Contract employees strike at Vance

  • Published
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) --  Vance Air Force Base contract employees went on strike at 12:01 a.m. June 8 after a collective bargaining agreement expired between CSC Applied Technologies LLC and its three sub-contractors -- PRI/DJI, DenMar and M1 Support Service -- and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 898.

Normal flying operations at Vance AFB have been temporarily suspended and the base is currently assessing the mission impact of the strike.

Vance AFB is a joint specialized undergraduate pilot training base. Base officials train more than 400 Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied student pilots annually for worldwide deployment. Base officials train pilots in the T-1 Jayhawk, T-6A Texan II and T-38 Talon. 

"The (71st Flying Training Wing's) response to the strike is driven by several factors," said Col. Richard Murphy, the acting 71st FTW commander. "One is the concern for the well-being of our personnel, and the families who live on base. For example, while the strike continues, Air Force augmentees from Columbus AFB, Miss.; Altus AFB, Okla.; and Luke AFB, Ariz.; have been brought in to ensure that we have a fire department staffed to respond to emergencies on base. We also have security forces augmentees from this base activated to ensure the safety of base personnel and property."

Vance AFB officials coordinated inbound and outbound traffic to ensure neutral parties can continue to enter and exit the base freely, and to comply with applicable regulations and command instructions. 

Base officials said they look forward to the resolution of these negotiations, but remain impartial during the strike.