Thanks to the efforts of the members of AFGE TSA Council 100 and the national staff at AFGE, Transportation Security Officers can now look forward to better rights on the job, more money in their pocket, and a more powerful voice at their airports and with the agency itself.
After months of collective bargaining between the agency and the union, a seven-year contract was agreed upon on March 5. Two days later, TSA Council 100, which represents TSOs nationwide, started the 45-day ratification process.
“This new contract is yet another example of the growing momentum of our union members at TSA,” said AFGE Council 100 President Hydrick Thomas.
Certain agency-employee committees, for example, are normally controlled by the agency who took part in selecting members from the union. Now the union will get to pick whomever it wants to represent the employees.
“We have a national advisory council with TSA, and it was a joint selection process, and now the union will be able to pick who we want on it,” he added.
AFGE Council 100 Secretary-Treasurer Johnny Jones says that this new contract is the farthest TSA officers have come in the fight for Title 5 rights.
“It gets us very, very close to having Title 5 rights, the contract in itself. Once it's signed, it's going to be hard to roll back,” Jones said. “It gets us about 80% of what we've been wanting over the years. It's not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than what it was.”
AFGE Deputy Chief of Staff Amelia Glymph, who served as member of the bargaining team, said she is proud of AFGE and our achievements over the years.
“I am so proud of how far we’ve come and how much we’ve gained for TSOs nationwide,” she said. “My career with AFGE began in 2009 with me handing out showing of interest cards to TSOs at the Atlanta airport train station, explaining the importance of having a voice on the job and urging them to vote yes to forming a union and becoming part of AFGE. Here we are 15 years later, reaching a tentative agreement with the agency that expands workplace rights, puts money back into workers’ pockets and so much more. It’s such an amazing accomplishment.”
The negotiation process was a long one, but it ultimately paid off in granting the most rights for TSOs in the agency’s history.
“It's a huge leap,” said AFGE Legal Rights Attorney Chris Blessing, who took part in the negotiations. “AFGE has more than doubled the number of articles that could be bargained with TSA. But it’s more than just numbers – the substance is there, too. For example, grievance and arbitration processes are finally part of the collective bargaining agreement. These procedures are a significant improvement over the status quo and will enable employees and the union to effectively enforce all the new benefits they have just won.”
Here are some of the highlights of our historic wins!
1. A negotiated grievance and arbitration procedure to make it easier to resolve cases
Grievance procedure changes
For the first time in TSA history, TSA officers can now file a grievance with TSA over adverse actions such as removals, involuntary demotions, and suspensions of 15 days or more. A two-step grievance process—up from one under current TSA policy—also gives the grievant another opportunity to get the relief they are seeking
Arbitration procedure changes
If the case is not resolved during the grievance process, the union has the right to proceed to arbitration before a neutral third-party arbitrator. Previous rules that prevented arbitrators from mitigating discipline in cases where the penalty was too harsh (but was consistent with TSA’s Table of Offenses and Penalties) have been removed, making it easier for employees to get fair review over unfair discipline.
While some cases must go to standard arbitration and some go expedited, in many cases the union will now have the choice of which procedure it wants to use.
2. New language on progressive discipline
This new language will protect our members from unfair discipline. It makes sure that discipline is designed primarily to correct or improve employee behavior rather than punish.
3. New uniform rights
TSOs now have the right to wear polo shirts during the summer, shorts when temperatures are above 70 degrees, and a $966 uniform allowance per employee per year. This keeps TSOs cooler and puts more money in their pockets.
4. Better leave conditions
Sick leave restrictions have now been reduced to three months from four months, and absences supported by medical documentation cannot be considered as indicators of sick leave abuse.
5. Ability to bargain over local issues
Another key factor in the new contract is the ability for locals to bargain over localized issues like parking. Different locals obviously have different issues at the local level, and these new rights will allow AFGE TSA locals to negotiate with management on issues affecting their airports.
6. Historic wins for union power
All these gains empower our union and TSOs. AFGE Council 100 now has unilateral selection of Committee members. Contracts now have a seven-year duration. Local unions can now negotiate over certain subjects. We now have labor-management forums at the national and local levels to include our voice in decision making. We also have more official time positions for union representatives with additional hours to help us represent and empower members.
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