Members of Congress push for TSA contract

The push to get bargaining rights for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers began a decade ago. It was a long, slow struggle until late 2010, when developments started coming at a quick clip.

Almost 19 months ago, the Federal Labor Relations Authority allowed the officers, who screen baggage and passengers at the nation’s airports, to vote on union representation. Sixteen months ago, TSA Administrator John Pistole granted limited bargaining rights to transportation security officers (TSOs). Twelve months ago, after a runoff election, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) won the votes of TSOs to be their bargaining representative.

Loading...

Comments

• Weigh In
• Corrections?

Personal Post

More from PostPolitics

Is Joe Biden a liability for Obama?

Aaron Blake

Polls show the vice president was something short of popular -- even before his recent comments drew fire.

Paul Ryan’s stimulus problem

Aaron Blake

Ryan says he has never sought stimulus funds, but he has written letters on behalf of constituents seeking stimulus funds. So what's the difference?

Romney tries to shift tax debate

Chris Cillizza

THE FIX | Mitt Romney says he paid 13 percent in taxes for the past 10 years. But is the case closed?

But now, a year later, airport screeners in one of the government’s largest bargaining units still don’t have a contract.

“I’m quite sure the workers are frustrated . . . and a little anxious,” said Bill Lyons, AFGE’s first TSO organizer and acting director of the union’s membership and organization department.

The delay has been noticed on Capitol Hill, where two key members of Congress have told Pistole and AFGE President John Gage to hurry up and make a deal. Democratic Reps. Bennie Thompson (Miss.) and Nita M. Lowey (N.Y.) said the labor negotiations are at a critical spot.

In similar letters sent Thursday to Pistole and Gage, the lawmakers said that unless a final contract is agreed to within 30 days, outstanding issues will go to “a unitary dispute resolution system,” meaning arbitration, and that would further delay “implementation of critical workplace rights for TSOs.”

Thompson is the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee. Lowey is a member of the Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security.

Their sense of frustration with the pace of contract negotiations was apparent when they reminded Pistole and Gage of the 10-year battle to gain bargaining rights for the security officers, which Thompson and Lowey championed on Capitol Hill.

Although the letters were similar, the one to Pistole was more pointed.

“Now is the time for you to show leadership and personally commit yourself to securing a timely and fair agreement and implementing a third-party grievance review process for TSOs,” Thompson and Lowey told the administrator.

The union favors a third-party dispute resolution process, such as the Merit Systems Protection Board provides, but that apparently is one of the items the TSA finds objectionable.

The TSA did not comment on the negotiating details.

“TSA and AFGE have been working on a mutual agreement that represents the collective interests of our hard-working employees,” said David A. Castelveter, the agency’s director of external communications. “TSA looks forward to concluding the agreement with AFGE in a timely fashion.”

In a related development, Gage sent a memo to union officers Friday, claiming a “Landmark Arbitration Victory” over the TSA. Gage said an arbitration panel agreed with the AFGE that arbitration decisions regarding contract negotiations would be final.