DHS to End Collective Bargaining for Transportation Security Officers

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to end collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). DHS says the group’s union, the American Federal of Government Employees (AFGE), did not protect TSOs and “hindered merit-based performance recognition and advancement.”

In a statement, DHS says nearly 200 TSOs were working full-time on union activities instead of safeguarding the flying public. It also blamed the union for helping a “select few poor performers” exploit gaps in benefit programs, placing a greater burden on TSOs at the “expense of American travelers and taxpayers.”

DHS notes that “By eliminating the collective bargaining agreement, Transportation Security Officers will now have opportunities based on their performance, not longevity or union membership.”

AFGE Responds

TSA and the American Federal of Government Employees (AFGE) signed a seven-year collective bargaining agreement in May 2023. AFGE played an important role in helping to secure a pay increase for TSOs that brought them in line with general schedule employees and currently represents about 47,000 TSOs. 

“Let’s be clear: this is the beginning, not the end, of the fight for Americans’ fundamental rights to join a union,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “AFGE will not rest until the basic dignity and rights of the workers at TSA are acknowledged by the government once again.”

That position was echoed by Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS), ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, and a key figure in the fight for equal pay for TSOs.

“Attempting to negate their legally binding collective bargaining agreement now makes zero sense — it will only reduce morale and hamper the workforce,” said Representative Thompson.

In addition, AFGE pointed out all federal employees who join a union do so voluntarily, and that TSOs who volunteer as union representatives account for less than half a percent of all work hours performed at TSA. 

Administration Takes Aim at Organized Labor

This is part of broader action that the Trump Administration has taken to cut down on the influence of federal labor groups.

Shortly after taking office the President issued an executive order that would eliminate any CBAs struck in the 30 days prior to the inauguration of a new president. In that order, President Trump expressed his annoyance that the Department of Education signed a new CBA three days before he took office. 

Agencies were also ordered to report on union activities in fiscal year 2024, by March 14. That includes time spent on union duties, the number of employees in the union, expenses agencies paid for union activities, and the “amounts of time used for each purpose of taxpayer-funded union time.”

Agencies were also told to report employee data such as salary, position, and other information for any employee who used taxpayer funded union time in FY 2024.