TSA alters two pay regulations

Currently, some TSA hourly employees whose basic pay is higher than the GS-10, Step 1 rate are actually paid less when they work overtime, according to TSA spokeswoman Amy Von Walter. The Office of Personnel Management addressed this problem last year, but the fix did not apply to TSA because it falls outside many federal personnel regulations. The agency was created by Congress in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and it is exempted from many personnel rules included in Title 5 regulations.

Under the new rules, select employees who earn less when they work overtime will now earn their basic pay rate at all times.

"We are just getting in line with the OPM change from last year," Von Walter said Monday.

The overtime rule took effect July 25, according to the TSA announcement.

Personnel officials also introduced a rule that will allow part-time screeners, lead screeners and supervisors to receive Sunday premium pay. Currently, only full-time employees are eligible to receive the special Sunday pay rate.

Von Walter said the move was designed to keep part-time screeners on the job and happy.

"This is a retention and morale issue for our screeners," Von Walter said. "It is necessary for TSA to have a mixture of part-time and full-time employees."

The new Sunday pay adjustment took effect Aug. 8, according to the agency.