FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2008
April 18, 2008
Emily Ryan
(202) 639-6421
(202) 639-6421
TSA Union Gets Airport Screener Reinstated to Lead Role
(WASHINGTON) – As it has many times in the past, the American Federation of Government Employees recently won a Transportation Security Officer her job back after she wrongfully was demoted following an unintentional mistake.
The Dallas/Forth Worth TSO was restored to her position as a Lead after being demoted to TSO because TSA management failed to follow the doctrine of progressive discipline in determining the appropriate discipline in her case. The TSA Disciplinary Review Board on March 13 found that the employee made an unintentional mistake and that she acted quickly to correct it, thereby minimizing operational impact. The board agreed with AFGE that such mistakes can and do occur, and decided that in this case, a demotion was excessive punishment.
The LTSO’s pay grade and pay rate have since been restored and she has received back pay for any loss of pay that resulted from the demotion action.
As the only union to represent and stand behind TSA employees since the beginning, AFGE is at the forefront of the struggle to secure rights and improve working conditions at TSA. AFGE has taken on TSA in the courts, and before the International Labor Organization, Federal Labor Relations Authority and TSA Disciplinary Review Board over issues, including: collective bargaining rights; fair personnel systems; merit-based pay and promotion policies; and regular and reasonable work schedules.
AFGE most recently helped a wrongfully-terminated TSO in Atlanta get his job back. The TSO failed a Standard Operating Procedures test and was placed on a performance improvement plan in which weekly meetings with his supervisor and basic screener training were required. The supervisor never met with him on a weekly basis and he was never given the opportunity to attend the training. He failed his second test and was removed. AFGE filed an appeal with the Disciplinary Review Board, arguing that TSA did not follow its own policy when the TSO was placed under the performance improvement plan. The board ruled in favor of the TSO.
The Dallas/Forth Worth TSO was restored to her position as a Lead after being demoted to TSO because TSA management failed to follow the doctrine of progressive discipline in determining the appropriate discipline in her case. The TSA Disciplinary Review Board on March 13 found that the employee made an unintentional mistake and that she acted quickly to correct it, thereby minimizing operational impact. The board agreed with AFGE that such mistakes can and do occur, and decided that in this case, a demotion was excessive punishment.
The LTSO’s pay grade and pay rate have since been restored and she has received back pay for any loss of pay that resulted from the demotion action.
As the only union to represent and stand behind TSA employees since the beginning, AFGE is at the forefront of the struggle to secure rights and improve working conditions at TSA. AFGE has taken on TSA in the courts, and before the International Labor Organization, Federal Labor Relations Authority and TSA Disciplinary Review Board over issues, including: collective bargaining rights; fair personnel systems; merit-based pay and promotion policies; and regular and reasonable work schedules.
AFGE most recently helped a wrongfully-terminated TSO in Atlanta get his job back. The TSO failed a Standard Operating Procedures test and was placed on a performance improvement plan in which weekly meetings with his supervisor and basic screener training were required. The supervisor never met with him on a weekly basis and he was never given the opportunity to attend the training. He failed his second test and was removed. AFGE filed an appeal with the Disciplinary Review Board, arguing that TSA did not follow its own policy when the TSO was placed under the performance improvement plan. The board ruled in favor of the TSO.
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