TSA workers have one of the worst jobs in America. Reports and surveys by the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general show morale among TSA workers is at record lows for the federal workforce and jeopardizes airport security. "It is no secret that the morale of the TSA workforce is terrible as a result of favoritism, a lack of fair and respectful treatment from many managers, poor and unhealthy conditions in some airports, poor training and testing protocols and a poor pay system" says American Federation of Government Employees National President John Gage. In addition to the poor treatment by their employers, TSA workers are the scorn of airline travelers everywhere as a result of the invasive procedure which they are forced to perform.
The only thing more outrageous than TSA's policy of invasive procedures is the fact the TSA workers are legally barred from collectively bargaining. As a result of a Bush-era rule, nearly 50,000 TSA workers have no right to collectively bargain in violation of many international labor law agreements granting public employees the right to collectively bargain. Many other government workers with security-sensitive jobs such as Border Patrol and Federal Protective Service officers, ICE agents, FEMA employees, DoD civilian have the right to collectively bargaining, but TSA workers don't President Obama had promised to grant the 50,000 TSA workers the right to collectively bargain, but has so far has yet to do so.
A glimmer of hope appeared when on Nov. 12 the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) declared that TSA workers had the right to call a union election and join a union. However, the FLRA declared that collectively bargaining and belonging to a union were two separate things and that workers would still be barred from collectively bargaining. TSA Administrator John Pistole promised to rule shortly whether or not TSA workers would have the right to collectively bargain. Still, TSA workers were jubilant because allowing them to a join a union would give them more strength to push for workplace improvements and eventually collectively bargaining rights.
However, the day after the FLRA granted TSA the right to a join a union, John Tyner launched his famous "Don't Touch My Junk" video protesting security procedures. To those familiar with the tactics of union busters, it did not seem coincidental that Tyner decided to launch his attack the day after FLRA gave TSA workers the right to to join a union. As a result of the media frenzy whipped up by Tyner's video, right-wing forces are appearing on major TV outlets every night calling for airports to opt out of TSA security and privatize their own security forces. If TSA workers had collective bargaining, it would be much more difficult for airports to privatize.
So this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the TSA workers who, despite terrible working conditions, a denial of a fundamental right to collectively bargain, being under attack by union busters and scorned by many airline travelers, still continue doing their jobs. I am thankful for the TSA workers who, despite such awful working conditions are keeping our airports safe this Thanksgiving season.
Correction: A previous version of the post erroneously claimed that The Rutherford Institute is funded by the Koch Brothers. This line has been removed from the post and we regret the error.
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I know if I am up in the error and some terrorist is running around I definitely will be the first to say "Good news is, none of us were groped." Let's get past the rhetoric and the whining.
So what is it?
I'd be willing to bet it goes something like this:
I'm totally willing to put up with a highly invasive, embarrassing and pointless search at our nations airports but I think an unprotected border to the south of us is just fine and dandy.
Did I guess right?
Also...
NO government employee should be allowed to even be in a union.
Who but us tax payers are they unionized against?
The Israelis are developing an airport security device that eliminates the privacy concerns that come with full-body scanners at the airports.
It’s a booth you can step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you. They see this as a win-win for everyone, with none of this crap about racial profiling. It also would eliminate the costs of a long and expensive trial. Justice would be swift. Case closed!
You're in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter an announcement comes over the PA system . . . "Attention standby passengers — we now have a seat available on flight number XXXX. Shalom!"
Hats off to the Israelis!!!!
I dig it a lot!
When I went to the airport in Israel I didn't even have to take off my shoes, which came as a surprise to me since I had to when I got ON the plane in New York.
You know why I didn't have to?
Because the Israelis wisely do security PROFILING at their airports!!!!
Profiling.... The cornerstone to efficient police work.
How much lower do you go 'til you feel like a well paid slave.
While this is the only example of a pants bomb with which I am familiar, two Russian aircraft were bombed by passengers on August 24, 2004, taking 84 lives. The bombers were two women who most likely used explosives hidden in or under their clothes. There has been some speculation that the a gel explosive was hidden in their bras, but it is more likely they were wearing explosive belts around their hips.
It is very difficult to perform a risk reward analysis of airline passenger inspections. While only a few explosive devices have been detected, the existence of the security measures may deter people from attempting to bring explosive devices aboard.
Hundreds of millions of passengers and not one pair of exploding pants in nine years. I doubt the scanners will improve that record.
Hmm .. I wasn't aware that TSA staff were enslaved in servitude. I thought they voluntarily applied, passed an interview process, accepted free training and are paid for their work. If they don't like the rigors of the job, leave and do something else?
Give them collective bargaining rights. No group of people should ever have the right of association taken away from them!
Maybe, if unions still held sway, that wouldn't be soooo true.
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