At least 160 positions and as many as 260 could be eliminated from Defense Depot Ogden by September 1995, Commander Col. Russell LeBarron announced Tuesday.
LeBarron said he briefed worker representatives last week about the proposal."The good news is that the reductions should be able to be met by attrition and early retirements," LeBarron said. "We know that in 1995 we're going to have to remove some workers, but we feel we will be able to accomplish the cuts voluntarily."
He said the reduction is the result of declining workloads and denied an allegation by American Federation of Government Employees Local 1592 member Roger Pulido, who said lower-grade workers had been targeted as the first to be laid off.
Pulido said he will ask the union to file an unfair labor practices claim. Scott Blanch, the Local 1592 president who handles all media calls, was unavailable for com-ment.
LeBarron and the Defense Logistic Agency's Defense Distribution Region West (DDRW) spokesman Fred Greene said no specific positions have been identified for elimination.
However, Greene noted that in any reduction in force, "lower-grade workers are the most likely to take it on the chin because they have less time and seniority."
Defense Depot Ogden's work force has dwindled in recent years to about 1,900 employees.He said that in July, the depot was looking at having to cut more than 300 positions.