Ranking Member Thompson Statement on the Trump Administration Canceling TSA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem canceling the collective bargaining agreement for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers that keep our aviation system safe and secure:
“The 65,000 men and women at TSA have been admirably – and thanklessly – keeping our skies safe and secure around the clock for decades. All of us in Congress know they do their work effectively and efficiently. Attempting to negate their legally binding collective bargaining agreement now makes zero sense – it will only reduce morale and hamper the workforce. Since the Biden Administration provided pay increases and a new collective bargaining contract to the workforce, TSA's attrition rates have plummeted. Trump’s own TSA Administrator – who he fired for no reason – worked hard to get these basic workplace rights enacted.
“However, DHS lying about TSA’s work via press release – relying on antiquated and flat out wrong anti-union talking points – gives their game away. DHS claiming that TSA has more people doing ‘full-time union work’ than ‘performing screening functions’ at most airports is clearly nonsense. Similarly, promotions are already merit based and often only occur with the assistance of the union, not despite it. To the Trump Administration and Secretary Noem, this isn’t about improving security or the workforce, it’s about diminishing a workforce so they can transform it in the mold of Project 2025. This will make us all less safe – and I hope it is challenged in court.”
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