From AF Daily Report 10 JUN 09
Contractor Strike Affects Vance Training: Normal flying operations have been temporarily suspended since Monday at midday at Vance AFB, Okla., following the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement between the base's unionized civilian employees and their contractor CSC Applied Technologies. The contractor provides support services and aircraft maintenance to the 71st Flying Training Wing, which conducts joint specialized undergraduate pilot training (JSUPT) for Air Force, Navy, and foreign military pilots. 2nd Lt. Lynn Aird, a base spokeswoman, told the Daily Report at midday yesterday that there had been no change in status. The base's T-1, T-6, and T-38 trainers aren't flying any sorties due to the loss of the contractor mechanics, she said. But JSUPT students are still taking part in flight simulations and their academic courses, she noted. Oklahoma City's The Oklahoman reported yesterday that there are approximately 770 civilian employees at Columbus, of which about 350 are aircraft mechanics. According to the newspaper, the issues between the workers and contractors concern vacation days, rules regarding paid time off, seniority, forced overtime, plus rising health insurance rates. In a release June 8, officials with the 71st FTW said they remain impartial during the strike, but look forward to its resolution.
**Just as I was retiring in 1990 there was a big push to 'civilianise' AF Jobs. The concern then was that some skills would be people who would not forward deploy. The argument was that converting jobs to civilians would be cheaper in the long run. I don't think the AF Leadership anticipated this kind of outcome.
Contractor Stike= No flying
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Contractor Stike= No flying
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Jumpshot724
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LOL, welcome to the civilian side of the labor force Vance AFB. My uncle works there as a contractor, although I think he's not part of the group that has resorted to self help.
What I find interesting is this: recent presidents Clinton and Bush have had no problem granting a Presidential Emergency Board to prevent airline pilots from seeking self help. You would think that in a case like this that directly affects the US military, that similar measures would be taken.
These folks are negotiating under the National Labor Relations Act which is a bit different than the Railway Labor Act. Maybe there is no equivalent to the P.E.B. in that act.
What I find interesting is this: recent presidents Clinton and Bush have had no problem granting a Presidential Emergency Board to prevent airline pilots from seeking self help. You would think that in a case like this that directly affects the US military, that similar measures would be taken.
These folks are negotiating under the National Labor Relations Act which is a bit different than the Railway Labor Act. Maybe there is no equivalent to the P.E.B. in that act.
-Mike G.
Recovering flight sim addict, constant lurker.
Check out my real life RV-8 build here: RV-8 Builder Log
Recovering flight sim addict, constant lurker.
Check out my real life RV-8 build here: RV-8 Builder Log
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From AF Daily Report 15 Jun 09
Vance Training Shifted: In the wake of an ongoing contractor strike at Vance AFB, Okla., the Air Force has decided to temporarily transfer 33 students and instructor pilots from Vance to Randolph and Laughlin Air Force Bases in Texas. They will resume training Monday at their new locations, according to an Air Force statement released Friday evening. The strike by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 898 against CSC Applied Technologies LLC has stopped work on aircraft maintenance and other mission-critical services, effectively placing on hold for the past week flying training for some 500 Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied pilots at Vance. In the statement, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said, "I take this issue very seriously and urge all parties to quickly resolve this dispute, as it is impacting our ability to produce pilots in a time of war." In a June 9 statement, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) expressed concern that a potential transfer of students "could have dire consequences for the future of Vance." He emphasized, too, that like many lawmakers he wonders if "outsourcing to contractors has gone too far." The CSC contract is up for review this fall. In a June 11 joint statement with the state's Congressional delegation, Inhofe said that a recent visit to Enid convinced him that there are legitimate complaints on both sides, but he said, "None of the issues I heard were impassable." He and the other Oklahoma lawmakers worried that the strike also would adversely affect the workers and the community of Enid, particularly in this still shaky economy, but feared long-term implications for the base if it cannot quickly resume pilot training. They urged creation of a 30-day bridge contract to allow workers to return to work as negotiations continue. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said: "Our state has never experienced a base closure. Our top priority should be to make sure that Vance remains open and active."
