Since AFGE and TSA signed the first labor-management agreement three years ago, AFGE has won numerous cases against TSA, tremendously improving working conditions for our country’s last line of defense against terrorism.
But over the last several years, TSA has increasingly limited the number of topics AFGE is allowed to voice concerns about and have implemented new policies that have undermined every favorable decision AFGE has won.
The current contract expires Dec. 9. As AFGE and TSA are back at the bargaining table for a new agreement, Transportation Security Officers are voicing support for the AFGE bargaining team through a series of informational pickets at airports from coast to coast. They want TSA to know they won’t give in to TSA’s attempts to rig the process and make TSOs second class workers.
The first two rallies were held at Miami International Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport on Nov. 7.
“It’s time for TSA to fully cooperate with the union and stop implementing policies that strip TSOs of the basic rights granted to all other federal employees,” said AFGE TSA St. Louis Local 912 President Ray North.
“We are demanding that TSA stop treating TSOs as second-class citizens,” said AFGE TSA Miami Local 558 President Lazaro Rodriguez.
Other rallies will take place at Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles International, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, John F. Kennedy, and Newark airports over the next few weeks.
“Our TSA Officers are standing with us,” said AFGE TSA Council 100 President Hydrick Thomas, who is on the AFGE bargaining team. “The AFGE TSA bargaining team is not backing down.”