Over nine months ago the VA reached an agreement with firefighters who work for the department to give them premium pay for Saturday work (1.25x their normal hourly rate). The VA agreed it owed the firefighters back pay to 2004, but because of a problem with payroll software, the firefighters have yet to receive the pay they are owed. Pingree wrote to VA Secretary Bob McDonald asking that he takeaction to fix the problem immediately.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree has turned up the pressure on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to come through on an agreement to compensate firefighters for back pay owed to them.
Over nine months ago the VA reached an agreement with firefighters who work for the department to give them premium pay for Saturday work (1.25x their normal hourly rate). The VA agreed it owed the firefighters back pay to 2004, but because of a problem with payroll software, the firefighters have yet to receive the pay they are owed.
In her letter, Pingree wrote: "Though all parties involved are in agreement that the VA firefighters are entitled to Saturday premium pay dating back to 2004, they have not yet received the back pay due to a technical glitch….We are aware that the VA is holding a “monthly meeting” to discuss the problem and we have been told that there is no anticipated resolution date.This is disappointing and we ask that corrective action be taken to immediately fix the problem…. These VA firefighters have already had to wait over a decade for the benefits they earned. It’s time to work together to find a solution."
Pingree wrote to VA Secretary Bob McDonald asking that he takeaction to fix the problem immediately. Pingree's letter was signed by sixteen of her colleagues.
Currently there are thirteen firefighters at Togus who are eligible for back pay. All across the country, VA firefighters provide around-the-clock protection for VA facilities.
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