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Washington, D.C.— With reports that a new version of homeland security legislation might garner enough votes in Congress to pass, National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) President Colleen M. Kelley said NTEU would continue to fight proposals that deny workers their rights.

“Under this proposal, which is similar to the House-passed bill, there will be no other federal agency or department providing less employee rights and protections. In the end,” said Kelley, “the ultimate authority on employees’ rights and protections will be handed over to a political appointee. The current merit-based civil service system, which has long served as a safeguard against politicizing federal service, will not exist in the new department.”

Kelley said that unionized federal workers to be transferred into the new department have strong concerns about their future.

“Long before this debate began, unionized federal workers responsible for security at border crossings, airports and seaports were doing their job and doing it well. There is not one iota of evidence to the contrary.

Moreover, they continue to do an excellent job even now. But they are rightfully concerned about the loss of basic civil service rights and protections,” said Kelley.

The union leader said it is “unfortunate that politics has driven the important debate of creating this new department. More unfortunate is a proposal that will serve to strip away the civil service rights of those responsible for helping to protect the rights and freedom of all Americans.”

NTEU is the nation’s largest independent federal sector union, representing some 150,000 employees in 27 federal agencies and departments.