** I wonder if the Union will label this a 'strike-busting' tactic?
Vance Training Shifted: In the wake of an ongoing contractor strike at Vance AFB, Okla., the Air Force has decided to temporarily transfer 33 students and instructor pilots from Vance to Randolph and Laughlin Air Force Bases in Texas. They will resume training Monday at their new locations, according to an Air Force statement released Friday evening. The strike by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 898 against CSC Applied Technologies LLC has stopped work on aircraft maintenance and other mission-critical services, effectively placing on hold for the past week flying training for some 500 Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied pilots at Vance. In the statement, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said, "I take this issue very seriously and urge all parties to quickly resolve this dispute, as it is impacting our ability to produce pilots in a time of war." In a June 9 statement, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) expressed concern that a potential transfer of students "could have dire consequences for the future of Vance." He emphasized, too, that like many lawmakers he wonders if "outsourcing to contractors has gone too far." The CSC contract is up for review this fall. In a June 11 joint statement with the state's Congressional delegation, Inhofe said that a recent visit to Enid convinced him that there are legitimate complaints on both sides, but he said, "None of the issues I heard were impassable." He and the other Oklahoma lawmakers worried that the strike also would adversely affect the workers and the community of Enid, particularly in this still shaky economy, but feared long-term implications for the base if it cannot quickly resume pilot training. They urged creation of a 30-day bridge contract to allow workers to return to work as negotiations continue. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said: "Our state has never experienced a base closure. Our top priority should be to make sure that Vance remains open and active."
** I wonder if the Union will label this a 'strike-busting' tactic?
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Victory103
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Strike Over
From AF Daily Report 24 JUN 09
Vance Strike Is Over: Union members agreed Monday to a new labor proposal (see An End in Sight?), enabling them to return to work immediately at Vance AFB, Okla., ending a two-week old strike that sent a portion of the student pilots at Vance to other Air Education and Training Command facilities. A note on the Vance Web site simply states: "We're focused on putting our team back together to accomplish the mission. The base will undergo a process called 'reconstitution' to ensure that flying operations resume safely." According to a NewsOK.com report, some union members returned to work for the midnight and 4:30 a.m. shifts. A local union representative said the vote was 550-155 to accept the new deal with CSC Applied Technologies. In addition to transferring out some of its student pilots, Vance imported 31 Air Force firefighters from other bases in Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas to fill in for contracted firefighters. Sen. James Inhofe noted in a June 22 statement: "The impact of the two-week strike that caused a training shutdown at Vance was felt across the Air Force. It will take months to make up for the lost time, and the Air Force will have to shoulder an increase in training costs and widespread hardships." He expressed concern of the impact upon Vance's future, but he believes "Vance is too important to Enid and Enid is too important to Vance to allow contractual disagreements to get in the way of Vance's mission and the tremendous community support that Enid provides." (Includes Vance report by Joe Wiles)
Vance Strike Is Over: Union members agreed Monday to a new labor proposal (see An End in Sight?), enabling them to return to work immediately at Vance AFB, Okla., ending a two-week old strike that sent a portion of the student pilots at Vance to other Air Education and Training Command facilities. A note on the Vance Web site simply states: "We're focused on putting our team back together to accomplish the mission. The base will undergo a process called 'reconstitution' to ensure that flying operations resume safely." According to a NewsOK.com report, some union members returned to work for the midnight and 4:30 a.m. shifts. A local union representative said the vote was 550-155 to accept the new deal with CSC Applied Technologies. In addition to transferring out some of its student pilots, Vance imported 31 Air Force firefighters from other bases in Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas to fill in for contracted firefighters. Sen. James Inhofe noted in a June 22 statement: "The impact of the two-week strike that caused a training shutdown at Vance was felt across the Air Force. It will take months to make up for the lost time, and the Air Force will have to shoulder an increase in training costs and widespread hardships." He expressed concern of the impact upon Vance's future, but he believes "Vance is too important to Enid and Enid is too important to Vance to allow contractual disagreements to get in the way of Vance's mission and the tremendous community support that Enid provides." (Includes Vance report by Joe Wiles)
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