11.17.11

Durbin Confirms Army will Preserve Nine Firefighter Jobs at Rock Island Arsenal

Assistant Secretary says Army will work to avoid layoffs during mandatory workforce reduction

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Tom Lamont, who confirmed that the nine firefighter and emergency medical positions will be preserved at Rock Island Arsenal.  According to Lamont, the cuts were mistakenly included in announcement of reductions to the civilian personnel workforce at Rock Island Arsenal and Army facilities nationwide. 

 

“Today, I was assured that the Army will preserve the nine firefighter and emergency medical jobs at Rock Island Arsenal.  Though the other cuts announced seem unavoidable, Assistant Secretary Lamont made clear that the Army will do everything it can to avoid direct layoffs mostly through hiring freezes, early retirement incentives and reassignments,” said Durbin.

 

“At a time when state and local officials are being forced to make difficult decisions in order to balance their budgets, it is good news that the Arsenal and the Quad Cities region will not be without these essential jobs and public safety capabilities.”

 

According to the Army, Rock Island Arsenal is scheduled to lose 125 positions by October of next year – the Garrison, which operates the base is slated to lose 74 while the Joint Munitions Command and Army Sustainment Command will lose a combined 49 positions.  None of the reductions are expected to come from the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center.