AFMC, AFGE union officials reach labor agreement

  • Published
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs Report
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Senior leaders from the American Federation of Government Employees Council 214 and Air Force Materiel Command have completed negotiations on a new master labor agreement that will affect approximately 35,000 of the command's civilian employees.

Scott Blanch, AFGE Council 214 president, and Gen. Donald Hoffman, AFMC commander, signed the agreement in a ceremony here Feb. 2.

Last negotiated in 2002, the master labor agreement is a contract between AFGE Council 214 and AFMC that governs matters affecting bargaining unit employees' working conditions. Negotiations for the new agreement were led on the union side by AFGE Council 214 President Blanch and on the management side by John Steenbock, AFMC Director of Manpower and Personnel. After just 15 days at the table, the two sides concluded negotiations in record time.

According to command officials, the new master labor agreement represents a management and labor culture that thrives on cooperation, teamwork and a "people first" philosophy.

To allow time for transition, the new agreement will not go into effect until April 1. This will also give union and management officials time to complete printing and distribution of the new agreement.

Employees included in the AFGE Council 214 bargaining unit who will be impacted by the new agreement are located throughout AFMC including Air Force Metrology and Calibration in Heath, Ohio; Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn.; Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.; Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M; Robins Air Force Base, Ga.; Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.; and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. AFGE Council 214 employees at Hurlburt Field, Fla., will also be affected.