What Are They Really Saying?

From: ACTING COMMISSIONER WINKOWSKI
Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 2:06 PM
Subject: Budget Update

In my last budget update on April 1, 2013, (on April Fool's Day.) I advised you that President Obama had signed into law an appropriations bill that funded CBP for this fiscal year.  (We got the money to pay you.)  After closely reviewing the appropriations bill, DHS and CBP leadership have been working to mitigate, to the greatest extent possible, the impacts to employees which had previously been communicated. (We looked at it, and after the public outcry and pressure, we temporarily decided not to furlough.)  However, our FY 2013 budget contains nearly $600 million in sequestration reductions and as a result, CBP must make significant cuts across the agency, which will affect operations through the end of the fiscal year.  (Since you didn't support our version of Immigration Reform we will cut your pay, "as a result.")

CBP is working with DHS and OMB on Congressional reprogramming requests to move funding between various CBP accounts in order to preserve essential capabilities and mitigate the impact of sequestration on the workforce, while still meeting the overall reduction requirements.  (We are using this excuse of moving monies from one account to another account to say we are doing everything we can, but we are still cutting your pay.)  Based on our preliminary reprogramming requests and pending Congressional approval, the number of potential furlough days is expected to be less than the 12 to 14 days originally anticipated under the previous FY13 Continuing Resolution.  (Congressional approval? You are not following the Oversight of Congress?)  While we work to reduce the number of furlough days, we are also doing what we can to limit reductions to frontline overtime. (You will be furloughed and you will work less overtime AUO.)

We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available. (You will be told by managers how we intend to reduce your AUO to 20%.) Thank you again for your patience and for your continued dedication to our critical mission.  (Thanks again for waiting to be screwed.)

Thomas S. Winkowski  (I hate AUO and I will take it away.)
Deputy Commissioner of CBP,
Performing the duties of the Commissioner of CBP  (I will take it away from you on my watch.)

Translation provided by NBPC Local 1613 San Diego, CA