Airport TSA Screeners Set for Organizing Vote

[amborin]

Airport Screeners Election Kicks Off

Jenny Brown | March 9, 2011

The much-maligned airport security workforce will finally have a chance to vote on a union and bargain collectively. The election starts today and runs through April 19.
A February decision by TSA administrator John Pistole set the stage for the representation election for 44,000 Transportation Security Officers. His directive states that TSA management will be neutral in the election. Voting will be by internet or phone
“Nine years ago it was basically written into law that a union wouldn’t exist at TSA, and we said, wanna bet?” said Terry Meadows, an organizer for the government employees union (AFGE). “Then they said OK, maybe you can have a union, but not collective bargaining, and we said, wanna bet?”
AFGE and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) will compete in the election.

Denying labor rights for airport screeners has been a Republican talking point since the agency was created in 2002. Pistole’s announcement came as Republican senators, led by Mississippi’s Roger Wicker, failed in an attempt to ban bargaining rights for screener through an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill.

snip

HALTING PRIVATIZATION
Privatization in TSA is a constant threat. AFGE has countered, with NTEU in its footsteps, and both unions declared victory in another skirmish in late January. Republicans wanted to increase the number and size of airports that could contract out security to private companies. Sixteen smaller airports currently don’t use TSA for their screening.

Uproar about overly invasive passenger screening procedures management instituted last fall gave more ammunition to the privatizers, but Pistole ruled January 25 that no more airports could opt out unless some substantial benefit were shown.


http://www.labornotes.org/2011/02/airport-screeners-gain-bargaining-rights-employer-neutrality

[SpiralHawk]

1. The FreeperBaggers (R) can thank themselves for Homeland Security

And then they can pack their bags and move to the godforesaken Totalitarian Homeland they so desire to be proles in...and leave America to Americans...

[ixion]

2. The irony of the TSA unionizing is staggering

They want to utilize democratic principles while simultaneously contributing to their demise.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Irony to hell and back.

[Xithras]

3. For the first time in my life, I hope a union vote fails.

Unionizing them will just make it that much harder to abolish the TSA. The entire agency needs to be eradicated.