Union, companies reach contract agreement

ENID, Okla. (AP) -- A local union has reached a tentative agreement to renew a contract with one of the city's largest employers.<br><br>The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers,

Friday, June 6th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ENID, Okla. (AP) -- A local union has reached a tentative agreement to renew a contract with one of the city's largest employers.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, DynCorp Technical Services and Trend Western Technical Corp. unanimously approved the tentative three-year labor agreement late Wednesday.

The union and companies released a joint news release announcing the agreement on Thursday.

DynCorp provides aircraft maintenance and other services at Vance Air Force Base. Trend Western is a DynCorp subcontractor.

Labor representatives will provide detailed information and answer questions about the proposed contract at a special meeting on Saturday, officials said.

Union members will vote on a final contract on Sunday. The contract renewal deadline is midnight Sunday.

"We're anticipating a ratification," said Jerry McCune, directing business representative for the IAMAW Local 898.

Jay Merz, the DynCorp human resources manager at Vance, could not be reached for comment.

The IAMAW began considering renewing a work agreement with DynCorp in January. Talks began April 15.

Labor representatives wanted to avoid problems that plagued talks 21/2 years ago when DynCorp representatives tried to lay off and demote more than 100 workers. Union members threatened to go on strike.

DynCorp is a part of Computer Sciences Corp., an information technology company headquartered in El Segundo, Calif.

About 850 civilian DynCorp employees at Vance are union members.