Army Announces Reduction in Force at Pine Bluff Chemical Activity

The Department of the Army announced today that a Reduction in Force will be conducted at Pine Bluff Chemical Activity, located at Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas.

Pine Bluff Chemical Activity, a subordinate unit of the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency, will eliminate approximately 79 positions resulting in 23 potential involuntary separations as a result of the safe elimination of the Pine Bluff chemical weapons stockpile. The positions will be eliminated effective July 16, 2011.

While the Reduction in Force will eliminate 79 positions, Pine Bluff Chemical Activity was able to reduce the number of potential involuntary separations to 23 through comprehensive transition planning efforts. Those efforts will continue through July 16, 2011 and may further reduce the actual number of involuntary separations.

Notices for the Reduction in Force were given to affected employees March 16, 2011, providing them with 120 days notice, which is double the 60-day notice required by federal law.

The Reduction in Force will leave approximately 78 positions at Pine Bluff Chemical Activity. These positions will remain in order to complete the actions required to safely close the Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility and inactivate the Pine Bluff Chemical Activity. Once those actions are complete, a second Reduction in Force will be conducted to eliminate the remaining positions.

Pine Bluff Chemical Activity continues to work closely with Pine Bluff Arsenal and its higher headquarters to reduce the impact of these Reductions in Force through normal attrition, hiring controls, the use of term and temporary hires, and the use of voluntary retirement and voluntary separation incentive pay (VERA/VSIP). Pine Bluff Arsenal opened a transition office in the fall of 2009 to provide employees with a one-stop source of information and assistance. The office is staffed with both federal and state counselors to provide information and assistance on retirement benefits, Army and DoD job placement programs, tuition assistance, and resume development and job searches.

The second Reduction in Force is tentatively planned for late 2012 or early 2013. While the date of notice for the second RIF is yet to be identified, affected employees will receive notices 120 days prior to the effective date.