Feb. 16, 2007
HOUSE VOTE TO GRANT TSA OFFICERS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS TO BE TOPIC ON NEXT WEEK’S “INSIDE GOVERNMENT”
CREATION OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MEMORIAL WALL ALSO TO BE DISCUSSED
WASHINGTON—The House’s decision to grant TSA officers collective bargaining rights will be next week’s topic on the American Federation of Government Employees’ (AFGE) radio program “Inside Government”. Charity Wilson, AFGE legislative representative, will discuss the vote. The program will also feature Barbara Heckman-Sauer, a federal police officer with the VA hospital in Kerrville, TX, who will highlight the creation of a federal law enforcement officer memorial wall in Washington, D.C. The show will air on Friday, Feb. 23 at 10:00 a.m. EST nationwide on www.federalnewsradio.com and 1050 AM in the Washington, D.C., area.
“Inside Government” is a one-hour weekly nationwide radio/Internet program dedicated to issues that impact all federal and D.C. government employees. In launching “Inside Government”, AFGE became one of the first unions and the only federal workers’ union to have a national broadcast program on the air.
The program, hosted by AFGE Assistant General Counsel Ward Morrow, debuted June 30 and can be heard Fridays at 10:00 a.m. EST nationally on demand (available anytime) at www.federalnewsradio.com or 1050 AM in the Washington, D.C., area.
“Through ‘Inside Government’, we are able to bring the issues that impact all federal and D.C. government workers to a national audience on a regular basis,” said AFGE National President John Gage, who is the show’s creator and executive producer. “This show gives the real story on what is happening inside our government agencies and the rights of federal and D.C. government employees.”
Programs are archived on the Federal News Radio Web site and can be heard on demand (available anytime) at http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=300. Federal News Radio is one of the most popular online news stations in the country, according to the Baltimore Sun/New York Times Syndicate.
“Inside Government” is also available to more than 70 million iPod users through Apple’s iTunes music download software. The program is available via podcast, located at the following link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=212048686. Users must install iTunes on their computers before accessing “Inside Government” via podcast.
For more information, please e-mail InsideGovernment@afge.org or go to www.federalnewsradio.com
Please note there will be a short advertisement prior to the start of the program.
Thinking about joining AFGE? Visit www.afge.org for more information
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.
February 16, 2007
Effort to Give TSA Screeners Union Rights Advances
By Stephen Barr
Source: Washington Post
It was a good day for unions.
A Senate committee yesterday approved a measure that would give collective-bargaining rights to about 43,000 airport screeners at the Transportation Security Administration. The committee's action followed House approval of similar legislation last month.
If the Senate goes along with the committee's decision, the issue of union rights for TSA screeners is likely to provoke a rare clash with the White House over federal workplace rules. After the House vote, the Bush administration vowed to oppose the legislation.
The American Federation of Government Employees, which has pushed hard to bring TSA screeners into the union fold, praised the committee's decision and predicted the measure would improve working conditions for screeners.
"It is good news," said John Gage, the union president. AFGE plans to bring about 800 members to Washington near the end of this month to lobby Congress on behalf of the screeners, he said.
"We have some work to do with the Republican side of the aisle, and I think we will be successful."
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, proposed the union-rights amendment to the Senate bill that would implement unfinished recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission. He prevailed on a party-line vote of 9 to 8.
As part of the response to the 2001 terrorist attacks, Congress created the TSA to take charge of passenger and baggage screening at the nation's airports. It also provided the head of the TSA with leeway to set personnel rules and ban unions.
The TSA later merged into the Department of Homeland Security, where unions filed suit to stop proposed curbs to bargaining rights.
But Lieberman said "personnel management has been troubled at TSA" and concluded that "it is time to give TSA screeners parity with other security officers within TSA and DHS in terms of their employment rights and protections."
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a committee member, spoke against Lieberman's amendment. He said there have not been sufficient hearings on unionization of TSA workers, that the 9/11 Commission Report did not recommend it, and that allowing unions at the TSA would strip the agency of its ability to quickly deploy employees to respond to terrorist threats.
But AFGE had lobbied senators before the vote, contending that current law permits agencies to take whatever personnel actions they deem necessary to respond to emergencies. The union stressed that other law enforcement bureaus in Homeland Security, such as Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection, permit their employees to be represented by unions.
"Denying these people rights that everyone else has in Homeland Security is not based on any rational reason," said Gage, who brought a TSA screener from New Haven, Conn., this week to meet with Lieberman and explain why screeners should be able to join unions.
TSA officials said steps have been taken to ensure that security screeners can share their views with agency management. An employee advisory council brings in screeners from around the country to offer advice on compensation and other issues, and the TSA is rolling out a model workplace program to airports to teach employees and managers how to collaborate and resolve workplace issues, the officials said.
"This is our way to get our employees heard and let them have a voice and a seat at the table," said Gale Rossides, an associate administrator at the TSA.
