Robins planning to hire 200 new aircraft maintainers

WARNER ROBINS -- After cutting hundreds of jobs in recent years through voluntary buyouts, the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex is hiring again.

While speaking to industry representatives at the Museum of Aviation on Thursday, a Robins Air Force Base union leader said there are plans to hire about 200 people in the complex in the coming months.

David Tucker, a trustee for American Federation of Employees Local 987, made the comment while discussing how improved relations between labor and management have better positioned Robins for growth.

The meeting, organized by the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce, was touted as a summit to build partnerships between the base and industries that want to do work there.

Brig. Gen. Walt Lindsley, commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, confirmed after the meeting that he plans to fill about 200 new positions. Most of those, he said, are aircraft mechanics in the F-15 and C-17 areas.

He also is planning to fill another 84 existing positions that are currently vacant in software maintenance.

Lindsley projects even more growth in 2017 and said there are no plans for more voluntary buyout offers.

Both Lindsley and Tucker told the industry leaders that they need not hesitate to take on work at the base over concerns of the working relationship with labor.

"The union is an asset to your partnership with Robins Air Force Base," Tucker said.

He said that while the union is focused on protecting the rights of the workers, and the base is focused on productivity, they share the common interest of growing the workload at the base.

To project and create jobs, he said, the union says it's important to work with the base on improving production.

"In protecting our bargaining unit, the number one thing I think about is protecting our job security," he said. "I want a guy to know that he has a job here as long as he wants it."

Tucker was a late replacement for Robert Tidwell, Local 987 president, who was on the agenda to speak. Tucker said Tidwell couldn't attend because of an injured shoulder.

Lindsley, who followed Tucker, told the audience he did not discuss with Tucker beforehand what Tucker was going to say.

"That is the level of professionalism that is now in existence out on the base," he said. "Partnering with me is partnering with a workforce team that I would put my money on any day of the week and twice on Sunday. They are that good, and there is no quit in them."

The Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex in responsible for maintenance on the F-15, C-17, C-5 and C-130, as well as maintenance on software and components of other aircraft. It is the largest unit at Robins, employing about 7,200 people.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 7:25 PM with the headline "Robins planning to hire 200 new aircraft maintainers ."