Published: June 08, 2009 01:31 am         

Vance civilian workers start strike

At 12:01 a.m. today, vehicles filled with International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers began arriving at the west gate of Vance Air Force Base to begin a promised strike.

Strike coordinator Wendell Knouse said the union tried to contact CSC Applied Technologies a number of times Sunday, but the company did not respond.

“We will stay here one day longer than it takes,” said Knouse, a 311/2-year Vance employee who is vice president of union local 898.

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe came to Enid Sunday to talk with negotiators hoping to avoid a strike of Vance Air Force Base civilian employees.

In 2004, Inhofe made a similar visit as a strike loomed with a base closure round scheduled in 2005. Michael Lee, a spokesman for Inhofe, said there is no closure round scheduled this time, but a history of labor issues could have a similar result if another round is held.

“He was able to help negotiations last time and we’re hoping for a similar result this time,” Lee said.

Inhofe organized a meeting with Gary Richardson, project manager for CSC, and union executive Jerry McCune. McCune said later the two sides were unable to come together.

As time began to run out for a negotiated agreement, members of the IAMAW planned to strike against CSC Applied Technologies, beginning at 12:01.

The union, which voted overwhelmingly Friday evening to strike had received no word from the company by Sunday morning. The IAMAW is filing a complaint against CSC with the National Labor Relations Board for the company’s conduct during negotiations, alleging CSC has interfered with, restrained and coerced and is interfering with, restraining and coercing employees.

One of the differences is over company insurance. McCune, president and directing business representative of the IAMAW, said CSC canceled the best policy resulting in the increase of the cost of premiums and co-pay.

The union represents about 850 employees of CSC Applied Technologies, LLC and three subcontractors at Vance Air Force Base. This is the first strike since 1965, which lasted two months.

“CSC Applied Technologies is deeply disappointed by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ decision to call a strike of our Vance AFB workforce,” the company said in a prepared statement released on Saturday.

“We have worked diligently for the past month to reach agreement with the IAMAW in these negotiations. We hope that our employees will accept our contract offer and return to work. We are and remain committed to reaching a resolution so our employees who are represented by the IAMAW can return to their jobs.

‘Until our staff returns to work, CSC Applied Technologies will continue to support its customer. We will keep facilities operating and ensure that critical services are provided without jeopardizing safety, which is upmost [sic].

‘CSC Applied Technologies remains steadfast in our commitment to our customer – the United States Air Force and the men and women in uniform who depend on our support to defend our country.”

Vance Air Force Base was the first Air Force pilot training base to employ civilian contractors. Serv-Air was the contractor from 1960-1972, when the contract was assumed by Northrop, later Northrop Grumann. DynCorp took over the contract in July 2000. CSC has been the primary contractor at Vance since December 2002, when it purchased DynCorp Technical Services for $950 million.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local 898, represents about 850 of the total 1,100 civilian workers at Vance. Those employees work for the prime contractor, CSC Applied Technologies LLC, and subcontractors DenMar Services, M1 Support Services and PRI/DJI.

PRI/DJI provides base operating services, including logistics support, supply functions, environmental management, pollution prevention, base transportation, vehicle maintenance, aircraft refueling and bulk fuels and petroleum management and supply.

DenMar provides photography, graphic arts and base mail services.

M1 Support Services provides aviation and logistics services.

There are 1,193 military and 246 other civilians employed on the base. The agreement, adopted in 2006, expired at midnight Sunday.