Talks stuck in neutral for unions, Air Force

[Omaha Steve]

Talks stuck in neutral for unions, Air Force

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130902/NEWS/130909832/1685#talks-stuck-in-neutral-for-unions-air-force

By Steve Liewer / World-Herald staff writer

Five Labor Days have now gone by since the contract between the Air Force and unionized workers from the American Federation of Government Employees at Offutt Air Force Base expired.

But after five years of talks, Air Force managers and leaders of AFGE Local 1486 have resolved less than half the issues on their agenda, said union President Julie Sheehan. The union represents about 1,000 Offutt employees, including nurses, day care workers, dispatchers, welders and security personnel.

“Here we are, no further along than we were before,” she said. “We're all very frustrated.”

Lewis Ensor represents 61 members of the International Association of Firefighters Local F-191 who work in Offutt's on-post fire department. They last negotiated a new contract in 1986. He said he has waited three years to restart contract negotiations, hoping AFGE's talks would wrap up.

FULL story at link.