January 20, 2010
NTEU Disappointed With Southers' Withdrawal;
Promises to Move Ahead on Behalf of TSA Employees
Calling the sudden withdrawal of Erroll Southers to be the next TSA administrator a disappointment, NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said she is hopeful that the Obama administration would quickly move to name a new nominee to head the agency.
"Southers had bipartisan support and more than the 60 votes necessary for confirmation," President Kelley said. "It is disappointing that politics convinced a qualified nominee to withdraw his candidacy and has left this agency unable to reach its full potential in securing the safety of the traveling public."
President Kelley reiterated that Southers' withdrawal will not impact the union's ongoing effort to gain full collective bargaining rights for TSA employees. President Obama is on record in support of these rights and NTEU believes that his administration supports our efforts to secure them. NTEU will continue to press the White House to grant TSA employees collective bargaining rights through a directive, as well as urge lawmakers on Capitol Hill to take congressional action in the form of permanent legislation. NTEU has a record of persistence and we plan to bring that to bear in this matter.
Last year, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that local and state law enforcement employees enjoy collective bargaining rights without any harm to security and that TSA workers could enjoy them as well without sacrificing public safety or aviation security.
Kelley spoke with Southers earlier today and the conversation only confirmed NTEU’s belief that TSA would have been strengthened by his leadership.
In a recent letter to President Obama, NTEU asked that he include TSA policies and practices in his larger review of policies, systems and actions surrounding the Christmas Day attempt to down a U.S. airliner. Even though TSA employees were not involved, including the agency in the review would draw immediate attention to its needs and lead to positive steps to strengthen its mission capability.
For more information, contact your local NTEU representative, call toll free 1-866-591-5735 or e-mail TSA@nteu.org.
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