Tinker AFB To Offer Buyouts To 750 Civilian Workers

Tinker Air Force Base is offering buyouts in an effort to trim 750 civilian workers from its payroll.

About 9,000 civilians work at the aircraft maintenance center, which is the largest in the US Air Force.

This is the fourth round of buyouts at the base since 2011 -- with the first three leading to about 210 civilian employees leaving.

Union representative James Schmidt told The Oklahoman that he believes the goal of 750 employees accepting the buyout will be met. Schmidt said several workers who are 55 or older have been waiting for such an offer.

Tinker officials say the buyout offers are not related to automatic budget cuts known as sequestration or to other budget cuts that were ordered this year.