Agency Desperately Needs A Strong Leader, Union Says

The American Federation of Government Employees on Tuesday urged the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to favorably report out the nomination of Erroll Southers to be assistant secretary of the Transportation Security Administration.

"TSA is in desperate need of a strong, knowledgeable leader to fulfill its incredibly important mission of ensuring safety for the flying public," AFGE Legislative and Political Director Beth Moten said. "The combination of Mr. Southers' education, experience and commitment to security and justice make him ideally suited to lead TSA."

"As the proven union of choice for TSOs across the country, AFGE looks forward to a swift approval for Mr. Southers so that we can work together to repair and turn around this agency," Moten added.

AFGE has represented the TSA workforce since the agency was created in 2001. The union currently has approximately 12,000 dues-paying TSA members at more than 100 airports in 35 union Locals nationwide.

AFGE is the largest federal employee union representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia, including tens of thousands of DHS employees in Border Patrol, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Protective Service, FEMA, Coast Guard and TSA.

FMI: www.afge.org