Furlough update Published March 19, 2013 By Lois Walsh Team Eglin Public Affairs EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- UPDATE: Pentagon delays sending furlough notices to civilian workforce Pentagon officials have put off sending furlough notices to civilian employees until they've had a chance to analyze how pending legislation that would fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year will affect the Defense Department. Officials now estimate that furlough notices will go out on or about April 5, Navy Cmdr. Leslie Hull-Ryde, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said. "The legislation could have some impact on the overall number of furlough days, but no decisions have been reached, especially since the legislation hasn't been signed into law," Hull-Ryde said. "The number of furlough days at this point remains at 22." Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said the delay makes sense. "We believe the delay is a responsible step to take in order to assure our civilian employees that we do not take lightly the prospect of furloughs and the resulting decrease in employee pay," he said. Commander speaks with Eglin civilians It was standing room only at the Enlisted Heritage Hall for the first of four civilian commander's calls concerning sequestration, furlough and the Fiscal Year13 budget. Brig. Gen. David Harris, the 96th Test Wing commander, had a captive audience as he explained sequestration and its effect on Eglin and its mission. He said his goal was to have a conversation with those present, to hear concerns and answer questions about the topics that are on everyone's minds. "It's a serious time, a sobering time, but I think in the end, by pulling together, we will do just fine," the general said. "We're going to make the best of what cards we've been dealt." At the top of the deck is Eglin's share of more than $12 billion in the AF's budget reduction and loss of $1.8 billion congressional funding for contingency operations overseas. Eglin's portion, approximately $30 million, must be saved by the end of September. Also in play is the lack of a FY13 defense appropriation bill which essentially locks military spending into FY 12 levels. "If you want to start a new acquisition program that wasn't in last year's budget, you can't do that. If you want to stop a program that was in there, you can't do that, either," Harris said. A Memorandum of Agreement signed between Air Force Materiel Command's labor and leadership March 15 lays out administrative furlough procedures. It includes specifics, including the furlough stretching between pay periods starting April 21 until Sept. 21, for a maximum of 176 hours. Of approximately 4,000 civilians here, only 36 are exempt from the furlough due to the nature of their positions. The AFGE Local 1942 president, Rocky Tasse, stressed there are time flexibility options in the MOA and the need to work together with supervisors to look at each individual organization and the impact to the mission while being flexible in maintaining alternate work schedules and physical fitness. "We don't have a job if we don't have a mission," he said. "Please understand there are a lot of unanswered questions and we just won't know (the answer) until confronted with issues and situations." Both AFGE Local 1897 president Thad Wallace and Tasse stressed working together to minimize impact. Wallace mentioned the resources available to assist civilians during the furlough. "Make sure and utilize every avenue available," Wallace said. "I beg you, if you feel a crisis, please reach out, you're not in this alone," Tasse said. "We'll get through this and we've got to do it together. " The funds saved through furlough are approximately 1/9th or approximately 11 percent of Eglin's sequestration bill. Additional cost savings, like a civilian hiring freeze, cancellation of non-mission critical travel, non-emergency facility sustainment, and reduced flying hours are already in place. Efficiencies like reduction in energy usage, fleet management and routine facility work were initiated in anticipation of the March 1 deadline. A list of the most updated information on sequestion, furloughs and assistance can be found at www.eglin.af.mil.