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Washington, D.C.—In anticipation of Thursday’s markup of key legislation that would provide Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees with full collective bargaining rights and move them onto the same pay system as most other federal employees, the leader of the nation’s largest independent union of federal workers has sent a letter to key committee members asking them to vote in favor of the bill.

In the letter to individual members of the House Homeland Security Committee, National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) President Colleen M. Kelley said that TSA Officers (TSOs) deserve to have the same civil service rights and protections that are already in place for other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees. The committee is scheduled to mark up H.R.1881 tomorrow.

“Fairness demands that TSOs be given the same rights as other federal employees,” President Kelley wrote. “We feel that H.R.1881 will address the terrible wrongs that TSOs face on a daily basis.” In addition to the letter, NTEU also initiated a grassroots campaign to urge TSA employees across the country to contact their congressional representatives in support of the bill.

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.

“We know on a personal basis how important it is to provide Title 5 protections and collective bargaining rights to federal employees,” President Kelley said, adding that H.R.1881 will help TSA become a world class airport security agency. “The Transportation Security Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009 will enhance security at our nation’s airports and reduce costs created by high attrition rates.” NTEU also continues to pursue collective bargaining rights for TSOs through administrative action.

In detailing some of the daily on-the-job issues faced by TSOs in airports nationwide, including unfair performance testing standards and a lack of accountable management, Kelley said the letter should highlight for committee lawmakers the critical problems facing the agency and their overall effect on worker morale.

“Concerns have been voiced about increased costs and potential security gaps in our aviation systems because of the turnover and job dissatisfaction,” said President Kelley. “We can strengthen TSA by providing its workers with a pay and performance system that is fair, credible, and transparent, and with a voice in the development of workplace quality standards that will make all the traveling public even safer.”

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 and introduce H.R.1881, and she praised all three representatives for their leadership and stalwart support of TSA workplace issues.

Not only are civil service protections for TSOs a priority issue for NTEU, it also is a key component of NTEU’s comprehensive five-point plan for the TSA workforce—a concrete set of goals that will ensure stability of the agency nationwide. The plan not only calls for collective bargaining rights and an end to PASS, it also calls for full whistleblower protections by statute; a fair shift-scheduling system and adequate staffing; and revisions to the current TSA training and recertification system.

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