Furlough notices out soon at base

WPAFB, Ohio (WDTN) - Furlough notices could be out as soon as next week for workers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, according to base officials.

2 NEWS has learned the time frame for the notices is Thursday March 21st to Monday March 25th.

Thirty days after they get the notices, workers will have to take one unpaid day off a week for more than five months.

It may not seem like much but it adds up.

"I think it'll take a while for people outside the fence line to see those changes and see how painful they are," says 88th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Cassie Barlow.

Barlow says this is the first time she knows of that the base has done furloughs without later reimbursing workers.

That's why the base will hold an information fair March 20 to help workers deal with the changes.

The plan is also to give each employee a chance to ask questions.

"We try to make it a very personal experience so every civilian is being talked to by their supervisor," Barlow says.

Barlow is concerned that some of the workers will decide a government job just isn't for them anymore.

She's worried the base will see a spike in retirements or even younger workers opting for a different career.

"We're building and we're trying to develop them to be in positions 20 to 30 years from now," Barlow says. "We've already invested time and energy and years in them and we'd hate to see them go."

Barlow says she's not sure yet how many workers will be exempted from the furloughs but said the number will be "very small".