TSA Readies for Unionization = Repubican Assault on TSA & Gov't Employees

[amborin]

Board boosts airport screeners' bid to vote on union representation
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


In November 12, 2010|By the CNN Wire Staff

Airport security screeners, boosted by a decision Friday by a top federal labor board, could soon be able to bargain collectively.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority found "no support for the argument" of a U.S. Transportation Department official during President George W. Bush's administration that allowing screeners to bargain could threaten national security.

The labor board said that Transportation Security Administration employees had the right to elect people to represent them, but stopped short of saying they would be allowed to bargain on their behalf. That decision -- on whether the screeners will be able to collectively bargain -- now rests with TSA Administrator John Pistole, the board concluded.


snip

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-12/travel/transportation.unions_1_airport-screeners-transportation-security-administration-bargain?_s=PM:TRAVEL



What's really behind the attacks on the TSA?


Their upcoming potential unionization, made possible by the Nov 12 ruling.


Isn't Nov 12 right around when this Anti-TSA fervor started?


It's just another prong in the anti-government, anti-unionization, anti-democratic attack that republicans and tea partyers have been marshalling against progressives.

[leftstreet]

1. Now bring on the private contractors!!!1111

TSA Is 'Far Behind The Curve' On Security, Lawmaker Says

NPR NewsBlog 11/22/2010
While the Transportation Security Administration says there's reason behind its new security processes at airports, the Republican congressman who's in line to become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee says the agency is behind the times when it comes to protecting Americans.

"What they're doing really doesn't even address the current threat," Rep. John Mica, R-FL, told All Things Considered co-host Melissa Block this afternoon. Pat-downs and body scans of travelers might catch some of the would-be bombers of past years, Mica said, but won't stop terrorists intent on putting bombs on cargo planes.

Mica is an advocate of making more use of private contractors to do the screening and security work at airports. Melissa noted, as has Fox News, that Mica has come under some criticism because contributors to his campaigns have included companies that might benefit from such work. Mica called such talk "a lot of malarkey":

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/11/22/131517640/tsa-is-far-behind-the-curve-on-security-lawmaker-says

Traveler Anger Has Some Cities Considering Private Screeners

POSTED: 8:06 pm MST November 20, 2010

DENVER -- One city councilman in Colorado Springs is so fed up with new TSA security procedures he's ready to ask about switching to private contractors.

"I think we're kind of reaching a tipping point in this country right now," said Sean Paige, Colorado Springs city councilman. "Americans are tired of being treated like cattle and criminals every time they go out to the airport. We all understand the need for security, but I think we could do it with more dignity and more respect."

Paige said he'll ask airport managers to explore the pros and cons of switching to private screeners, something Sanford International Airport in Orlando, Fla. is already considering

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/25865627/detail.html

[amborin]

4. exactly! bring on the privatization of yet another sphere

[Starry Messenger]

5. It's pretty transparent.

Private screeners would be subject to the same federal guidelines. Unpleasant the process undoubtedly is, but it could get even strikingly less pleasant if stockholders and the profit margin affect the way security is run. No on privatization.

[amborin]

8. +1

[Starry Messenger]

21. My own profession (teaching) just got "the treatment"

I think I've developed an ear for the heavy propaganda. I have more hope that the recent policy change can be pressured into altering since we are dealing with a government agency. If Grope and Fondle co.© get into the business, it will just be capitalism as usual. They'll give the procedure a cute and friendly name and sell special non-grope memberships.

[amborin]

22. non-grope memberships! LOL and expand the special bypass lanes for the elite

[Starry Messenger]

24. Yep. I'm sure they'd make a killing. Call it "Pre-screened" and charge $250 a year

Innovation baby!

[avaistheone1]

40. Actually, no kidding this has already taken place.

I saw this at the San Jose airport in California a couple years ago. It was this special roped off line when you could go through directly to your flight if you belonged to some pre-screened membership which you paid I think something like $150 per year. Whether they still do this I don't know, or if they were running it as trial program I am not sure.

But I was pretty amazed to see that kind of a line at the airport.

[amborin]

42. yes,

some carriers may still have this, whereby you agree to undergo extensive background checks concerning your finances, etc....and, if you pass muster, you get the expedited pass

[leftstreet]

18. Education, healthcare, transportation, security

They won't rest til they've got it all

[amborin]

20. & fire department services!

