Press Releases

Legislation Would Boost Pay And Worker Rights For 47,000+ Transportation Security Officers

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) released the following statement after joining House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (MS-02), and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) to introduce the Rights for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Workforce Act. 

“Our dedicated TSA workforce keeps our skies safe and ensures passengers safely arrive at their destination. They deserve to have the same bedrock civil service and worker protections as fellow federal employees,” said Congressman Kennedy. “After Democrats and labor groups fought to secure better pay and collective bargaining for TSA workers, the Trump Administration has now callously stripped these rights away. This bill would make our aviation system safer and make TSA personnel whole by giving them Title 5 status, which ensures fair pay, workforce protections, and benefits that other federal employees enjoy. I thank Ranking Member Thompson for his leadership on this issue and am proud to co-sponsor this critical legislation to support our TSA workforce and preserve its hard-fought workplace rights.”

“TSA’s Federal workforce helps keep our aviation system secure from terrorism every day. Their pay, workforce protections, and benefits should reflect the importance of their national security work,” said Congressman Thompson. “But under current law, they are not provided the workforce rights guaranteed to almost all other Federal employees – and, in fact, the Trump Administration is currently trying to take away the few protections they have. Putting this critical workforce under Title 5 will guarantee fair pay and full collective bargaining rights, reduce attrition, and stop the Trump Administration’s political antics. I hope the courts will act to restore TSA’s existing collective bargaining agreement, which both parties entered into under full legal authority – but in the meantime, Congress should pass this bill to provide permanence to these workers’ rights. I am glad we have bipartisan support for this bill, and I hope Congress acts to support this frontline workforce that keeps us all safe when we return to our districts.”

BACKGROUND 

Transportation Security Administration employees, including more than 47,000 Transportation Security Officers who keep our aviation systems secure, have historically been denied the same worker protections that other federal workers enjoy since the creation of TSA following the 9/11 attacks. While Democrats and labor groups have made monumental strides over the last several years to improve the rights of TSA workers, including negotiating a seven-year collective bargaining agreement and fully funding employee pay raises through congressional appropriations, the Trump Administration rescinded this hard-fought collective bargaining agreement just last week. To learn more, click here. 

The Rights of the TSA Workforce Act permanently allows for full collective bargaining rights, pay under General Schedule civilian classification, and access to an independent entity for dispute resolution. This permanent legislation is needed to ensure that hardworking TSA employees do not lose their hard-earned rights.

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