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Washington, D.C.—The markup of key legislation today by the House Homeland Security Committee that would provide Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees with full collective bargaining rights was praised as a step toward basic fairness in the federal workplace by the leader of the nation’s largest independent union of federal workers.

The Transportation Security Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009, H.R. 1881, also would end TSA’s much-maligned PASS (Performance and Accountability Standards System) program and move TSOs onto the General Schedule (GS), the same pay system covering most other federal employees. The measure now moves to the House floor.

“TSOs deserve to have the same civil service rights and protections that are already in place for other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees,” said National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) President Colleen M. Kelley, who sent a letter to key committee members earlier this week asking them to vote in favor of the bill.

NTEU has worked closely with House Homeland Security Committee Chair Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) to craft, introduce and approve H.R.1881, and she praised all three lawmakers for their leadership and support of TSA workplace issues.

In addition to the letter, NTEU initiated a grassroots campaign to urge TSA employees across the country to contact their congressional representatives in support of the bill. The union also continues to pursue collective bargaining rights for TSOs through administrative action.

“Passage of this legislation will enhance security at our nation’s airports by retaining experienced employees and reducing costs created by high attrition rates, allowing TSA to become a world class airport security agency,” President Kelley said.

Since its inception in 2001, TSA has been plagued by high turnover and low morale, stemming in large part from an unfair pay system seen as subjective and a workplace where employee voices on important issues are not heard.

“TSA workers should have a pay and performance system that is fair, credible, and transparent, as well as a clear voice in the development of workplace quality standards that benefit the entire traveling public,” Kelley said. “The Transportation Security Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009 will strengthen the workplace culture of TSA so employees can spend their time securing the safety of our nation’s airports.”

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments, including thousands at TSA.