Thank you for the info. However, I personally know a family where the husband is/was border patrol in El Paso. I can clarify from their family what exactly the circumstance is. I remember that his salary was reduced to the point that they are not able to live comfortably, something also about significant job changes. I will check into it; your claims may be correct but don’t quite jive with what this family experienced.
My son is a BP Agent. Injured once on the job. Shot a drug smuggler once, as well.
Anyway, if you check with your friends they will tell you no GS pay-grade (or Step) salary reductions took place.
However, AUO is part of discussions.
I think this is where the confusion is, confusing AOU with salary.
AUO is basically an automatic “overtime” pay, best way to describe it. This is the focus of cost-cutting reductions.
Here is an informative link from a BP website (I am sure your friends in the BP know of it): http://forums.delphiforums.com/borderpatrol/messages/?msg=55549.1
Also, http://forums.delphiforums.com/borderpatrol/messages/?msg=55549.1
Your friends will verify this info.
Border Patrol was operating with “permanent” overtime, it was consistent and it was necessary so they could spend their shift in the field- overtime was used as commute time to and from their area of operations. The overtime was taken away- which amounted to quite a pay cut for agents- also took agents out of the field for X hours per day, commute time to and from the field is now taken out of their shift in the field. They may actually be in the field only 4-6 hours now, less in really remote areas.
It has cut coverage on the border, at any given time their are less agents available. Smuggling has noticeably increased. It has also caused financial hardship for those that lost the overtime that was set up as part of their regular pay- though technically it was always overtime.
It would have made more sense to sequester other personnel but this was all designed to cause the most pain.