TOPICS
TOPICS
DHS chief open to expanding collective bargaining rights
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Wednesday told lawmakers she was exploring the possibility of extending collective bargaining rights to airport screeners.
"Many of them came to the department because of the events of 9/11, and that is the essential motivating factor of the department," Napolitano testified during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing. "What I've encouraged our people to do is to [ask] themselves when they wake up in the morning, what are they going to do to improve the safety and security of Americans?"
Napolitano said she has directed the general counsel's office to look into whether she has the legal authority to grant collective bargaining rights to Transportation Security Administration employees. That review is in progress, she said.
"As you know from the surveys from the employees in Homeland Security, there are morale problems," said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. "A lot of it goes to management, but some of it goes to the fact that they are denied these rights."
He joked that TSA screeners deserved particular credit for dealing with impatient lawmakers traveling between their home districts and Washington.
"I appreciate the valuable men and women who work in these jobs," Napolitano said. "Some of these are very difficult jobs in difficult settings."
National Treasury Employees Union president Colleen Kelley said after the hearing that she believed the law was clear on the question of Napolitano's authority.
"I look forward to a prompt and favorable decision on this question, and implementation of full collective bargaining rights for these employees who very much need and deserve such rights," Kelley said.
American Federation of Government Employees President John Gage said after the hearing that he was glad Napolitano was responding to union concerns. He noted that Napolitano met with AFGE members last week.
Napolitano also told lawmakers she would examine immigration staffing levels. She said DHS and the Justice Department were jointly reviewing staffing and facilities needed across the system.
To enforce immigration law properly, "You've got to have U.S. Marshals, you've got to have detention facilities, you've got to have courtrooms," she said.
COMMENTS
- Evidently we need more Marshals to inforce immigration law. It might be better to add some ICE agents, BP agents, CBP officers, and Detenction facilities. jerry Posted March 4, 2009 8:18 PM
- My biggest question is, what will collective bargaining rights give me? I am all for doing away with the PASS system and am fed up with favoritism and cronyism. I am fed up with having a sup that can trash you just because he doesn't like you. But what will CBR do for me? Bobbo Posted March 2, 2009 3:15 PM
- Regrettably, management can't be trusted, and neither can the employees. Loyalty is out the window. Frankly, the only places anybody has even a chance of airing the facts and seeking resolution is either the courts, or MSPB or arbitration, or a national labor body. I don't know why or how the discussion turned from congress's duty to respond to the Aviation Transportation and Security Act of 2001 and either provide for collective bargaining and an MSPB right and complete whistle blower protection versus J-Nap now waiving a magic wand and providing such. Her policy on this would still demand a large management edge over employees. This issues needs a legislative fix. I am not sure about bargaining...., but I am sure that screeners need whistle blower protection, at least while they remain employees and not contractors. Not so much for government actions, but to keep a reign on the airlines: they are the ones who caused this whole mess in the first place, going right back to 911 and before. The airlines forced congress into castrating the FAA. That is the dirty little secret about aviation security, plain and simple. The MSPB right is critical as well. Employees must have a right to appeal unfair labor practices especially a firing. Why aren't we talking about an Aviation Security Board and contractor screeners? The screeners don't need to be employees in the first place! Why do we have so many air marshals? Arm the flight deck (more), and let the flying public defend the plane. Is anyone flying now, not ready to do that? Give law enforcement authority back to the aviation security specialists and fine/punish the hell out of the airlines, or anybody else, the second they step out of their lane. Get on the plane, sit down, shut up, don't make any sudden movements. It isn't a service environment anymore anyway. Bob Coleman Posted March 2, 2009 10:31 AM
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