[Starry Messenger]

23. After that they'll figure out how to sell us our air.

I love the picture. :D

[Bill McBlueState]

2. airport "security" is invasive and ineffectual

and many of the TSA workers I've encountered are authoritarian douchebags, but I fully support their right to form a union. There can be no political litmus test in letting workers exercise their right to organize.

[amborin]

7. the timing does not appear coincidental

effective or ineffective, this campaign seems related to their potential unionizatoin

[CreekDog]

3. Private companies will be no better because TSA policies will force them to the same

and i have doubts that even if the quality of employees is better (and why would they be?), the policies are a large part of the problem, not that TSA has government workers.

[amborin]

11. +1

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Yes, but they also started the policies

that have led to this... there are days that there are coincidences. not that the GOP will not use the outrage to push to privatize. They have been trying this for a few years now.

[amborin]

9. see Starry Messenger's reply, above

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. I am aware but lets add a few things to this

Pistole was told by his PR people to roll these things and TELL people we were going to do this. In other words a PR barrage before rolling out.

His FBI instinct took over and refused.

As I said, they are using this to try ONCE AGAIN to privatize TSA. They have wanted to do this for a while, as in a few years. Wackenhut, to name names, wants the contract back at Lindberg Field.

So of course they are using something that is more than just bothersome, to once again push for privatization. This is not about security, but people need or should know how this works... and a few times there are coincidences.

By the way, it is time to adopt israeli methods for the airports... but that is another thread.

[FourScore]

16. You cannot compare Israeli air traffic to the USA's. Isreal has about 50 planes/ day

coming and going, while the US has about 3400.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. i can compare Mexico City to JFK though

[amborin]

31. how

so?

in 2009, Mexico City handled 24.2 million passengers, while JFK handled 45.9, almost double

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. So you tell me they can't

I say they can.

The excuses are just that, excuses to sell EXPENSIVE technology OTHER airports keep rejecting.

And yes it is PERSONNEL INTENSIVE.

[amborin]

38. only

saying that the two airports you cited aren't comparable; no more, no less

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. Ok, I give up

[struggle4progress]

25. Israeli Airport Security

... it took me approximately three hours to get from the initial passport check through to the food court ... Each individual item from the bag I was allowed to carry on had to be separately wiped down for traces of explosive residue and several items had to be wiped multiple times. I was groped a couple of times, yelled at by surly Russian immigrants, accused of “lying” because I’d forgotten I had a second iPod charging cord in my bag, interrogated several times about who I’d talked to, etc ... http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/11/israeli-airport-security/

oh, yeah, the American public will love the Israeli way :eyes:

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Actually yes, yes they will

most people will get through it no problem.

Hell, I got the ninth degree in Mexico as I pointed out already, an Airport that's been israelized by the way. Why? I started to sweat, menopause, as I got to the counter, so five minutes, a manual check of my check in bagage, a wipe for explosives and they went through my Passport...

You got a problem with that?

By the way... so you understand this in American legalese, me sweating gave them PROBABLE CAUSE.

No, I don't expect this to be understood by you... let's irradiate everybody and pat down six year olds! That is, after all, the American Way.

[struggle4progress]

27. I think people will have a problem with a three hour procedure involving four or five interviews,

multiple patdowns, and more -- yes

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. What part of this don't happen MOST of the time

are you purposely missing.

They give the ninth degree, like what happened to Yglesias, ONLY TO VERY FEW PEOPLE who for whatever reason trip system.

It is NOT just the Israelis by the way. This happens in Charles De Gaulle Airport a few times a year.

This happens a few times a year at Munich.

Mexico City has that also a few of them during the course of a year.

Now I mentioned three airports that handle the traffic of JFK per day, or more... and usually these are people transporting things like oh Drugs or Diamonds.

Both are highly ilegal by the way... a few times is probably a few hundred people, with millions of travelers per year.

So yes, I think most people would accept that.

The procedure in both Mexico City and Israel is mostly transparent to the passengers and does not take three hours. They suggest you give them three hours... not because of you, but your luggage.

Yes, you are using one of the hundred or so cases in a year... congrats. So you prefer we pat down six year olds? Perhaps start irradiating kids in the womb? That is preferable, right? And no, dismantling all security is not an option, adults know that yes there is a real threat out there. Your choice, we do this the adult way, or we continue playing games. I take it you prefer the games.

