McDermott Fights for Federal Workers' Labor Rights
For Immediate Release - Febuary 26, 2003

Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Jim McDermott(D-WA) today sent a letter to President Bush, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, and Transportation Security Administrator James Loy urging them to allow federal airport baggage and passenger screeners the right to unionize.

Last month, Loy issued a ruling effectively blocking his agency's federal airport screeners from unionizing, saying collective bargaining is "not compatible" with fighting terrorism. "Fighting terrorism demands a flexible workforce that can rapidly respond to threats," said Loy.

This ruling was a tremendous setback for screeners across the country, especially those at airports in New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore-Washington, who have already voted to join the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

McDermott said, "We absolutely need a flexible airport-screening workforce. And current federal law provides the flexibility to manage the workforce and combat terrorism."

He noted that the Administration already has the power to suspend collective bargaining in the event of a national emergency and federal managers retain the right to suspend or remove any employee for national security reasons. In addition, federal law already prohibits screeners, regardless of union status, from striking.

The right to unionize is essential to American liberty, McDermott noted. "Our workers deserve the right to associate and to unionize-especially those who are working to protect us," he said.

Screeners are the first line of defense guarding our nation's commercial airlines, and maintaining a stable and focused workforce of screeners is essential to protecting airline employees and passengers. McDermott said allowing screeners to unionize would enable them to fully concentrate on their work while union representatives address complaints, such as delayed paychecks, unpaid overtime and training hours, sexual harassment, or unpredictable work schedules.

McDermott received support from his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, with 78 additional members of Congress cosigning the letter.