Airport Security Officers Granted Basic Rights

TSO's win collective bargaining rights

This is great news for the tens of thousands of transportation security officers in the United States, who have been fighting for collective bargaining rights since their agency was created in 2001:

After a nine-year battle to secure workplace protections for Transportation Security Administration employees, the American Federation of Government Employees today praised Transportation Security Officers across the country for their unwavering commitment and tenacity in fighting for collective bargaining rights to be granted.

TSA Administrator John Pistole today announced that after an exhaustive review of data collected from TSA managers, employees and stakeholders, he has decided to grant partial collective bargaining rights to the TSA workforce.

AFGE National President John Gage today released the following statement:

"We have come a long way since AFGE first began representing TSOs in 2001 when the union took up the fight for a federalized security officer workforce. The granting of these rights is a step in the right direction and gets us in the door. After AFGE wins the election to be the sole union at TSA, we will move immediately to the table and be ready to negotiate.

"For nine years, TSOs have had to deal with issues of dangerous workplaces, discrimination, selective hiring practices, nepotism, management intimidation, and reports of lax oversight at the agency with only AFGE to stand between them and an often arbitrary and capricious management."

National AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka said the decision to allow TSO's a voice at work will benefit not only them but the security of the flying public as well:

"As a third generation coal miner, I know first-hand the differences in safety at the workplace for those workers who have a voice and those who don’t. When workers don’t fear for their jobs, they can raise concerns without fear of retaliation. Transportation Security Officers deserve the same rights as firefighters, police and emergency responders to use collective bargaining in their professions to make everyone safer. As we remember all too well, many workers who rushed to Ground Zero on September 11, 2001 and saved countless lives were union members and strengthened by their collective bargaining agreements."

Congratulations to the transportation security officers at TSA for your long-fought and deserved win.