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NTEU Seeks Support for Lawmakers’ Letter To TSA’s Pistole on Employee Rights
NTEU urged a number of key members of the House of Representatives to sign on to a letter asking John Pistole, TSA Administrator, to quickly review current policies at his agency and strongly consider granting comprehensive workplace rights to TSA employees.
The letter was sent by NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley in support of an effort by two leading members of the House seeking quick action on the part of TSA’s Pistole in completing his announced review.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), sponsor of legislation that would provide TSA employees with collective bargaining rights are asking co-sponsors of H.R. 1881 to sign a letter they intend to send to Administrator Pistole next week.
President Kelley asked that all the co-sponsors of the bill sign on to the Thompson-Lowey letter.
As a co-sponsor of this important legislation, President Kelley wrote, “you have demonstrated your support for providing basic civil service and collective bargaining rights to the employees of TSA. We ask you to continue to show your support for TSA employees by signing on to this letter.” More
Serious Health and Safety Issues Impact TSA Employees
TSA employees face a range of serious—and what should be avoidable—workplace health and safety issues, NTEU told a House subcommittee.
Among the problems are overexposure to emissions from forklifts and cargo tugs in the air cargo area, and the potential for excessive radiation exposure, NTEU testified at a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce.
These results were shown in two studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which issued a number of recommendations for improvements, including better training on radiation issues and proper work practices and improved equipment maintenance.
“Despite these NIOSH recommendations,” NTEU said, “our members have not seen any personal radiation testing done.”
In its testimony, NTEU raised a serious concern among TSA employees that baggage screening areas are noisy, dirty and hot. At Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, for example, NTEU TSA members have recorded temperatures in excess of 90 degrees on numerous occasions—yet their requests for fans and bottled water have gone unanswered. TSA has a high injury rate, in part related to the heavy lifting, standing, bending and stooping required to handle passenger baggage. More
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