When the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) first came into being, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) were completely subject to the whims of their managers, who could discipline TSOs for everything and nothing. This affected their morale and hurt their ability to do their jobs protecting the flying public.
AFGE fought alongside TSOs, and the workers voted to join AFGE in 2011 to improve their working conditions so that they could focus on protecting the flying public. We made enormous progress with a union contract, but the Trump administration earlier this month illegally terminated the negotiated contract with AFGE, prompting our union to file a lawsuit.
It's important to remember that Congress federalized the screening function to better protect airline passengers after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As the U.S. was fighting the war on terror here at home and abroad, TSOs shouldered the enormous responsibility of protecting air travelers and keeping our skies safe. Despite this important mission, TSA failed to provide decent working conditions to the very workforce that kept America safe.
It was not acceptable, for example, that TSA retaliated against TSOs for filing workers compensation claims after being injured on the job. When TSOs got sick from wearing uniforms laden with formaldehyde, the agency refused to replace them. TSA conducted performance tests of officers on the machines that they did not actually use and fired them for failing these tests.
AFGE recognized this problem early on, and we repeatedly pushed TSA to be a better employer. Even before AFGE and TSOs won a union contract, AFGE played a crucial role in protecting TSOs’ workplace rights. We forced TSA to comply with applicable laws through complaints and litigation, and in many cases, we won back pay for them.
AFGE will continue to serve as representatives for employees facing disciplinary actions/adverse actions. We can help them file:
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) discrimination complaints
- Workers’ compensation claims
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) health and safety complaints
- Grievances, utilizing TSA’s internal grievance process
- Office of Special Counsel (OSC) discrimination and whistleblower retaliation complaints
- Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals against prohibited personnel practices such as retaliation and discrimination, removals and suspensions of 14 days or more
- Unfair labor practice charges such as retaliation for union activities
- Complaints alleging constitutional violations.
Additionally, we can advocate for our members' rights before Congress.
The only way to fight back is to stand together as a union
By illegally ripping up the union contract, Trump is trying to move this important agency backward. TSOs must stand together and prevent your work from being lost to privatization. TSOs at several airports such as those in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Norfolk are already fighting back.
The only way to win back what the union negotiated in the contract —whether it’s shift trades, parking, uniforms, and more —is by standing together as a union. We can’t win back our union rights if we give up our union.
Stay in the fight and join AFGE’s E-Dues!
