Fort Stewart cuts 93 jobs to avoid privatizing readiness operation

FORT STEWART - Fort Stewart is cutting 93 civilian jobs to avoid privatizing its Directorate of Readiness, which operates Army airports, railroads and other services for deploying troops. <br> <br> The cuts allowed the Army -- which announced the five-year, $39.8 million contract Wednesday -- to outbid private companies hoping to assume the readiness operation. <br> <br> Starting in 2003, the directorate&#39;s work force will drop from 378 civilians and 50 soldiers to 235 civilians and 53 soldiers. <br> <br> Both Fort Stewart and its employees union called the announcement a success despite the cuts. <br> <br> The Army has moved to privatize some jobs since 1997, after Congress ordered government agencies to find leaner ways of doing business.