Paychecks dry up for RGV Border Patrol agents – who still have to work

[TexasTowelie]

McALLEN — Tuesday marks payday for Border Patrol agents assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Sector.

Don’t expect any smiles.

Thanks to the federal government shutdown, U.S. Customs and Border Protection can’t legally compensate agents for work performed after Sept. 30, leaving them with smaller-than-normal paychecks. The paychecks will cover late September, but not early October — even though agents worked normal shifts.

“It’s going to have a severe negative impact because people still have to pay bills,” said Agent Paul Perez, president of National Border Patrol Council Local 3307, the sector union. “Unless their creditors are willing to work with them individually, it’s going to create havoc for their household finances.”

During the government shutdown, agents who handle inquiries from the news media have been told to focus on essential work, which doesn’t include answering questions. They haven’t taken calls or issued news releases for about two weeks, and weren’t available to comment for this article.

More at http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_fb47b048-345a-11e3-8d8d-001a4bcf6878.html .

[SheilaT]

1. While I certainly have no way of knowing how many of these affected agents might have

voted for Republicans, I do hope they understand very clearly why their paychecks are being shorted.

And while I have enormous sympathy for their losing pay, I sort of wish they would actually be furloughed, meaning they wouldn't be patrolling the border.

Also, how is it legal to require people to work if they aren't being paid?