1) Use the "Lock Labels" tool on the labeling toolbar with Maplex. <a href="http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.3/index.cfm?topicname=labeling_toolbar_with_maplex" target="_blank">http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.3/index.cfm?topicname=labeling_toolbar_with_maplex</a>2) Use annotations instead of labeling.<a href="http://edndoc.esri.com/arcobjects/9.2/CPP_VB6_VBA_VCPP_Doc/COM_Samples_Docs/Maplex/71b24569-f9e7-44cd-9632-09ba62fbb0ae.htm" target="_blank">http://edndoc.esri.com/arcobjects/9.2/CPP_VB6_VBA_VCPP_Doc/COM_Samples_Docs/Maplex/71b24569-f9e7-44cd-9632-09ba62fbb0ae.htm</a><a href="http://edndoc.esri.com/arcobjects/9.0/default.asp?url=/arcobjects/9.0/Samples/Cartography/Labeling_and_Annotation/LabelsToStandardAnno.htm" target="_blank">http://edndoc.esri.com/arcobjects/9.0/default.asp?url=/arcobjects/9.0/Samples/Cartography/Labeling_and_Annotation/LabelsToStandardAnno.htm</a>