October 17, 2008
NTEU Makes a Difference
TSOs Nationwide Share Their Concerns with NTEU
From coast to coast, at airports large and small, employees at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are sharing their stories with NTEU and responding to the union's call for increased workplace rights and professional representation.
NTEU has been listening to and working with TSA Officers
(TSOs) in airports from Philadelphia to south Florida,
Houston to Dallas to Los Angeles. They have shared
their concerns about problematic workplace issues
such as unfair treatment by management, poor working
conditions and inadequate staffing, all of which have
led to overworked, fatigued employees and an increase
of on-the-job injuries.
TSOs at a recent informational meeting at Fort Lauderdale
Hollywood International Airport (FLL), said the problems
are affecting workplace morale and air travel security.
"Not only does insufficient staffing cause numerous workplace problems such as fatigue," said President Colleen M. Kelley, "but it also results in unfair scheduling practices that cause TSOs to lose a proper balance between their work life and home responsibilities."
Changing the culture of the TSA workplace is NTEU's main goal. That is why the union, earlier this year, introduced a comprehensive five-part plan for TSOs nationwide, including gaining full collective bargaining rights by statute. These rights will help TSOs join the rest of their colleagues in the federal workforce in having a respected voice in their workplace.
Other elements of the five-point plan include elimination of the unfair pay-for-performance system and moving TSOs onto the General Schedule pay system; fighting for adequate staffing and fair scheduling; improving the training and recertification programs; and granting TSOs whistleblower rights by law.
For more information, contact your local NTEU representative,
call NTEU toll-free at 1-866-591-5735 or e-mail TSA@nteu.org.
Congress
NTEU Fights for Whistleblower Rights
NTEU is committed to pushing for approval of congressional legislation to give TSOs full whistleblower protections under the law.
The union is urging members of Congress to approve S. 274, the Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act, during a special one-week session in November.
NTEU is actively urging members of Congress to include a provision in the measure that would give TSOs the right to appeal to the independent Merit System Protection Board and federal courts if they suffer discrimination or retaliation for filing a workplace rights complaint.
Learn more about our legislative efforts for TSA.
Headlines
Radio Host Praises NTEU's Public Service Campaign
"The absolute best federal employees union out there."
That's what FedTalk host Bill Bransford had to say about NTEU during a recent interview with President Kelley on Federal News Radio.
President Kelley took to the radio waves to discuss why NTEU decided to launch the public service campaign Federal Employees…The Work for U.S. The ad campaign, which Kelley called a "labor of love," has already received air time in 42 cities across the country with additional radio and television stations agreeing to broadcast it.
Kelley also addressed NTEU's large-scale fight to protect federal jobs from contracting out and the union's efforts to secure increased pay and workplace protections for federal employees, including those at TSA.
Because President Kelley mentions the upcoming presidential election, please do not listen to this radio program at work. Listen at home.
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