Red River Breathes Sigh of Relief; BRAC Board to Keep Depot Open

Washington, DC – Late last week, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission voted on parts of the final BRAC list which is headed to the desk of the president for editing or approval by September 8th.  In a surprise move, the 9-member commission headed by Anthony Principi overruled the Pentagon on a number of items, voting to realign several major military installations originally recommended for outright closure.  One of the principal installations spared from closure and designated for realignment was Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas, where NFFE-IAM represents 3,000 workers.

“This is definitely good news,” said Sandy Moilanen, President of NFFE Local 2189, Red River Army Depot.  “We still have areas we are working on, but for the most part we are just really happy and relieved.”

The BRAC commission’s recommendation to keep Red River open certainly had much to do with the intense outcry from installation workers and members of the communities in which they live.  On July 11^th, nearly 2,200 Texarkana-area citizens made a seven-hour trip to San Antonio to stand protest at the regional BRAC hearing. 

“We appreciate all the help.  We couldn’t have done it without each and every person.  We are extremely grateful,” said Moilanen.

“We are so proud of the folks out at Red River,” said NFFE President/DBR Richard N. Brown.  “They demonstrated that when working women and men get organized and get active they can accomplish amazing things.  Red River is going to stay open and our country will be a safer place because of it.”

Although the depot has been saved from closure, the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant will be closed.    Additionally, the depot’s missile recertification program will be relocated to Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania, and its munitions functions will go to McAlester Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma and Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky.  About 130 jobs will be moved and slightly over 200 will be eliminated from Red River; when combined with the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant, the area will lose approximately 700 jobs.   

“We are going to do all we can for them.  It is our hope we can get something worked out,” said Moilanen.