Military Says Civilian Furlough Days Reduced

Civilian workers at Alaska military facilities will take less involuntary days off starting next week.

On Tuesday, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson announced via the Department of Defense that furloughs for civilian workers will be reduced from 11 days (88 hours) to six days (48 hours). According to U.S. Army Alaska, most civilian workers have already taken five days of unpaid furlough, and will take their final day next week.

"The furloughs started the week of July 8, with affected workers having to take one eight-hour work day off without pay every week," John Pennell, spokesperson with U.S. Army Alaska, said. "Essentially a 20% pay cut."

"As a result of these management initiatives, reduced costs, and reprogramming from Congress, we have determined that we can make some improvements in training and readiness and still meet the sequestration cuts," Sec. of Defense Chuck Hagel said in a statement. "Our fiscal planning has been conducted under a cloud of uncertainty with the imposition of sequestration and changing rules as Congress made adjustments to our spending authorities."

In July, JBER employed more than 1900 civilian workers and in the Fairbanks area, there were 960 Fort Wainwright and 300 Eielson Air Force Base civilians.

Contact Neil Torquiano

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/52690989/ns/local_news-anchorage_ak/

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