Furloughs bite for Customs workers

By CNN Staff

updated 2:09 PM EST, Thu March 7, 2013

CNN.com

(CNN) -- The union representing Customs and Border Protection employees sent out a press release Thursday saying furlough notices are going out to all 24,000 CBP employees it represents.

This comes as the forced budget cuts that went into effect less than a week ago are resulting in "lengthening lines of passenger and commercial traffic at the nation's ports of entry," the release said. The National Treasury Employees Union said it has begun formal talks with CBP over furlough notices. The notices of as many as 14 unpaid furlough days are expected to affect managers and supervisors, as well as the workers the union represents.

"There is no escaping the reality that sequestration is having serious effects on the traveling public and on vital commerce," said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley. "These impacts will only get worse the longer sequestration continues, especially as the busy summer travel season approaches." Sequestration is the word used to describe forced budget cuts.