Exactly who are members of the Administration referring to when they say “your own good” or when Congressional leaders ask TSA Administrator Pistole to “reconsider use of controversial enhanced pat down protocols”? Well, that depends on what your definition of IS is….
Consider some history of attempts to unionize the TSA:
November 2001: Creation of the TSA signed into law by President George W. Bush in November 2001 under the U.S. Department of Transportation. Congress did not grant collective bargaining rights to TSA employees.
March 2003: TSA is moved under the Department of Homeland Security
November 2003: The American Federation of Government Employees, under the Presidency of George W. Bush sought a review of the TSO’s rights to collective bargaining.
December 2008: The American Federation of Government Employees “face off “ against the National Treasury Employees Union in an effort to represent the TSA workers should they be granted collective bargaining rights. TSO’s (transportation safety officers) number approximately 43,000 and that number is expected to grow.
February 18th, 2010: The American Federation of Government Employees announced “hundreds of supporters from various labor unions will gather February 23 to show support for a beleaguered TSA workforce.” Rally members include AFL-CIO Executive Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler , Communications Workers of America (CWA) President Larry Cohen, AFGE National President John Gage, U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.).
November 2010: The House Committee on Homeland Security issues a flurry of press releases on TSA procedures between November 2, 2010 and November 19th, 2010.
While your attention was diverted to stories of “new” enhanced pat downs” (there’s nothing “new” at all, as U.S. Congressman Ron Paul has been writing about the TSA bullies for quite some time), videos of TSA agents groping up women’s skirts, and the TSA Administrator telling us if we “don’t want the screening, we don’t have a right to fly”, did you hear THIS on the news?
November 16th, 2010: The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) grants TSA employees the right to elect union representation but NOT to collectively bargain.
“Your own good”?
It’s a message to the beleaguered TSA employees.
Hang in there just a little while longer, TSO’s.
A few of you though might be fired, err…sacrificed for the collective good of the others.
Someone will ride in on their white horse, continue to claim you deserve fair working conditions and decry the abuse you’re receiving, demand equal justice for you and then try to petition the FLRA to grant you collective bargaining rights.
OH WAIT!
And it’s the AFGE…
Lastly your union dues will finally be deducted from your paycheck and funneled to more Democratic candidates for office.
Because it’s not too early to plan for the 2012 elections.
- Send In The Clowns…Don’t Bother, They’re Here...
On Tuesday, November 2, 2010 (hmmm, Election Day?) Sheila Jackson-Lee and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) penned a memo to Gene Dodaro at the General Accounting Office i...