Mayor Ron Harding expressed concern [Jan. 21, 2015] to Army leadership
about potential force reductions at JBLM. At left, Yelm Councilor JW Foster.
Photo credit: Steven Wyble, Nisqually Valley News

– “JBLM’s [Joint Base Lewis-McChord] civilian workforce to take next big hit in military drawdown”

* Most of 900 projected cuts to come through attrition, retirement incentives

* Civilian cuts follow reductions to Army’s active-duty ranks

* Managers already keeping positions vacant as they prepare for cuts

“It’s hard to tell what the economic impact of the staffing reductions might have on the South Sound without more detailed information about the kinds of jobs that will be eliminated.

Cheryl Fambles, chief executive of the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, said local governments will want to know how many people are being laid off, where they live and whether they want to change careers,” quoting Adam Ashton, Tacoma News Tribune.
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