AFGE Files Petition to Exclusively Represent TSA Employees

Hundreds Rally to Call for Collective Bargaining Rights for TSOs

Washington, D.C., Feb. 23, 2010 – In a creative move reminiscent of its 2003 act to charter the first Transportation Security Administration Local, the American Federation of Government Employees yesterday filed a petition to hold a union election that would make way for AFGE to become the exclusive union representative for 40,000 TSOs nationwide.

An AFGE attorney and seven TSA Local presidents delivered the petition to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, which quickly moved to assign a docket number to the case, setting in motion a true path to a union election at TSA. Despite the Bush administration’s assertion that TSOs could not unionize, AFGE has again demonstrated that innovation and hard work are what it will take to deliver bargaining rights to Transportation Security Officers.

“While it would be ideal for a TSA administrator to have granted collective bargaining rights first, the two do not have to go hand-in-hand,” AFGE President John Gage said. “By settling the question of representation first, AFGE will be ready to begin negotiations as soon as the bargaining rights are established.”

Of the TSO workforce of approximately 40,000, AFGE has over 13,000 TSOs who have expressed interest in a union election. This is over the 30% ’showing of interest’ requirement for filing a union election petition.

“The need for these workers to have a voice at work is unquestionable,” Gage told the Feb. 22 press conference announcing the filing of the petition. “We are extremely happy to push the envelope on this issue.”

AFGE filed its first petition for an election with the FLRA in 2003, but the petition was dismissed because the FLRA did not believe it had jurisdiction over TSA. One FLRA member, Carol Pope, dissented from the majority opinion, saying that there are many things a union representative can do for workers without collective bargaining. Pope has been named FLRA chair by the Obama administration.

“AFGE believes the FLRA erred in saying there is no right to union representation without collective bargaining,” Gage said. “The right to a union is a fundamental human right that is not dependent on collective bargaining.”

But even without the election, more than 13,000 TSOs in more than 100 airports in 37 AFGE Locals nationwide have already spoken—declaring AFGE their union of choice. AFGE expects a speedy FLRA decision, so that TSOs nationwide can finally put to rest the question of union representation.

In a huge expression of support to the AFGE petition announcement, union pilots, flight attendants, [http://img.getactivehub.com/08/custom_images/afgerocks/smaller_TSA_rally_2010.jpg]  machinists, airport employees, and other AFL-CIO union members braved the winter cold and took to the streets today to join AFGE in what’s considered the largest labor campaign in the country – the fight for better pay and collective bargaining rights for 40,000 TSOs.

The fired-up union members gathered in front of the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C, just two blocks away from the White House. To the beat of the drums, the crowd chanted “Ho, ho, hay, hay, Union Rights for TSA!”

“What time is it?” AFGE President John Gage asked the crowd, which responded loud and clear – “It’s union time!”

Gage said TSOs need collective bargaining rights and workplace protections now so they can focus on doing their job of protecting America and don’t have to worry about discrimination and retaliation that are rampant at TSA. Gage said it is an insult to fire fighter and police officer – first responders to the 9/11 crisis – to say that being a union member prevents any worker from doing his or her job.

“It’s time to deliver a message to the senator who played politics with national security that threats are from terrorists, not from labor unions,” said Rep. Nita Lowey, D-NY, to a huge applause. Lowey – who introduced a bill, H.R. 1881, that  would grant TSOs collective bargaining rights and get rid of their controversial pay system – said the work that TSOs do is critical to the country’s fight against terrorism and they deserve a workplace that reflects that. She said it’s not a coincidence that TSA has the lowest morale in the government.

Several union leaders took turns speaking at the rally, including AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker, and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, Association of Flights Attendants International President Patricia Friend, Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen, National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Paul Rinaldi, International Association of Machinists General Vice President Robert Roach Jr., National Association of Letter Carriers Vice President George Mignosi, Transport Workers Union International Executive Vice President Harry Lombardo, Metropolitan Baltimore Council AFL-CIO President Ernie Grecco, and two AFGE TSOs Kim Kraynak, president of Local 332, and Ricky McCoy, president of Local 777.

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