The House of Representatives on May 11 and 12 passed two important bills that would provide workplace rights and benefits to two groups of federal workers: federal firefighters and Transportation Security Officers (TSOs).
AFGE has been pushing for the passage of both bills, which now go to the Senate for consideration. Our union looks forward to working with the Senate to get both bills approved as soon as possible.
Here’s how the TSA and firefighter benefits bills would honor the employees and the work they do:
H.R. 903, the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act, would require TSA to follow the civil service statutes that provide workplace rights and protections to most federal government employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. It would put TSOs on the General Schedule pay scale with regular step increases, under which most federal employees’ pay is determined.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., would help reverse the high turnover and staffing shortages, improve employee morale, and strengthen national security.
H.R. 2499, the Federal Firefighter Fairness Act, would create an automatic presumption of disability for firefighters who develop heart disease or certain forms of cancer so that they can qualify for workers’ compensation. This is a benefit that state, county, and municipal firefighters already receive, so this legislation would bring parity for federal firefighters.
This bill, introduced by Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., would bring fairness and dignity to federal firefighters who protect and serve the American people by easing the difficult pathway to securing workers’ compensation benefits. Federal firefighters put their lives on the line every day they report to work, and they and their families deserve financial support if they become ill due to that service.