Does this strike anyone as a bad idea?

[Jumper Bones]

We all have enough problems with the TSA people, but now they can unionize and strike? Great...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070306/...port_screeners

Senate: Airport screeners can unionize

By LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press Writer 42 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Tuesday to give 45,000 airport screeners the same union rights as other public safety officers, despite vigorous opposition by Republicans and a veto threat from the White House.

A broad anti-terrorism bill that would implement the remaining recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission includes a provision that would give airport screeners the right to bargain collectively. An amendment by Sen. Jim DeMint (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., would have removed that right, but was defeated by a vote of 51-46.

The Senate expects to complete work on the bill by the end of the week.

The House last month passed a similar anti-terrorism bill that had the same union provision for airport screeners, an indication of organized labor's strength with Democrats now running Congress.

Republicans pledged to eliminate the union provision when negotiators sit down to merge the two versions of the legislation that aims to tighten security for airlines and railroads. The White House issued a statement last week threatening a veto if the labor provision is left in the bill.

"We're not going to let big labor compromise national security," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record), R-Ky., noting there are not enough votes in either the House or the Senate to override a veto by President Bush.

The conflict over labor rights is a reprise of the debate in 2002 over creating the Homeland Security Department. Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., voted against the bill because it didn't guarantee union bargaining rights. That same year, Cleland was defeated for re-election by Republican Saxby Chambliss (news, bio, voting record), who accused him of being soft on terrorism.

Sens. Susan Collins (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine, and Claire McCaskill (news, bio, voting record), D-Mo., are trying to compromise with amendments that would give screeners some rights. Collins' amendment would give them whistleblower protection and the right to appeal management decisions, but not the right to bargain collectively.

McCaskill's amendment would give screeners the right to bargain collectively but not for pay, and would give the Transportation Security Administration the power to "take whatever actions may be necessary" during emergencies.

Labor scored an earlier victory last month when the House passed The Employee Free Choice Act, also known as the card check bill, which would make it easier to organize unions by eliminating secret-ballot elections demanded by employers.

After his amendment was defeated, DeMint said Democrats had turned the anti-terrorism bill into a reward for organized labor, which had helped elect them in November.

"Collective bargaining will not work for our airports," DeMint said. He said strengthening airport screeners' rights would hinder the government's flexibility to move them around in response to terrorist threats.

"That is completely untrue and every other Department of Homeland Security employee should take personal offense," said John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees.

According to AFGE, there are 53,000 workers with collective bargaining rights employed at the Homeland Security Department, including customs, immigration and border patrol agents.

A stumbling block to Senate passage of the anti-terrorism bill was removed Thursday when the Homeland Security Department agreed to grant states an extra 1 1/2 years to comply with new driver's license standards passed in the 2005 REAL-ID Act.

The Senate bill would upgrade security on passenger and freight railroads and require all cargo carried on commercial passenger aircraft to be screened for bombs.

It would provide funds for state and local emergency communications systems, expand a visa waiver benefit for favored countries and improve intelligence sharing among federal, state and local officials.

[P_McPoser]

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the TSA work environment being dangerous enough for a union to be useful other than to line the pockets of a few union officials. Modern unions are fucking lame. More hurt than harm.

At my last company, miners driving the same stupid front end loader at our unionized mine made 70,000 while the same miner at the non union mine made 79,000 with better/cheaper healthcare. idiots.

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

Just like anything "security" realted with a legislator's name attached to it...

Sell it as a necessary do-or-die program, mismanage the implementation, give it little to no oversight, and three short years later it's just another worthless corrupt toilet of pathetic government welfare. It's like magic, really.

[Jumper Bones]

Yup, way to go democratic Senate! Fucking retards.

[P_McPoser]

repubs would figure a way to fuck us too.

[char]

Imagine the chaos when they go on strike.

[Free Range Lobster]

Thousands Standing Around gets new meaning.

[lionelhutz]

Unionizing TSA would be a disaster. For what? They are already government employees that have good pensions and great benefits.

[OldLarry]

Imagine the chaos when they go on strike.

A strike sounds like a chance to replace them w/ some better qualified people.

The MTA stike in nyc did wonders for their public imagem, which was horrendous to begin with. eff em.

[DJSapp]

Imagine the chaos when they go on strike.

It would probably just be the same as when the air traffic controllers went on strike. Fire all of their asses for endangering the public and shutting down air travel, and get new morons.

Fun Fact: To get past the 3 oz. of liquid rule, just stick it in your pocket and walk through the metal detector. As long as it isn't in a metal container, you'll be just fine.

[smmokan]

Fun Fact: To get past the 3 oz. of liquid rule, just stick it in your pocket and walk through the metal detector. As long as it isn't in a metal container, you'll be just fine.

Or... just leave it in your bag. They dont' fucking look anyways.

