http://securitydebrief.adfero.com/2010/03/10/contest-to-organize-airport-screeners-heats-up/ Homland security news and analysis Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:32:43 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 http://securitydebrief.adfero.com/2010/03/10/contest-to-organize-airport-screeners-heats-up/comment-page-1/#comment-226 Philip Spayd Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:11:40 +0000 http://securitydebrief.adfero.com/?p=7353#comment-226 There is no upside whatsoever to the unionization of TSA employees for the employees themselves or the public. The floor of protections for civil service employees is already very high. All employees currently have substantail rights under the federal civil service laws, including a wide array of appeal venues under EEO procedures. I was the national director of labor relations for the US Customs Service in the mid 1980s, and an SES field operations manager for 20 years. I saw first hand the demoralizing impact of unionization of the employees, and the negative impact on the agency's ability to carry out its mission. Every management action is the subject of endless "impact and implementation" bargaining. The agency, except in a rare emergency, cannot act while the negotiations are ongoing. Every disciplinary action is disputed. Employees are demoralized when then see poor performing employees or employees who committed misconduct protected by the union. The public sector is the last bastion of unionization in the US. Unionization of TSA employees would be the proverbial "lose lose" scenario. There is no upside whatsoever to the unionization of TSA employees for the employees themselves or the public. The floor of protections for civil service employees is already very high. All employees currently have substantail rights under the federal civil service laws, including a wide array of appeal venues under EEO procedures. I was the national director of labor relations for the US Customs Service in the mid 1980s, and an SES field operations manager for 20 years. I saw first hand the demoralizing impact of unionization of the employees, and the negative impact on the agency's ability to carry out its mission. Every management action is the subject of endless “impact and implementation” bargaining. The agency, except in a rare emergency, cannot act while the negotiations are ongoing. Every disciplinary action is disputed. Employees are demoralized when then see poor performing employees or employees who committed misconduct protected by the union. The public sector is the last bastion of unionization in the US. Unionization of TSA employees would be the proverbial “lose lose” scenario.

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