GovernmentExecutive.com

House lawmakers selected to negotiate with the Senate on major homeland security legislation said Tuesday that they are unsure whether they'll be able to address an effort to grant collective bargaining rights to federal airport screeners.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said at a press briefing that conferees are hoping to begin negotiations this week on a bill to implement the unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

But Thompson added that it is "subject to question" whether the conferees will be able to include a provision that would provide collective bargaining rights to thousands of airport screeners at the Transportation Security Administration.

Last week, Senate Democrats agreed to strip language from the bill that would have granted bargaining rights to TSA screeners. Senate Republicans had requested assurances that the measure would not grant screeners such rights, largely because President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, citing the TSA provision.

"We don't see it as an issue to national security that TSA workers have the right to bargain," Thompson said. He added, however, that conferees view the TSA issue with reluctance, especially if its inclusion means the entire bill would falter. He said there has been some discussion with the Senate as to whether there is another way to get at the collective bargaining issue.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, said after the briefing that she may try to address screener bargaining rights through separate legislation, should the final 9/11 bill not include the provision.

Federal labor unions indicated last week that they would continue to work with House and Senate Democrats in hopes of securing the rights.

"I remain open and very interested," Jackson-Lee said. "This is an issue that greatly warrants our consideration."

COMMENTS

• I have over 20 years management experience and 10 years of owning my own business full time and retired from it. I wanted something challenging so I took on TSA. I've learned over the years on how to work with employees and retain the good ones. I came to TSA, a new organization, with the idea and desire to use my skills to promote what I have learned, not only from myself but other experts, business owners. The systems that TSA uses, PASS Program is highly biased. I have seen employees get bonuses to the max, yet they have right ups to the yeng yang, have abused sick leave, are late for work and cannot get along with other employees but has a favortism with a supervisor, female to male. I have seen a screener promoted to manager in 3 years just because she unbuttoned her blouse in front of upper management and she has something on them. She has taken the initiative to crack down on employees for sick leave abuse, when she has the worst record and doesn't show up for work. And why is moral bad? Hawleys comments of not having flexability because of a union is totally bogus. The union doesn't have anything to do with liquids and gels. These sreeners have the right to voice their opinon and quit the bullying by management. Things are hidden to much under the table with no recourse or fair treatment. The good ole boy system is tearing this organization apart. We need people in management who truly have management experience, not so much military. I have seen an employee with 30 years executive experience quit because he couldn't get promoted. If the collective bargaining does not go through, in my opinion, you will see a higher attrition rate that cannot be kept up with and in result, jerpordize this nations security. This is the only job that I have ever had where me personally, was not able to promote according to my education and abilities, even though I have passed all tests scoring high, show up for work, and am not late. I have seen other organizations act and treat their people the same way as TSA, but unfortunatley they are not in business any longer. It is pretty bad when TSA has to call on people that applied 3-4 years ago because no one is knocking on the door or answering ads. Isn't Boarder Patrol high security also? If it doesn't work one way, try another, we have nothing to lose. JD Posted August 7, 2007 2:49 PM
• Let's look at one of the problem that's Screene's leaving! At TSA they replacing them part-time workers. and that means "part-time thinking" and with part time thinking it's part-time security. Tsa has lot of problems and it's not screener's fault It's people like the President and the member's of the senate,who vote against giving any American his rights as American,the TSO's are Under a lot pressure keeping the planes safe. They are Ameicans and should have the right to collective bagaining rights like rest of America does Eric Thomas Posted July 24, 2007 2:30 AM
• It's down to politics not employee rights. Your President disagrees with his employees right to form a Union. It is not important on my opinion as to why they should or should not have a Union. Those workers should have the opportunity to vote for a UNion or not. The President should stay out of it. Jim Posted July 23, 2007 11:18 AM