CRANE —
Some workers at NSWC Crane protested in front of the base on Friday against upcoming sequester cuts.
Members of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1415 blocked off a corner of the town in front of the base’s visitors center to protest government cuts that will put many of the workers on furlough one day a week.
Meetings have been held at the base this week to discuss the cuts and official notices will be given to employees next week, base officials confirmed Friday. Crane is the hardest-hit area of the state in the sequester battle — about $36 million.
The sequester will cut the workers’ salaries 20 percent, according to Jimmy Colvin, president of the local union.
“That’s going to have a devastating effect on our employees in order to pay their mortgages, pay their car payments, electric, gas and put food on the table,” Colvin said. “This is going to have an effect on the local economy as well. We are going to have 20 percent less to spend.”
The cuts will start on the last week of April and last until the end of the current federal fiscal year in September for many at the 4,500-worker base. At the protest, workers said the sequester should not have happened.
“This sequestration and furlough could have been avoided,” Colvin said. “All they had to do was submit a budget, submit it to the president for signature and this would have been avoided.
Colvin, like many in the protest, believed their representatives betrayed them.
“We have been discriminated against and have been singled out, by the congressmen, to have the full impact of this on our backs,” Colvin said.
All the members had signs provided by the union saying “Stop Furloughs,” “Stop Sequester,” and “Stop Pay Freeze.” The group of about 30 walked next to the visitor’s center, chanting, “Hey hey, ho ho, sequester’s got to go.”
Passing vehicles honked in solidarity to the protest. Roy Pannell, a former national vice president of the union, said the soldier overseas suffers because of the sequester cuts.
“It’s unconscionable, it’s un-American yet they wrap themselves around the flag,” Pannell said. “These employees have made a decision to hold the defense of this country.”
Scott Arnold, the current national vice president for the union’s sixth district, said, “Sequestration was never supposed to happen.”
“These are federal workers and dedicated workers,” Arnold said. “They’ve given $122 billion towards deficit reduction when you talk about pay freezes. You talk about the decrease of pension contributions, no other group has given that much to deficit reduction.”
Lois Mitchell, Bedford, said she has a grandson going to Afghanistan. She wanted to make sure the items Crane makes in supporting soldiers got to him.
“The people who are over there now, we’re not going to be able to help them,” Mitchell said.
“If we’re not going to support the warfighter, who will?” Colvin said.
Colvin said he and local secretary/treasurer Mary Crow went to Washington D.C. in February to talk about the sequester at Crane with congressmen from Indiana. He said their requests were heard “on deaf ears” and representatives like 8th District Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Newburgh, and U.S. Sens. Dan Coats and Joe Donnelly should not be re-elected because of their inactions.
Bucshon, through a spokesman, disagreed with the notion he has not done anything and said the congressman has voted twice for a federal budget without the sequester cuts.
Tara DiJulio, spokesperson for Coats, said he also opposed the legislation.
“The men and women at Crane go to work every day supporting our warfighters and Coats believes Washington should cut the hundreds of duplicative and inefficient programs within our federal government rather than furlough hardworking Hoosiers at Crane and the uniformed military technicians of the Indiana National Guard,” DiJulio said.
Donnelly, through a spokesperson, said, “It is past time to for Democrats and Republicans to set politics aside.”
“Hoosier priorities are at risk because lawmakers were unable to focus on finding common ground and instead chose to draw political lines in the sand,” the statement read. “Discussions about sequestration should not be about assigning blame and winning political fights — they should be focused on finding alternatives both parties can agree to.”
The cuts that will go into effect in April could have far reaching consequences, Colvin and others said. The loss of funds will hurt the local economy, including the WestGate Crane Tech Park, and local schools.
Crow, who lives in Daviess County, said the cuts will hurt local charities. Federal employees are invited to donate to the charity of their choice through the Combined Federal Campaign.
“I don’t think people will be able to afford it,” Crow said. “This base has been well known for its people to be generous.”
News
NSWC Crane workers protest sequester furloughs
- News
-
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” -
Boat trip aims to raise awareness about Lewy Body Dementia
In 2013, the Year of the River, it makes sense to link a grand adventure on the Wabash River with a good cause.
-
Legislature had little taste for alcohol bills
When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Is it regulation that doesn’t make sense or evening the playing field?
I’m not much of a drinker, so I haven’t spent much time thinking about how Indiana’s alcohol laws personally impact me, but that changed last fall when my daughter got married.
-
For Piper: Annual ‘Rush the Punter’ event dedicated to Dixie Bee student who died Wednesday after a short illness
Steve Weatherford’s “Rush the Punter” fundraiser at Fairbanks Park on Saturday was dedicated to a little girl who lost her life unexpectedly to pneumonia.
-
Vigo schools prepare to tighten belts
State funding for the Vigo County School Corp. will remain “pretty flat” for the next two years, said Donna Wilson, chief financial officer.
-
Veterans take to the trees
Cristal Bednar took photos of her husband, Justin, as he laboriously climbed his way up a “Dangle-Duo” to get to a zipline at Indiana State University’s Sycamore Outdoor Center.
-
Property owner seeks halt to Hulman Lake dam project
A Terre Haute property owner is seeking an injunction that would at least temporarily halt the city’s work on the Hulman Lake dam project.
-
Tornado veterans balance preparedness, practicality
Few things in nature are less predictable than a tornado. They can form quickly. They strike weirdly, leveling one building while leaving its neighbor untouched. They can fling a car a half-mile and turn a piece of lumber into a wall-piercing missile.
-
ISU unveils interactive Bayh Family Legacy Wall at school
A who’s who of Indiana Democrats paid tribute to Evan Bayh and several generations of the Bayh family Friday during a dedication of a new interactive display at Indiana State University.
-
Can you smell me now?
A contraband cell phone has been discovered by the Vigo County Jail’s youngest and most unique officer.
-
GIVING BACK: Steve Weatherford buys shoes for kids day before charity run
Terre Haute’s Steve Weatherford, punter for the 2012 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, showed once again his generosity Friday by donating new athletic shoes to more than two dozen Vigo County kids.
- More News Headlines
-
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod
Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom
The all-new Xbox One
RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma
Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial
VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City
Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique
Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir
Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you
Reporter Cries Over Devastation
Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye
Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download
IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado
RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school
Robert Pattinson Moves Out
