Nearly 3,000 machinists and support personnel walked off the job at Fort Rucker on Monday after they rejected the latest contract proposal on Sunday. The maintenance and logistics support workers are represented by the International Aerospace Workers and Machinists Union (IAM) and cited working conditions, seniority rights, and overtime issues as the sticking points in continued negotiations with Army Fleet Support. The U.S. Air Force had contracted with Army Fleet Support to provide maintenance services to its entire helicopter fleet. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services have been called upon by both the union and the company. The U.S. Air Force is encouraging the parties to reach an agreement quickly and minimize the time that the Air Force base?s helicopter fleet is limited by the lack of maintenance.
See "3,000 machinists union member on strike at Fort Rucker", Leada Gore, All Alabama (AL.com), April 29, 2014