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Edwards employees receiving furlough notices

by Kenji Thuloweit, 412th Test Wing Public Affairs • May 30, 2013

Brig. Gen. Michael T. Brewer, 412th Test Wing commander, and Michelle Lovato, Edwards AFB Civilian Personnel officer, answer questions from supervisors during the last of three meetings announcing the furlough notices to be handed out beginning May 28. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenji Thuloweit)
Brig. Gen. Michael T. Brewer, 412th Test Wing commander, and Michelle Lovato, Edwards AFB Civilian Personnel officer, answer questions from supervisors during the last of three meetings announcing the furlough notices to be handed out beginning May 28. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenji Thuloweit)

EDWARDS AFB — Edwards AFB leadership began handing out furlough letters to the base’s 5,000 government civilian workers on May 28.

Supervisors are mandated to hand out notices to all of their Defense Department employees by June 5.

The duration of the government furlough will be 11 days, or 88 work hours, beginning at the earliest July 8. If it begins on that date, the furlough will run through Sept. 30, 2013.

Specific furlough days and hours will vary for each unit on Edwards.

The furlough is necessitated by the extraordinary and serious budgetary challenges facing the DOD for the remainder of fiscal year 2013, the most serious of which is the sequester that began March 1. The Budget Control Act of 2011, as amended by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, makes across-the-board reductions to budgetary resources for the Federal government. The furlough is proposed to help meet the warfighter needs while avoiding a deficit of funds in fiscal year 2013.

The administrative furlough requires significant due process under law. Upon acknowledgment of the proposed furlough, employees have seven calendar days starting the day after acknowledgment to provide an oral and/or written response to the deciding official’s Designated Reply Official. The response is not mandatory, but employees may reply to the proposal notice and to furnish documentary evidence in support of his or her answer. However, financial hardship cannot be the subject of the response.

“Also, the reply period provides an opportunity for the employee and supervisor to discuss discontinuous furlough schedules or request a time to make an oral reply,” said Michelle Lovato, Edwards AFB Civilian Personnel officer.” For example, an employee can provide evidence or rationale that would provide the deciding official information pertaining to significant impact to their unit’s mission if they were furloughed for 11 days/88 hours.”

Employees would need to participate in an oral reply meeting and furnish supporting documents for their response. They also have the right to be represented by an attorney, or any other person, at no cost to the government. If in a paid status, employees will be allowed up to four hours of official time prepare their reply.

Employees need to refer to their proposed furlough letter to obtain the designated point-of-contact to schedule an oral reply and/or submit a written reply. The deciding official will fully consider the employee’s reply and issue the final furlough decision to the employee prior to the start of the administrative furlough.

DOD employees can call the Employee Assistance Program at (800) 222-0364 for inquiries. Counselors at the 1-800 number are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Additionally, base leadership will hold two Commander’s Calls June 3 in the Base Theater. One will be held at 10 a.m. and another at 3 p.m. Helping agencies from the base along with California’s Employee Development Department will have representatives on hand to answer any questions and concerns.

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Filed Under: Edwards AFB

6 comments for "Edwards employees receiving furlough notices"

  1. Mr. Mister says

    June 17, 2013 at 11:03 am

    My mom got her notice as well…I do know that they are offering partial retirement for those eligible though. Basically they would work part-time, and retirement would pay the difference equalling full pay. However, their immediate commander/superior would have to sign off on it. GoOd luck to anyone impacted and sign that reverse sequester petition!

  2. Dick says

    June 17, 2013 at 8:49 am

    Apparently there is enough funds in the budget since local leadership decided not furlough base support contractors. Where is the equality?

    I also read another 120K federal employees that work overseas and in naval shipyards will be spared the 20% work hours and reduction in pay. It is unforunate for these hard workers since they could really use the needed time off and reduce some of their stress from doing more with less these past few years.

    Congress won’t be proactive in understanding the real impact to the economy and family, but as usual won’t act until there is a crisis.

    Those that oppose the gov’t furlough need to contact your local state assemblyman or congressman to express your concern and personal impact from the Sequestration.

    Also sign this petition to stop the Sequestration
    http://www.change.org/petitions/sign-on-to-reverse-sequestration

  3. QHR says

    May 30, 2013 at 10:23 pm

    The people that want to work get hit with a furlough. The people that don’t want to work continue to get government assistance. I got my furlough notice today – from a positive perspective, more family time this summer.

    • Yo Mama says

      May 31, 2013 at 8:10 am

      Sorry for your loss…Love the point.

    • sally says

      May 31, 2013 at 10:32 am

      QHR, stay positive and don’t forget besides having more family time, you still have a job. I lost mine due to county budget cuts and would have loved to take a furlough day over not having one at all.

      • somewhere says

        June 1, 2013 at 8:27 am

        stay positive lost my job 2 yrs ago i havent being able to find one yet enjoy the extra time with your family

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