“SecretaryNapolitanoclearlytookAFGE’sconcernstoheart,”Gageadded.“IwasgladtomeetwithherlastweekandwelcomeanyadvancesshemakesonthebehalfofTSOs.”
AFGEhasworkedcloselywiththeObamaadministrationontheissueofTSAbargainingrights.Duringhiselectioncampaign,ObamametwithAFGEleaders,includingGage,andinanOct.20lettertoAFGE,stressedthat“itisunacceptableforTSOstoworkunderunfairrulesandwithoutworkplaceprotections…Collectivebargainingrightsensurethatfederalagenciesrunaseffectivelyaspossibleandareabletofocusonprotectingournationalsecurity…agreementsalsoprovideanexcellentstructuretoaddressissuessuchasafairpromotionsystem,theschedulingofovertime,shiftrotation,healthandsafetyimprovements…”
AFGEhasapproximately10,000TSOmembersatmorethan100airportsacrossthecountry.Theunioncurrentlyhas24TSALocalsandisintheprocessofcharteringothers.
AFGEisthelargestfederalemployeeunionrepresenting600,000workersinthefederalgovernmentandthegovernmentoftheDistrictofColumbia,includingtensofthousandsofDHSemployeesinagenciessuchastheBorderPatrol,CitizenshipandImmigrationServices,ImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement,FederalProtectiveService,FEMAandTSA.
DHSSecretaryNapolitanomovestowardaffordingTSAofficersbargainingrights