Scott Air Force Base furloughs begin today

by Kevin McDermott, St. Louis Post Dispatch
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SHILOH   •   Today is the start of unpaid furloughs for about 4,500 civilian employees at Scott Air Force Base in the Metro East.

The 11 furlough days, announced in May by U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, are being spread out in one-day-a-week increments for 11 weeks for most workers.

“Most civilians are taking Mondays or Fridays off. Each unit that’s affected is deciding which day would be best based on their mission requirements,” said Lt. Korey Fratini, spokesman for the base. He said the duties of furloughed workers are being picked up by remaining workers as needed.

Although the furlough days have been spread out to lessen the financial impact on the employees, it’s still costing them the equivalent of two weeks’ pay. The base is offering financial and budgeting advice to employees, Fratini said.

Fort Leonard Wood in south-central Missouri is furloughing about 3,400 civilian workers under a similar 11-week process, starting today, officials have said.

The furloughs are part of the sequester cost-cutting deal hammered out by the Obama Administration and Congress for the current fiscal year. There’s no word yet on whether there will be more furloughs in fiscal 2014.