After Red River Army Depot announced that it would lay off about 300 more employees this year, leaders of two organizations representing depot workers said they have reached out to the Texas governor.
International machinists union President Robert Martinez Jr. and National Federation of Federal Employees President Randy L. Erwin sent a joint letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott about the effects of laying off 306 International Association of Machinists members at the depot near Hooks, Texas.
The announcement came less than three months after nearly 600 Red River Army Depot workers were let go. The depot is about 22 miles west of Texarkana, Ark., and Texarkana, Texas.
The Red River Army Depot "is the main economic driver for the Texarkana area with a direct impact on communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas," Martinez and Erwin said in the letter. "A recent economic impact study completed by the University of Arkansas found that the May 2018 layoffs alone, totaling 585 [Red River Army Depot] jobs, would slash the region's economic output by $255 million and result in the loss of more than 400 indirect and induced jobs in the surrounding community."
The letter states that losing more jobs is unacceptable given the expected outcome of earlier layoffs. They also noted that the depot would lose significant technical experience and knowledge.
According to DeLane Adams, communications representative for International Association of Machinists workers, the letter was received in Gov. Abbot's office Aug. 8.
"We are still awaiting a response from the governor's office," Adams said. "We hope he will use his influence as Texas governor to intervene on behalf of the [depot] workers and the Texarkana economy."
Representatives from the Red River Army Depot and Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson's office were unavailable to comment for this article late last week.
"Our [International Association of Machinists] members have the skills and expertise to support the Army's mission at [the Red River Army Depot]," said International Association of Machinists Southern Territory General Vice President Mark A. Blondin. "We ask Governor Abbott to join the fight to keep this vital work and jobs at [the depot]."
International Association of Machinists members at the Texarkana-area depot maintain and repair military vehicles, including the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle. The Red River Army Depot also provides all four military branches with vehicle Mine-Resistant Ambush Protection and hosts the only rubber products division of its kind, which allows for work on any type of wheeled tactical vehicle.
International Association of Machinists and National Federation of Federal Employees requested the Texas governor's immediate assistance to avoid the layoffs.
The two organizations represent about 2,200 employees at the depot. Machinists Local 1243 represents federal contract employees, and National Federation of Federal Employees-International Association of Machinists Local 2189 represents federal term employees.
Metro on 08/13/2018