Massachusetts Congressmen and Union Leaders Join Transportation Security Officers to Rally for Union Representation with AFGE

 

On Friday January 8, approximately fifty labor leaders and supporters, as well as two Massachusetts Congressmen, joined a group of Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) at Logan Airport to rally behind their struggle to gain collective bargaining rights and form a union with AFGE.

 

“My TSOs are not going to let you down,” said A.J. Castilla, President of AFGE Local 2617. Castilla has been the leader of a campaign to organize the TSOs at Logan Airport into the American Federation of Government Employees for several years. And as the economic outlook for working families continues to deteriorate, he is making the push harder than ever to win collective bargaining rights for his membership, who selflessly show up to work everyday and ensure the security of 25 million people a year in Logan Airport.

 

Employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have been denied the right to collectively bargain since former President George W. Bush’s barred TSOs from negotiating for a contract through an executive order in 2001. The future, however, looks hopeful. President Obama’s selection to head the TSA, Erroll G. Southers, is expected to restore collective bargaining power to TSOs following his confirmation in the United States Senate. It is precisely this issue, however, that has stalled his appointment as obstructionists, such as Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina, have held up the confirmation because of Southers’s commitment to change the agency rule that prohibits bargaining for TSOs.. 

 

The fact is that collective bargaining has no impact on the ability of a TSO to perform their job effectively, and would only improve morale among employees. Other public safety workers—such as firefighters and police officers—are allowed this most basic and fundamental right in the workplace; why should those who fight to protect passengers’ safety be denied?

 

This was the message echoed by a stunning amalgamation of leaders standing in support with A.J. Castilla at the rally on Friday. Those on hand included: Robert Haynes (President, Massachusetts AFL-CIO), Congressman Michael Capuano, Congressman Stephen Lynch, Rich Rogers (Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Greater Boston Labor Council) Mark MacKenzie (President, NH AFL-CIO), Jeff Crosby (President, North Shore Labor Council), Sandy Felder (Northeast Regional Director, AFL-CIO), Ed Kelley (President, Boston Fire Fighters Local 718), Bob Cannatelli (President, AFA Council 92), Tom Raiche (Legislative Agent, IAM Local 1726), and Bob Losi (Political Director, National Postal Mail Handlers Union).

 

“This is the essence of the Labor Movement” said Bob Haynes. “AFGE will be successful in this campaign, and I look forward to the time when we welcome 41,000 AFGE members into the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, with full collective bargaining rights”. This sentiment ran throughout the speeches delivered at the event, and inspired hope that this long-fought struggle may soon come to an end.

 

To view pictures from this event please click here.