Unions continue efforts to secure bargaining for TSA screeners

 By Christine Cave 
cyberFEDS® Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Despite previous setbacks in this Congress, efforts to secure collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Administration screeners are continuing, according to union officials.

The American Federation of Government Employees‘ legislative representative Charity Wilson told cyberFEDS® recent efforts by the TSA to create an internal board for employee feedback “does not come close to the arbitration rights that are extended to all other federal employees” who perform similar duties.

AFGE and the National Treasury Employees Union continue to rally support for H.R. 3212, which was introduced by House Homeland Security Committee member Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., in July.

Wilson said the language in that bill is nearly identical to a provision previously included in H.R. 1, which implemented recommendations by the 9/11 Commission. Democrats dropped the provision to get the bill passed.

“The TSA provision was dropped from the conference report because the White House said it would veto the bill if it remained,” Wilson said.

As a stand-alone bill, “the new legislation will be a more appropriate context to address the issues directly, get more information out there, and make our case,” she said. “We are gathering cosponsors for the legislation and look forward to the issue being taken up for discussion in hearings [this month] before the House Homeland Security Committee.”

Lowey has said the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security’s claim that employees should not be able to bargain collectively because it inhibits the flexibility it needs to ensure security at American airports creates job dissatisfaction and high attrition among TSA workers.

“This is exactly opposite of what the administration wants to accomplish,” she stated. “If this bill becomes law, we can replace the high turnover with professionalism and a career path that our screeners will pursue long term. We have to give respect to our workers, allow them to collectively bargain, and stop treating them as if they were replaceable parts.”

Kim Kraynak, an AFGE TSA employee representative, said turnover at TSA is also creating safety issues.

“There is currently a revolving door that leaves dedicated employees at higher risk for injuries because they have more tasks but do not get timely training to get the job done,” she said.

NTEU President Colleen Kelley said union officials are working with chapters across the country to take grassroots action to help secure cosponsors for the House bill. Most recently, NTEU worked with TSA employees in Atlanta to gather letters asking the Georgia representatives to sign on.

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