32 hour OT cap

This is an issue that seems to be revisited time after time. The 32 hour cap was put in place by meet and confer by this chapter and management. The idea of the cap was to allow less senior Officers a chance at overtime. In the past the overtime would "dry up" and the less senior Officers would not be able to have any OT at all. OT at that time was handed out only by seniority. Some of our senior members would be working 100 hours plus OT while the rest could not get more than a few hours of OT.

In current times this seems like the time to do away with the cap to some members. The fact is that the "Cap" is helping to reduce holdovers (holdovers that affect the less senior staff), as more Officers have a choice in jobs and would rather pick a job than be held. Allowing junior staff a piece of the action after the senior members have had a share of the available OT "DOES" reduce holdovers. In these times of reduced pay it is important that the less senior staff have a chance at the OT, for the same reason as everyone else, so they can make thier bills.

I am questioned quite often as to changing or removing the cap. I am personally against removing the cap altogether, but as a representative for the membership I have to look at the request from any member unbiased. More people need the Overtime than ever before, There is more than enough OT out there (a point that can be argued either way), these less senior members are at a lower wage than the more senior members (you're pretty hardcore if you do not think it does not matter that these people are grossing less than we clear in a check), And the cap still allows senior members to chose 4 jobs before anyone else gets a try at those jobs.

I think we are good where we are with the 32 hour cap, but then again I don't work overtime either. Please think it out before you suggest to remove the OT cap, Think about how it would have affected you if it had not been there when you were less senior! Think about how it would have affected you when OT was lean! Wonder how you would have bought those toys if it weren't for the OT you had. And then remember the less senior are trying to pay thier bills not buy toys! I expect to hear a lot about this post, so lets have it!!! R. Boulanger