Daily Kos: I am Thankful for TSA Workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/11/26/155052/17?new=true

by Mike Elk
Fri Nov 26, 2010 at 12:55:12 PM PST

TSA workers have one of the worst jobs in America. Reports and surveys by the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General show morale among TSA workers is at record lows for the federal workforce and jeopardizes airport security. "It is no secret that the morale of the TSA workforce is terrible as a result of favoritism, a lack of fair and respectful treatment from many managers, poor and unhealthy conditions in some airports, poor training and testing protocols and a poor pay system" says American Federation of Government Employees National President John Gage. In addition to the poor treatment by their employers, TSA workers are the scorn of airline travelers everywhere as a result of the invasive procedure which they are forced to perform.

The only thing more outrageous than TSA's policy of invasive procedures is the fact the TSA workers are legally barred from collectively bargaining.

* Mike Elk's diary :: ::
*

As a result of a Bush era rule, nearly 50,000 TSA workers have no right to collectively bargain in violation of many international labor law agreements granting public employees the right to collectively bargain. Many other government workers with security sensitive jobs such as Border Patrol and Federal Protective Service officers, ICE agents, FEMA employees, DoD civilian have the right to collectively bargaining, but TSA workers don't President Obama had promised to grant the 50,000 TSA workers the right to collectively bargain, but has so far has yet to do so.

A glimmer of hope appeared when on November 12th Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) declared that TSA workers had the right to call a union election and join a union. Although, The FLRA declared that collectively bargaining and belonging to a union where two separate things and that workers would still be barred from collectively bargaining. TSA Administrator Pistole promised to rule shortly whether or not TSA workers would have the right to collectively bargain. Still TSA workers were jubilant because allowing them to a join a union would give them more strength to push for workplace improvements and eventually collectively bargaining rights.

However, the day after the FLRA granted TSA the right to a join a union, John Tyner launched his famous "Don't Touch My Junk" video protesting security procedures. To those familiar of the tactics of union busters, it did not seem coincidental that John Tyner decided to launch his attack the day after FLRA gave TSA workers the right to to join a union. The Rutherford Institute, funded by the union busting billionaire Koch Brothers, pitched his stories to reporters and helped book Tyner on major TV outlets. As a result of the media frenzy whipped up by Tyner's video, right wing forces are appearing on major TV outlets every night calling for airports to opt out of TSA security and privatize their own security forces. If TSA workers had collectively bargaining, it would be much more difficult for airports to privatize.

So this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the TSA workers who despite terrible working conditions, a denial of a fundamental right to collectively bargain, being under attack by union busters and scorned by many airline travelers, still continue doing their jobs. I am thankful for the TSA workers who despite such awful working conditions are keeping our airports safe this Thanksgiving season.

[jaxx]

1. K & R

[JDPriestly]

2. K&R

[CreekDog]

3. Is there a way to support unionization of TSA workers w/o impugning the motives of protestors?

protesters and dissenters?

some of us have not been treated well by TSA workers, but I still want them to have rights as employees.

and the other problem i have with saying that the "don't touch my junk" was somehow coordinated with the unionization rights --that's a really underhanded thing to say because both there was no need for a "don't touch my junk" protest until they were actually doing it, which began around the same time.

you don't have to be a conservative to have issues with this stuff.