FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2002
November 18, 2002
Diane S. Witiak
John Irvine
(202) 639-6419
John Irvine
(202) 639-6419
BWI Screeners Demand Protection - AFGE Files With FLRA
(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—AFGE filed a petition today with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to hold an election for worker rights for more than 500 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners at Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI).
TSA passenger, baggage and lead screeners at BWI have been working mandatory six- and seven-day workweeks and ten- and twelve-hour shifts. Supervisors continually cancel leave and regularly change work schedules without notice. Such changes affect the morale of screeners, especially those with childcare responsibilities.
“AFGE supports the important mission TSA plays in protecting America,” said AFGE National President Bobby L. Harnage, Sr., “but TSA is not doing enough for screeners. Our desire is to work with the agency to resolve employee concerns cooperatively and quickly.
“The American people and AFGE want screeners to be a professional workforce, complete with ongoing training. Screeners don’t need to be worried or distracted by whether their pay check will arrive timely so they can pay the rent.”
BWI was the first airport in the country to hire federal screeners. There are 429 total airports in the country with federal screeners.
“TSA screeners have a right to organize under current law,” added Harnage, “and are looking to AFGE to promote their interests and rights on the job so they can do their job.”
AFGE is the largest federal employees union in the United States, representing 600,000 federal and D.C. workers. For more information on AFGE and federal screeners, log onto www.screenersunion.org.
TSA passenger, baggage and lead screeners at BWI have been working mandatory six- and seven-day workweeks and ten- and twelve-hour shifts. Supervisors continually cancel leave and regularly change work schedules without notice. Such changes affect the morale of screeners, especially those with childcare responsibilities.
“AFGE supports the important mission TSA plays in protecting America,” said AFGE National President Bobby L. Harnage, Sr., “but TSA is not doing enough for screeners. Our desire is to work with the agency to resolve employee concerns cooperatively and quickly.
“The American people and AFGE want screeners to be a professional workforce, complete with ongoing training. Screeners don’t need to be worried or distracted by whether their pay check will arrive timely so they can pay the rent.”
BWI was the first airport in the country to hire federal screeners. There are 429 total airports in the country with federal screeners.
“TSA screeners have a right to organize under current law,” added Harnage, “and are looking to AFGE to promote their interests and rights on the job so they can do their job.”
AFGE is the largest federal employees union in the United States, representing 600,000 federal and D.C. workers. For more information on AFGE and federal screeners, log onto www.screenersunion.org.
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