By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
A bill awaiting President Obama’s signature would give Border Patrol agents three overtime options in an effort to cut payroll costs, the Washington Post reports.
The “Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime” would be replaced with a system designed to save what amounts to an average 80% reduction in overtime pay.
The House of Representatives unanimously supported the measure on Wednesday.
“The current pay system simply is not in alignment with the demands our border security places on our agents, and the mission has suffered as a result,” said American Federation of Government Employees President J. David Cox Sr. “This reform is absolutely crucial for bringing stability and predictability to Border Patrol pay and will make a huge, positive contribution to our agents’ ability to provide the most effective border security.”
The old system, which was meant to compensate officers whose obligations in the field required them to stay extra hours, was abused, The Post wrote.
Under the new system, officers can work 100 hours per pay period, about two weeks, and receive an annual 25 percent pay boost, work 90 hours and receive an annual 12.5 increase or work no overtime.
