TSOs Elect AFGE as Their Union

Even as the right to join a union is under attack across the country, more than 40,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees in 450 airports made a strong statement for workers’ rights by electing AFGE as their exclusive union representative. The 8,903-8,447 vote came in a runoff with the National Treasury Employees Union.

In April, nearly 85 percent of the TSOs who voted chose to join a union. AFGE led the voting in that election but did not garner an outright majority.

Although the TSOs did not have collective bargaining rights until now, more than 12,000 TSO members had joined 40 AFGE local unions across the country. It took 10 years before the TSOs finally gained the right to bargain. The Obama administration restored the TSO’s legal right to bargain collectively after George W. Bush took it away.

The TSA workforce has proven itself time and time again to be dedicated to the mission of the Department of Homeland Security, and one that cares about the work it does, Gage said. He added that AFGE has long argued that “only a professional and highly motivated workforce can provide the security this country needs.”

Let's welcome the new members of AFGE Local 899 to the Minnesota AFL-CIO!