Union Seeks Representation For TSA Workers

The American Federation Of Government Employees (AFGE) is praising the Obama administration for its nomination of Major General Robert Harding to lead TSA. The union represents some 600,000 federal and local government employees in the Washington, D.C. area.

In a statement released Monday, AFGE National President John Gage said: "We are thrilled that the administration has moved so quickly. This important homeland security post has been vacant for far too long. Mr. Harding has an impressive military record with more than three decades of service in the U.S. Army and has an exceptional background in intelligence matters. From what we can see, his credentials to lead the TSA are sound. We look forward to meeting with him after his confirmation."

Last month, AFGE filed a representation petition with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) calling for a union election for TSOs nationwide. The petition, which speaks only to the question concerning representation by a union, is seen as one of two parallel tracks the union has been involved in to win collective bargaining and union representation for the 40,000-person Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

FMI: www.afge.org