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Washington, D.C.-- More promotions to GS?11, maintenance of premium pay, improved retirement benefits and collective bargaining rights were among the issues the leader of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) raised to members of the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.

Today's hearing on an authorization bill for the U.S. Customs Service afforded NTEU President Robert M. Tobias, leader of the sole collective bargaining representative for almost 13,000 Service employees, the opportunity to tell members of Congress: more Customs inspectors and canine enforcement officers should be promoted to GS?11; irregular work shifts and the family?life sacrifices associated with them should continue to be offset by premium pay; overtime caps should be eliminated; Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) retirement rights should be extended to inspectors and canine enforcement officers; and collective bargaining rights?employee workplace protections?should be maintained.

Despite the detailed explanation Tobias gave lawmakers about the lives and work of the men and women of the Customs Service, he ultimately urged each to "visit the Customs ports your home districts. Talk to the inspectors and canine enforcement officers there to fully comprehend what their regular work lives are like. Then you may understand why NTEU will support a Customs authorization bill, but will strongly oppose any legislation that would limit the pay or rights of the rank and file Customs officers."