Special pay approved for wage-grade employees at Maxwell

Published Sept. 1, 2009
By Lt. Col. Jerry Lobb
908th Airlift Wing

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Celebrations broke out across the 908th Maintenance Group in July as word spread that special pay rates had been approved for the unit's wage-grade pay scale employees. About 84 positions in the unit are affected by the new special pay scale. Depending on grade, the hourly pay rates will increase an additional $5.24 to $7.30 per hour. The rates took effect July 5.

When Col. Brett Clark took command of the 908th Airlift Wing in June 2008, it was clear one of the biggest problems the wing faced was a shortage of maintenance personnel. The 908th has been regularly losing people to higher paying jobs. Colonel Clark said the initiative to get special pay rates is one of the most important things that could be done to improve the wing and its ability to meet mission requirements.

Maj. Fred Proulx, 908th Maintenance Squadron commander, spearheaded the effort to obtain the higher pay. He started the effort by putting together a package in July 2008 when 27 of the 84 wage grade positions in the unit were vacant. Despite the shortage in people, the unit still maintained one of the highest aircraft mission capable rates in its numbered air force.

For the next year, Major Proulx frequently called and pushed the package as it made its way through the system from 22nd Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, Headquarters Air Force, the Department of Defense's Civilian Personnel Management Service and finally to the Office of Personnel Management.

Major Proulx said it wasn't until December 2008 that he began to feel the special pay would be approved. Air Force Reserve units at March Air Reserve Base, Calif.; Homestead ARB, Fla.; and Westover ARB, Mass., submitted similar requests. One of the major hurdles to increasing the pay was finding comparable aircraft mechanics in the region to establish a fair prevailing wage rate.

The major said the Civilian Personnel Management Service gave the effort a big push by examining the prevailing wage rates for contracted civilians maintaining helicopters at Fort Rucker, in Dothan, Ala. Using those figures as a comparison, it was clear the pay scale then used at Maxwell was too low. Finally, Major Proulx received an e-mail from the Office of Personnel Management and 22nd Air Force stating the special pay rates had been approved and would go into effect July 5.

"I think the news is just sinking in," said Lt. Col. Cauley VonHoffman, 908th Maintenance Group commander.

She said many of the long-time employees have heard this was coming for years. Many of them had begun to doubt if it was ever going to happen.

One wage grade employee, Rory Lapres, said the increase will allow him and his wife to buy a house in the area. They currently live in Auburn and Atlanta. The increase in pay is enough to make settling here possible for them.

Another beneficiary of the increased pay is D'Wayne Guice.

"It is almost unbelievable," Mr. Guice said. "Given all the bad economic news it is hard to believe we are getting a raise. It says a lot about our leadership and the commitment they made to fix this problem."

He said this increase will allow him and his wife to pay to complete their degrees and to build college funds for their kids.

Major Proulx reports the mere prospect of higher pay has led several employees to accept positions with the 908th that otherwise may have gone elsewhere. From a high of about 30 vacancies, the unit currently has 13 vacancies.

"I'd like to thank the long-term employees for their efforts to keep our aircraft flying through all the many challenges," said Colonel Clark. "I hope the special pay rates help you and your families. I also hope it helps us recruit a full staff, so you can keep the aircraft flying and spend more time at home."