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Washington, D.C.-- The leader of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) today attacked as "unconscionable and completely unnecessary" a vote by the House Ways and Means Committee to cut the pay of front?line Customs employees engaged in the daily battle against illegal drugs.

"As a result of this bill," said NTEU President Robert M. Tobias, "the men and women of Customs will be performing the same arduous, dangerous, around?the?clock work they do now but for less pay." The bill could cut the pay of Customs employees by as much as $4,500 per year, he said.

Tobias was responding to action by the Ways and Means Committee to approve a Customs funding authorization bill which, while targeting additional funds for needed technology, cuts the night pay differential of Customs employees. It makes both fewer work hours and fewer work shifts subject to night pay.

Customs inspectors and canine enforcement officers work irregular and frequently changing shifts in the front?lines of the 24?hour?a?day battle against drugs, money?laundering and terrorism, Tobias said. He called the pay provisions, which NTEU will continue to oppose strenuously, "an affront to the efforts of dedicated Customs employees everywhere" at land, air and seaports around the country.

NTEU represents some 13,000 Customs employees, and, as the largest independent federal union, some 155,000 employees in 21 agencies and departments.

Tobias noted that ani amendment offered in the full committee session would have eliminated from the bill the pay issue, while retaining provisions, including those dealing with the need to fight on?line child pornographers, that carry widespread, bipartisan support. But the amendment failed on a straight party?line vote, with all Republicans voting against it and all committee Democrats supporting it.

"On a day?in and day?out basis, Customs work is among the most difficult and dangerous law enforcement work in America," Tobias said, criticizing the Republican majority for what he called "their failure to take into account the realistic and reasonable needs" of the men and women "who serve as the first line of defense at the nation's borders and who facilitate the legitimate commerce so vital to the country's economy."