citing a $280 million budget shortfall.