On a warm June Friday evening, in a crowded union hall, workers voted overwhelmingly to go on strike against four civilian contractors at Vance Air Force Base.

The strike was judged the top story of 2009 by members of the Enid News & Eagle staff.

The employees, members of Interna-tional Association of Machinists and Aero-space Workers Local 898, were unhappy with the company’s final contract offer, which they said took away gains they had made in previous negotiations. On June 5 union members voted by a 96 percent margin to reject the contract offer, then voted by a 94 percent margin to strike against CSC Applied Technologies LLC and three sub-contractors.

Despite a last-minute visit to Vance June 7 by U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, attempts to forestall the strike failed and workers began walking the picket line at 12:01 a.m. June 8.

The work stoppage was the first at Vance since 1965. That strike involved 58 firefighters and lasted more than two months.

The 2009 strike affected every aspect of life on the base, paramount of which was Vance’s pilot training mission. Flying operations were suspended June 8, although ground training continued. On June 12, the Air Force announced it was sending 27 students and instructor pilots to two bases in Texas, Randolph AFB in San Antonio and Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, to resume flight training.

Efforts to get the two sides back to the bargaining table were unsuccessful as local, state and national officials called for an end to the strike during the walkout’s first week.

An informal discussion between union and company representatives June 12 failed to prompt any movement. As the strike stretched into its second week, CSC officials said they wanted to return to the negotiating table.

On June 17, union officials invited the contractors to return to the bargaining table three days later. On June 20, both sides met at the Cherokee Strip Conference Center

After a marathon bargaining session, an agreement was reached on a new three-year contract. Union members voted on the proposal June 22, overwhelmingly accepting the new pact by a 78 percent margin. Striking workers returned to their jobs the following day.

Flying operations at Vance resumed June 24.

There was only one reported incident during the 15-day strike. On June 8, a man identified as a civilian contractor was reportedly trying to jump in front of cars on the South Van Buren overpass. The 57-year-old male, who appeared disoriented and depressed, was taken into protective custody by Enid Police Department.

During the strike, union workers “adopted” a single mother and her children who lived near the picket line. Striking workers built a new house for the family’s water well, donated a new air conditioning unit, replaced the family’s front door and fixed the children’s trampoline.