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AFMC, union leadership reaffirm partnership

  • Published
  • By Kim Dawley
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Leaders of the Air Force's largest civilian employer and the military's largest employee union reaffirmed a strong partnership at their annual meeting as they sat down to discuss workforce issues here June 22.

Gen. Donald Hoffman, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, and John Gage, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, joined other command and union officials for a morning of briefings and discussions focused on programs designed to improve AFMC employees' work environment and give them greater opportunities to contribute to the command's mission.

The meeting highlighted the ongoing work of the command's Partnership Council, co-chaired by AFMC Executive Director Dr. Steve Butler and AFGE Council 214 President Scott Blanch.

Dr. Butler said the council's near-term focus would be on three initiatives: determining when issues should elevate from the local partnership council to the command partnership council, having a partnership discussion on the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program and moving forward with the new executive order on the labor-management forum.

The key to working through those projects, he said, is relationships.

General Hoffman -- who leads a civilian workforce of more than 58,000 people -- emphasized his commitment to continuing the mission and taking care of people.

"Our work continues," he said. "The rationale for why we exist as a command continues. Most importantly, the partnership we have with our workforce continues. It all starts with people. Without motivated people to do the mission, none of this would be possible."

Mr. Gage praised the relationship that has existed between his union and AFMC over the years.

"Thank you so much for your leadership and for keeping the partnership and the forums going," Mr. Gage said.

He added that many positive programs are happening in AFMC, including employee fitness and training programs.

Over the years the command's Partnership Council has tackled many challenging issues with positive results, including a successful alternative dispute resolution program, civilian wellness and fitness initiatives, computer access for shop-floor workers and emphasis on the Air Force Wingman concept.

The council was formed in the late 1990s, following several turbulent years of labor relations in the command. In addition to the co-chairs, the council consists of four union representatives, who usually are AFGE local chapter presidents from AFMC bases, as well as four management members, who typically are executive directors from AFMC centers. Most AFMC bases also have a local version of the council.