EL PASO, Texas -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from El Paso complaining about poor working conditions and border security plan to picket Friday. Union leaders for CBP told KFOX morale at El Paso's international bridges are at an all-time low. They said employees are overworked and national security is compromised as a result. However, department officials told KFOX that's not true and bridges are safer than ever. Long hours are not uncommon for CBP officers at El Paso bridges, but Thursday the union for the officers said they are working too many hours and are planning a picket. "What they are doing is preordering overtime, so the inspectors are working as many as 12 days straight without a day off," said Jose Gonzalez, a representative of the union. Gonzalez said overworked CBP officers are less effective and may be compromising national security. "If your mind is not clear, it is going to be difficult for you to protect the borders and protect the front line and the people and the citizens," he said. Rick Lopez, a spokesman for the CBP, said long hours are part of protecting the border and the numbers show officer effectiveness is up. "CBP management has a commitment and a responsibility to our nation and the public, and that is their safety. We are going to assign our resources and realign our staffing in order to be able to meet that mission. Our seizures are actually are good this year. We are ahead of last year. We are excelling at marijuana, cocaine and document seizures," Lopez said. Despite the stats, the union is moving forward with Friday's informational picket "The picket it to let people know that if they are having problems coming across the bridges, if it is slow, it's due to a combination of all of these factors. If an agent is overworked, then it is going to take longer to inspect vehicles," Gonzalez said. A border crosser told KFOX she doesn't think a picket is the solution. "I believe they are told when they sign on, they know they are going to work long hours, so I feel for them but I wouldn't picket outside of my restaurant if I had to work an 18-hour shift," she said. CBP officials said long hours aside, those working El Paso's bridges are more than qualified and ready to protect the nation's border. "We are not going to have a CBP officer working if they are not feeling at 100 percent," Lopez said. The picket will happen at the Bridge of the Americas from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.