July 22, 2008
House Chairman Voices Concern Over TSA Workforce Issues
In a letter to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) head Kip Hawley, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee expressed serious concerns with a $1.2 billion TSA private-sector contract to perform a wide range of human resource activities over the next eight years—and he wants answers to a raft of questions about the matter.
The letter from Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) came one day after President Colleen M. Kelley was sharply and publicly critical of the TSA contract with Lockheed Martin Corp. NTEU has been working with the Homeland Security Committee to provide information from frontline employees on workplace issues.
“The profit Lockheed Martin will make from a $1.2 billion deal could be used to increase staffing and reduce congestion at our nation’s airports,” President Kelley said. “Is that not a much better use of taxpayers’ money?”
In the five-page letter to Hawley, Rep. Thompson called TSA’s Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) “the backbone of your agency,” adding that these front-line employees “deserve clear guidelines, proper training, career development and a safe and healthy work environment.”
The letter was one of two sent last week by Rep. Thompson to Hawley about various workplace matters within the committee’s jurisdiction; the initial letter seeks detailed information on staffing, operations and others matters relating to the TSA Office of Ombudsman.
For the complete story, click here or visit <http://www.dhsunion.org/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1306>.
Chapter Log
The Winds of Change are Blowing in Atlanta
Thanks to NTEU, it is becoming easier to spot changes at Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport (ATL). “Slowly, but surely, things are coming around,” said Stacia Wiggins, a Chapter 310 (TSA Atlanta) member. "Management is listening to our concerns more and making it better to work around here than it used to be."
Wiggins thanks NTEU for helping to improve employee morale. She said she began to notice the tide turn shortly after union officials arranged for a spring visit by Reps. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, to the airport as a way to spotlight poor workplace conditions.
Fired after failing an image screening test, Wiggins won back her job as a passenger screener earlier this year after NTEU successfully argued that, instead of being dismissed, she should have been reverted back to her former position in baggage as specified under TSA guidelines.
Another chapter member, Collin Jackson, was recently granted a long-awaited shift change after NTEU intervened with management on his behalf. "It is hard to fix a problem when you try to do it alone," Jackson said. "When NTEU got involved, it took less than a week to get management to respond. They know it is the little things that matter to people in a big way."
In addition to responding to Jackson and Wiggins, management at ATL has begun to review other disciplinary actions to ensure a larger measure of fairness for affected employees. And, there also has been increased turnover among senior TSA management at ATL, with new supervisors placing a greater emphasis on respecting employees' Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rights.
“All of the positive changes occurring at ATL are allowing more employees to become partners in the TSA mission," said Chapter 310 President Clarence Wells. "It is empowering to have a stake in the success of our workplace and in the nation's security.”
More Stories from the Field
NTEU Makes a Difference for Individual Employees
As part of the union's ongoing efforts to secure workplace rights for TSA employees nationwide, NTEU recently helped a six-year employee at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) receive a long-awaited promotion. Management initially denied the employee's promotion, claiming attendance and performance issues, but when NTEU threatened to take the issue to senior TSA officials, local management backed down and granted the promotion, retroactive to January.
NTEU also saved the summer vacation of another TSA employee in New York after management revoked an approved vacation leave request when the employee switched terminals.
Fighting for principle and to save $2,500 in vacation funds, the employee approached NTEU which addressed the situation with TSA's Office of General Counsel (OGC) as well as the employee's congressman. TSA quickly relented and granted the original leave request.
Finally, NTEU stepped up at El Paso International Airport (ELP) to challenge supervisor threats to fire employees who attend an upcoming August meeting with Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas). When pressured to defend their actions before the agency's OGC, local management backed off, claiming their threats were "misunderstood."
These are only a few of the recent examples of the difference NTEU makes in the unfair treatment of TSA employees from coast to coast. For more information, contact your local NTEU representative.
TSA Video Highlights the Benefits of NTEU
NTEU has debuted a new video spotlighting our work on behalf of TSA employees, as well as our future plans to improve the quality of your workplace. Now available on our TSA web page, the video features National President Colleen M. Kelley and other NTEU TSA leaders discussing our successful battles and explaining our value to frontline security employees.
To learn more, call toll-free (866) 591-5735 or visit www.DHSunion.org/TSA.
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