Screeners To Choose Union

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

The folks keeping airports safe now get to vote on who will protect them. The Federal Labor Relations Authority ruled last week that transportation security officers (TSOs) can vote on union representation. “It is no secret that the morale of the TSO 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,” said American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President John Gage. “TSOs need a recognized union voice at work.” With 50,000 TSOs eligible to vote, union leaders say this will be the largest such election ever in the federal sector. The vote -- between AFL-CIO-affiliated AFGE and the independent National Treasury Employees Union -- is expected to be held early next year. – photo: TSOs and supporters rallied outside the AFL-CIO in February, 2010; photo by Chris Garlock