The agency recently completed its first year under a pay-for-performance system that was designed with feedback from more than 4,000 employees, "telling us what was important," Rossides said
Turnover at the TSA is declining and compares favorably with the transportation and utilities industries, Rossides said. In fiscal 2006, the TSA's attrition rate was 16.5 percent, while turnover was 19.6 percent in transportation-utilities sector, she said.
"We are continuing to focus to drive that number down," Rossides added.
February 15, 2007
TSA UNION INFLUENTIAL IN GETTING SENATE TO INCLUDE TSA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS IN 9/11 COMMISSION BILL
AFGE Thanks Chairman Lieberman for Supporting TSOs and Introducing Amendment
(WASHINGTON) - As the only union representing the Transportation Security Administration workforce, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) today applauds the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for including in its 9/11 Commission Bill an amendment providing Transportation Security Administration officers (TSOs) collective bargaining and appeal rights.
“AFGE thanks Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) for introducing this very important amendment that will provide stability to the workforce that TSA and the flying public so desperately need,” AFGE National President John Gage said.
Gage met earlier this week with Sen. Lieberman to discuss the importance of including, and getting passed the TSA amendment. In that meeting, Gage introduced to Lieberman a TSO from New Haven, Conn., who offered first-hand experiences as to why collective bargaining and other rights are necessary for TSOs. AFGE has lobbied Congress for such rights since TSA’s inception.
AFGE worked closely with House Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and member Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) to ensure that a similar amendment passed in the House’s version of the bill. And earlier this week, after working closely with other members of a prominent Whistleblower Coalition, AFGE ensured that specific language covering TSOs was included in the House’s Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act.
TSA was created under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) in 2001. As in the House bill, the Senate amendment repeals a footnote in the ATSA that allowed for the TSA administrator to have sole authority over deciding on the issue of union and other labor rights for the TSOs. As a result of that authority, TSOs currently are deprived of collective bargaining and appeal rights. Not coincidentally, TSA leads the federal agencies in attrition and injury rates and discrimination complaints.
“With no protections, TSO’s are subject to workplace discrimination, retaliation, adverse actions, unscheduled mandatory overtime and fear of speaking out on issues of security,” Gage said. “AFGE has been the only union to provide representation before the Disciplinary Review Board, EEOC, courts, in Congress and in the media.
“AFGE is proud to represent the men and women who protect our nation’s skies, and thanks the Senate Committee members who voted in favor of protecting these dedicated workers,” Gage added.
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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia
February 14, 2007
AFGE PAVES WAY TOWARD RESTORING TSA WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION
Right to speak out essential in securing the nation, says union
(WASHINGTON) - After working closely with other members of a prominent Whistleblower Coalition, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) was instrumental in ensuring that specific language covering Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) was included in the bipartisan Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (H.R. 985) introduced today in the House of Representatives.
“Whistleblower protection is essential for TSA employees, who currently have no protection against management retaliation when they bring to light breaches of security or other wrongdoings,” Gage said. “It is imperative for the safety of this nation that these employees feel free to speak out on issue of security.”
H.R.985 closes loopholes in existing law that have made it nearly impossible for all federal employees to enforce their whistleblower protections when they face retaliation from supervisors for reporting wrongdoing. Unlike other federal employees, TSOs currently do not have an individual right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board for an independent, neutral review of whether the termination was unlawfully retaliatory for protected whistleblowing activity. Even when TSOs report retaliation to the Office of Special Counsel, the OSC can only make non-binding recommendations to TSA.
“Affording TSA employees whistleblower rights is a must for the agency to stave off its unparalleled attrition rate,” Gage said. “TSA has an attrition rate of almost 30 percent, compared to an average of four or five percent in other federal agencies. With that level of turnover, the professional, experienced workforce needed to protect our skies is unattainable.”
“AFGE thanks Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Todd Platts (R-Pa.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for introducing the bill,” Gage said. “This is a huge accomplishment, and we look forward to this legislation becoming law.”
As the only union representing TSOs, AFGE recently worked with members of the House of Representatives to get passed a bill that would grant TSA employees collective bargaining and appeal rights. AFGE currently is lobbying members of the Senate to pass a similar bill.
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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.
Feb. 7, 2007
AFGE VA, HUD COUNCILS TO BE FEATURED ON “INSIDE GOVERNMENT”
WASHINGTON—The American Federation of Government Employees’ (AFGE) Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development councils will be this week’s topics on AFGE’s radio program “Inside Government”. Carolyn Federoff, president of HUD Council 222, will discuss how budget proposals will impact HUD. Alma Lee, president of the National Council of VA Locals 53, will address rotation shifts for VA police officers, and the backlog of pending claims at the Veterans Benefits Administration. The show will air on Friday, Feb. 9 at 10:00 a.m. EST nationwide on www.federalnewsradio.com and 1050 AM in the Washington, D.C., area.
