Senator Kennedy Stands Up for TSA Workers

It's funny, the evening he died, I was considering uploading this and his ever famous 1980 DNC speech. Of course, at the time I was unaware of his death, then found upon waking next morning, the news of his passing.

Anyways, to most people, this is a small issue, and to you it probably is, but TSA has constantly denied collective bargaining rights it's workers since day one. We're allowed to unionize, but we have no agreement with TSA.

I work for TSA, at Boston Logan International Airport, which I may remind is the airport were flights American Airlines 11 and United Airlines 175, both departed from, hijacked and flown into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Boston is also of course, the capital of Massachusetts and Senator Kennedy's hometown.

We need this bargaining rights because there are destructive, anti-worker policies issued both by national and local management that harm us, our jobs and our lives.

This was from the last attempt, two years ago, exactly a year from when I joined TSA. This was part of a bill to implement more of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations to improve homeland security, of which TSA plays a big part in.

There was an amendment put into the Senate version bill (the Improving America's Security Act of 2007) which would give us collective bargaining rights submitted by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri). Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) and most of the Republicans opposed it. President Bush opposed it, he threatened to veto the bill. Shows were his priorities lay, he willing to veto the whole bill to improve homeland security and endanger the lives of millions of Americans JUST TO DENY THE RIGHTS OF 50,000 AMERICANS UNDER HIS EMPLOYMENT.

Luckily, the Senate passed the bill 51-48. Sadly, that's as far as it went. It never made it to the house of the President. Instead, the House version, the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 was passed and signed into law minus the TSA worker's right protections.

Nevertheless, Teddy, ever the champion of the poor and the working man, went to the floor of the Senate as he had countless times before and made an impassioned speech like he did countless time before and made a speech about an issue that most Americans most likely could care less about, but to most of us Transportation Security Officers, it means... the world.

Watch Teddy tear into the Republicans over the willingness to deny us rights in this small but memorable speech.

And finally, I ask you to call, write or email your Representatives and support the most current pending bill in Congress to grant us collective bargaining rights, the Transportation Security Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009.

Thank you.

R.I.P. Ted Kennedy
1932-2009

Kennedy Rails Into Conservatives Trying To Block 9/11 Bill To Hurt Workers
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/07/kennedy-911-workers/

Senate Upholds TSA Workers Rights, But Bush Veto Looms
http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/03/06/senate-upholds-tsa-workers%E2%80%99-rights-...

Bush: Killing Workers Freedom to Bargain More Important than Passing Homeland Security Bill
http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/03/01/bush-killing-workers-freedom-to-bargain-mor...

H.R. 1881: Transportation Security Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1881

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ted
• Kennedy
• Edward
• TSA
• union
• rights
• working
• man
• homeland
• security
• HR
• 1881

[madnavigator]

The problem would be if the TSA did strike, the President would have the right to fire them since they're government employees. Just like Reagan did with the FAA air traffic controllers back in the 80's.

That said, I do see the day when the TSA will be at train and bus stations. It's already happening in Chicago.

RIP Ted Kennedy.

[AutisticPsycho]

Yes, but at this point right now, there are now plans to strike AFAIK.

There's always a sickout. :P

[Trashfished]

@raslu04 Kennedt did far more harm than you know to this country. Good riddance to the asshole Kennedys. Especially Ted.

[raslu04]

@Trashfished hey fuckhead, why dont you google Ted Kennedy and actually research the positive things he did for our country? His bills and fight for HUMAN rights, yes, yours included , have done so much for our country. What the fuck have YOU ever done for anyone other than yourself? Not a damn thing I bet.

[Trashfished]

@SCORPIOSTINGER07 What a peice of shit kennedy was . Good fucking riddance asshole.

[MickyG4444]

dam right

[da40flyer]

Actually it would be against federal law for us to strike.

[GHOSTSHADOW1]

i hope tsa gets the union they deserve

[SCORPIOSTINGER07]

Thank You Sen Kennedy!! Rest in peace.

[HerbWalker]

Thank you Sen Kennedy!