Yep, the Head of the Local IT Agency in the state has decided to go with Northrup over IBM.  The decision was just announced late Tuesday Evening, and of course the local PR Rage had it in the Wednesday Morning edition.

But! (The Big But) Instead of just being about 2,400 IT workers, the scope has crept to almost 6,400 IT and othert people (Some would call the others - Programmers - Eeeekk!).  This was actually not really news as originally they were talking about outsourcing the IT people (IT is the engineer/help desk side) and later bringing the programmers (eek!) under the banner.  So it seems they just moved up the later a bit.  I am sure the programmers (eek!) are probably pooping the proverbial adobe at this point, but they did know it was coming, just not so soon.

There is no real new news in this except, maybe not all current IT workers are going to get an offer to jump!  But they are not saying why not all will be offered.  I guess that will come out later (they are still saying dont expect to retire and no mass layoffs - mass being a sujective term).

Most of my fellow workers were checking out the latest offers from Northrup and whistling on the benefits.  Great for them!  Supposedly, once the governor and the General Assembly give the nod to the contract, and they start moving us over (for the 2nd time in 2 years - Yippeee!  More W2s!), our tenure with the state will be applied to Northrup so we dont lose Retirement time.

So now the plan is set.  The die is cast, and the players are in place.  Gentlemen (and ladies) Start your engines!