“Inside Government” is a one-hour weekly nationwide radio/Internet program dedicated to issues that impact all federal and D.C. government employees. In launching “Inside Government”, AFGE became one of the first unions and the only federal workers’ union to have a national broadcast program on the air.
The program, hosted by AFGE Assistant General Counsel Ward Morrow, debuted June 30 and can be heard Fridays at 10:00 a.m. EST nationally on demand (available anytime) at www.federalnewsradio.com or 1050 AM in the Washington, D.C., area.
“Through ‘Inside Government’, we are able to bring the issues that impact all federal and D.C. government workers to a national audience on a regular basis,” said AFGE National President John Gage, who is the show’s creator and executive producer. “This show gives the real story on what is happening inside our government agencies and the rights of federal and D.C. government employees.”
Programs are archived on the Federal News Radio Web site and can be heard on demand (available anytime) at http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=300. Federal News Radio is one of the most popular online news stations in the country, according to the Baltimore Sun/New York Times Syndicate.
“Inside Government” is also available to more than 70 million iPod users through Apple’s iTunes music download software. The program is available via podcast, located at the following link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=212048686. Please note users must install iTunes on their computers before accessing “Inside Government” via podcast.
For more information, please e-mail InsideGovernment@afge.org or go to www.federalnewsradio.com.
Please note there will be a short advertisement prior to the start of the program.
Thinking about joining AFGE? Visit www.afge.org for more information.
###
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.
Feb. 1, 2007
AFGE MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION DEPARTMENT TO BE FEATURED ON “INSIDE GOVERNMENT”
WASHINGTON—Sharon Pinnock, Director of the American Federation of Government Employees’ (AFGE) Membership and Organization department, will be this week’s guest on AFGE’s radio program “Inside Government”. Pinnock will address a number of issues, including pay-for-performance, collective bargaining rights for TSA officers, and the launch of AFGE’s new organizing campaign, “Smart With Heart”. The show will air on Friday, Feb. 2 at 10:00 a.m. EST nationwide on www.federalnewsradio.com and 1050 AM in the Washington, D.C., area.
“Inside Government” is a one-hour weekly nationwide radio/Internet program dedicated to issues that impact all federal and D.C. government employees. In launching “Inside Government”, AFGE became one of the first unions and the only federal workers’ union to have a national broadcast program on the air.
The program, hosted by AFGE Assistant General Counsel Ward Morrow, debuted June 30 and can be heard Fridays at 10:00 a.m. EST nationally on demand (available anytime) at www.federalnewsradio.com or 1050 AM in the Washington, D.C., area.
“Through ‘Inside Government’, we are able to bring the issues that impact all federal and D.C. government workers to a national audience on a regular basis,” said AFGE National President John Gage, who is the show’s creator and executive producer. “This show gives the real story on what is happening inside our government agencies and the rights of federal and D.C. government employees.”
Programs are archived on the Federal News Radio Web site and can be heard on demand (available anytime) at http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=300. Federal News Radio is one of the most popular online news stations in the country, according to the Baltimore Sun/New York Times Syndicate.
“Inside Government” is also available to more than 70 million iPod users through Apple’s iTunes music download software. The program is available via podcast, located at the following link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=212048686. Please note users must install iTunes on their computers before accessing “Inside Government” via podcast.
For more information, please e-mail InsideGovernment@afge.org or go to www.federalnewsradio.com.
Please note there will be a short advertisement prior to the start of the program.
Thinking about joining AFGE? Visit www.afge.org for more information.
###
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.
February 1, 2007
HOUSE INTRODUCES FY 2007 FUNDING BILL
Source: Fednews-online
The House Appropriations Committee yesterday introduced a $463.5 billion spending bill that would fund most federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year.
Congress must approve the joint funding resolution, which consolidates 9 of the 11 spending bills from the 109th Congress, before the current continuing resolution expires Feb. 15 if it wishes to avoid shutting down the federal government.
"I don't expect people to love this proposal, I don't love this proposal, and we probably have made some wrong choices. But in contrast to last year's Congress, which decided to duck these choices, at least we have made them in order to bring last year's issues to a conclusion so we can turn the page and deal with next year's priorities," said Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wisc.
The affected agencies have been working under a CR for four months and President George W. Bush is scheduled to release his FY 2008 budget next week.
Obey and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W.V., last December announced they would introduce a joint funding bill based on last year's spending. (See 110TH LIKELY TO ISSUE YEAR-LONG CR at http://www.fednews-online.com/?publicationId=9839.)
Unlike a continuing resolution, however, Obey's spending bill includes some funding above that of FY 2006, including federal employees' pay raises. (A summary of the funding deviations can be found at http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/CRSummary.pdf.)
Language in the bill precludes legislators from introducing earmarks.
"This decision does not come without pain. Many worthwhile earmarks were cut including the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Points of Light Foundation, and America's Promise. Hopefully, whatever short term pain this causes will be more than made up for in the long run," said Obey
