FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2010
June 25, 2010
Emily Ryan
(202) 355-8154
(202) 355-8154
TSA Union Welcomes New Agency Administrator
(WASHINGTON)-On behalf of its more than 12,000 dues-paying members, and the entire 40,000 Transportation Security Officers at the Transportation Security Administration, the American Federation of Government Employees today welcomed John Pistole into the position of TSA Administrator and pledged to work with the new TSA leader to improve morale, and thus, enhance security. Pistole was confirmed by the full Senate this morning by Unanimous Consent.
“This agency, and its tens of thousands of hard-working, dedicated and loyal employees, has been in need of a strong leader in order to fulfill its mission of protecting the security of this nation,” AFGE National President John Gage said. “AFGE hopes Mr. Pistole has the right combination of knowledge, experience and commitment to build TSA to an agency the American public can trust, and one in which its employees can be proud of. Gage has already requested a meeting with Pistole.
“AFGE looks forward to working with Mr. Pistole to create a positive labor-management relationship and to foster a healthy working environment for all TSOs,” Gage added. “It is essential that TSOs are afforded the same rights to negotiate over important workplace issues, due process, whistleblower protections, veterans' preference, appropriate salaries, fair pay increases, and leave policies as other federal workers—including other Department of Homeland Security employees, including those working for the Border Patrol, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Coast Guard, Federal Protective Service, FEMA, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement—all of whom are represented by AFGE.
“AFGE calls on Administrator Pistole to move quickly to grant these basic rights for fair treatment and a voice at work,” Gage said.
AFGE is the only real union to represent the TSA workforce since the agency was created in 2001. The union currently has more than 12,000 dues-paying TSA members in 38 union Locals nationwide.
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