[RootSkier]

Fun Fact: To get past the 3 oz. of liquid rule, just stick it in your pocket and walk through the metal detector. As long as it isn't in a metal container, you'll be just fine.

Unless they make you do the stupid human tricks in the 'special area.' But generally, it seems like mainly white haired grandmas and mothers with small children that get the Treatment.

[cj001f]

the TSA is currently lining the pockets of hundreds of incompetent bush admin appointees, thousands of useless bums, and hundreds of contractors. Whats a few more. Its not like things could actually get worse than banning plastic bottles and WATER

Yes, they will look if you have a container filled with a liquid larger than 3.2oz. Sometimes theyll even take away your contact solution.

[Toadman]

A strike sounds like a chance to replace them w/ some better qualified people.

That wouldn't be too hard to accomplish. Bring in a bunch of HS students, and legal migrant workers, pay 'em minimum wage; problem solved.

[Grange]

Imagine the chaos when they go on strike.

Chances are they won't be allowed to strike. A lot of government employees who are in a union can not legally strike.

[doublediamond223]

Or... just leave it in your bag. They dont' fucking look anyways.

I wrapped a bottle of wine in 5 layers of bubble wrap and a sweatshirt in my checked luggage the other day b/c of this rule. REAL pita, and it would really have been bad if it broke.

[Crass3000]

It will get really rediculous when the union is able to protect incompetant screeners from loosing their jobs which is what will happen. Its alot harder to get rid of union members for not doing their job.

[Crass3000]

Chances are they won't be allowed to strike. A lot of government employees who are in a union can not legally strike.

Off the topic a little but interesting. Not in Canada... but thats Canadian brilliance. They even let prison guards go on strike.

[natty dread]

I think some whistleblower protections would be good for security overall.
I support giving screeners some ability to negotiate wages, benefits and maybe some other limited issues without allowing them to strike. There could be performance-based incentives, testing, and firing worked into this. It's not all or nothing/black and white, the senate can come up with any system they want that will both provide the necesssary flexibility and protect workers' rights.

But in an ideal world, what I'd like to see is the whole system dismantled and replaced with Israeli-style airport security, with well paid, highly trained employees and profiling. What we have now is better than pre 9/11, but not close to good enough.

[DJSapp]

Unless they make you do the stupid human tricks in the 'special area.' But generally, it seems like mainly white haired grandmas and mothers with small children that get the Treatment.

Have you been there? All they do is make you take your shoes off an do a through wand search. Whoop de do. I feel safer already.

[Grange]

With the amendment that just past this afternoon the TSA will be allowed the have collective bargaining, but they won't be able to negotiate wages or strike and can be moved around in an emergency. I was watching C-Span at lunch and the amendment passed on a partyline vote.

[cj001f]

It will get really rediculous when the union is able to protect incompetant screeners from loosing their jobs which is what will happen. Its alot harder to get rid of union members for not doing their job.

Heaven forbid the incompetent underlings get protected like THE INCOMPETENT HEADS OF THE TSA HAVE BY THE WHITEHOUSE!

fuck, you people are scared of the TSA screeners? BE SCARED OF THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED TSA!

[axebiker]

Heaven forbid the incompetent underlings get protected like THE INCOMPETENT HEADS OF THE TSA HAVE BY THE WHITEHOUSE!

fuck, you people are scared of the TSA screeners? BE SCARED OF THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED TSA!

Good thing Clinton didn't invent it... Can you imagine the lawsuits?

Somehow you are under the impression the White House runs it, eh? A little paranoid? Get over it, and put the Bush rhetoric away. They can't even run a convenience store without screwing it up. Don't be so naive - the worst these guys do is take your fingernail clippers and your eye drops away in case you planned on bringing down a plane with them - but I guess MacGyver could... In 2 more years and you'll have your chance to screw up the nation - and it will happen - the pendulum always swings... The Republicans won't win thanks to GW and the numbskulls "running" things right now, so we'll see how Her Majesty Bill's Wife and Barry Obama the 2 year politician do... I'm not expecting much. Just higher taxes and more cradle-to-grave programs to take care of the dregs.

[char]

Fun Fact: To get past the 3 oz. of liquid rule, just stick it in your pocket and walk through the metal detector. As long as it isn't in a metal container, you'll be just fine.

I got a full size bottle (12 oz?) of contact solution through Palm Springs TSA without even a single question about it. I even pulled it out and threw it in the plastic bin.

I totally could have blown up a plane with it.

Such reactionary bullshit. Guy tries to blow up plane with his shoe? Everyone takes their shoes off! What a fucking joke.

Natty - Profiling?!?! Gasp!

[P_McPoser]

I was also impressed by Natty's embrace of something non-PC. Maybe he's a free thinker afterall.