[struggle4progress]

32. Israel’s Airport Security, Object Of Envy, Is Hard To Emulate Here (Forward | Jan 2010)

System Based on Interaction and Group Profiling Doesn’t Travel Well
By Nathan Guttman
Published January 06, 2010, issue of January 15, 2010

... “If you want to start questioning everyone who goes through U.S. airports, you’ll need to train tens of thousands of employees, to create new procedures and to take into account the impact it will have in terms of money and time,” said Bezherano, senior vice president of New Age Security Solutions, a consulting firm created by former Israeli security officials and based in Washington, D.C. ... “People simply won’t agree to spend all that time and money,” he said. “You can’t change the way people think.” Bezherano added another factor: “Americans find it hard to swallow a security policy that employs different standards to different groups.” ...

“This is the most offensive and humiliating experience I have ever had. I was immediately suspect because I am Arab,” said Saleh Yaaqubi, an Arab-Israeli student chosen to represent Tel Aviv University in an international conference alongside several other students. Yaaqubi’s story was told in a 2006 report prepared by the Arab Association for Human Rights. He said that while all Jewish members of his group passed the security checkpoints quickly, he was taken for further questioning time and again, both when leaving Israel and upon his return.

Non-Jewish tourists and academics visiting Israel also spoke of being singled out from the crowd and asked intrusive questions about their personal lives ...

<google cache of 15 Jan 2010 article:> http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:dNBqVGVIBXYJ:www.forward.com/articles/122781/+israeli+airport+security&cd=11&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Why do you think I keep pointing to MEXICO CITY?

Oh never mind, you prefer the games. Gotcha!

[struggle4progress]

36. Forgive my bad geography: I had not realized Mexico City was in Israel

The Mexico City airport is, of course, everyone's favorite long-standing example of security-done-right


Mexico City assigns 800 more police to airport security
Originally published Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 10:05 AM
The Associated Press
MEXICO CITY — More than 800 federal and local police have been assigned to improve security in and around Mexico City's international airport after a series of armed robberies against travelers who exchanged money there. Mexico City Attorney General Miguel Mancera said 460 additional city police officers have been assigned to patrol the areas surrounding the airport. Federal police have added 350 new agents to the airport since December, Federal Police Commissioner Rodrigo Esparza said Monday. At least 18 people have been robbed recently outside the airport ... http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008806886_webmexicoairport03.html

Thieves target Mexico airport, shoot Frenchman
By MARK STEVENSON Associated Press Writer
Published: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 8:59 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 8:59 p.m.
Thieves apparently targeting people who exchange money at Mexico City's international airport shot a French citizen in the head on Tuesday, and authorities warned that gangs have put lookouts at exchange windows in the terminal ... Mexico City police chief Manuel Mondragon said criminal gangs have posted lookouts at some of the money exchange businesses inside the airport. The lookouts tip off associates waiting outside who rob the victims after they leave the terminal. The gangs often use extreme violence ... http://groups.google.com/group/alt.impeach.bush/browse_thread/thread/a1cf10b123e2b114

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. It was ISRAELIZED in 2001

unlike us, they asked for advise.

And unlike us they have actually BETTER SECURITY.

But if you prefer your gropes go for it. Which of course YOU DO.

[amborin]

41. isn't

that for warding off gang and organized crime activity? a different issue.....

[inna]

10. k&r. Fascinating and explains a lot.

[amborin]

17. if someone

had time to search, it would be really interesting to see exactly when these complaints
begain

[Bluenorthwest]

12. The complaints are not about who is doing it but about what

they are doing. Deal with it.

[amborin]

14. see Starry Messenger's reply, above

[amborin]

15. it's a tactic;

and complaining about *what* is being done encourages condemnation of the workers who perform the searches, and the agency in general

[Hannah Bell]

28. kr

[AnotherMother4Peace]

30. I wonder who is being considered for the private contracts? Blackwater? nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. Nah who had it before

Wackenhut, Pinkerton and other security companies that lost it and have been trying to get it back since 9.11

[upi402]

43. Classic thug firms from union-busting days gone by

They demand their rightful pluck at the carcass!

[amborin]

44. +100

[amborin]

45. Covenant?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covenant_Aviation_Security


trinity?


http://trinitytechnologygroup.com/news.htm



right-wing, all

[laughingliberal]

46. The TSA employees are not in control of the policies. It's the policy that should be under attack.

In fact, I'd be willing to bet if the employees got decent representation, they'd be speaking out against some of the more intrusive things they're being forced to do.

[guardian]

47. Somehow

being groped by a union employee doesn't make me feel any better than being groped by a non-union employee. It would just become unionized security theater.