Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, June 28, 2013
(UNDATED) - Workers at Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center and Naval Support Activity Crane soon will see the effect of across-the-board cuts to the federal budget that was implemented in March.
Starting July 8, one day will be cut from their work week for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends in September.
The reduction, known as a furlough, equates to a 20 percent reduction in workers' pay, according to the unions that represent workers. "The employees at Crane are dedicated workers and firmly believe in supporting our military," the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1415 and Fraternal Order of Police Local 158 said in a statement released Thursday morning.
"The secretary of defense has invoked the furloughs even though Crane is a working-capital-funded base, which means we work as business and have already been funded for the fiscal year. Furloughing at Crane will save no money and will cause the products and services we provide to military to suffer due to the reduced schedule to meet our mission."
Known as the sequester, the federal cuts were designed to slash $85 billion from the federal budget this year by cutting jobs and government programs, including in education, health and defense.
The unions said in their statement that during this furlough the number of firefighters and police officers at the naval base also will be decreased, "which could cause a severe security and possibly life risk."
In addition, the Burns City gate to the naval base will be closed, "causing a major impact to (U.S.) 231 as vehicles back up at the Crane gate from Loogootee to Bloomfield," representatives said.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.