Rep. Susie Lee, House Pass Pay Raise, Workplace Protections for TSA Workers

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) helped the U.S. House of Representatives pass the bipartisan Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act, H.R. 1140, introduced by Reps. Nita Lowey (N.Y.-17) and Bennie Thompson (Miss.-02).

This bill strengthens the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening workforce employees, or Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) workforce, by affording them the same worker rights, protections, and pay-scale guidelines as other federal workers under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. This bill will offer TSOs full collective bargaining rights, opportunities to effectively raise issues in dispute to an independent third party, and subjection to the General Services wage system.

During the government shutdown in early 2019, TSOs – who are considered "essential" personnel – went without pay for 35 days. Many TSOs had to take second jobs, rely on charities or food banks, or consider leaving TSA for paid work.

"We all remember the strain that the 2019 government shutdown had on our working families, and our Transportation Security Officers felt the pain more than most," said Rep. Lee. "TSOs already receive some of the lowest pay with weak federal workforce rights, and that was made painfully clear when many could barely make ends meet during the 35 day shutdown. That's just wrong. TSOs aren't just some of the hardest working federal employees, but they're a vital line of defense in our national security infrastructure. This bill helps get TSOs what they deserve: workplace rights, protections, and pay scale opportunities offered to every other federal worker."

This is wonderful news for the 1200 uniformed Transportation Security Officers at McCarran International Airport, we have waited so long for this," said Juan Casarez, President of AFGE Local 1250. "On behalf of all the TSOs we represent, I'd like to thank Congresswoman Susie Lee and all of her colleagues in the House for voting to ensure our security officers get the rights and benefits they deserve.

BACKGROUND: The Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act of 2019 would enhance TSA's security operations by applying the personnel system of Title 5 of the U.S. Code to Transportation Security Officers. Specifically, under the bill, authority granted to TSA to establish or modify a TSA personnel management system would be terminated and the Secretary of Homeland Security would be directed, within 60 days of enactment, to suspend TSA personnel policies, directives, letters and guidelines and move toward conversion of the TSO workforce to the Title 5 personnel system in a manner that is mindful of tenure and status, particularly with respect to leave, pay, group life, health insurance, and severance pay. Additionally, the bill includes protections to ensure that pay for TSOs is not reduced due to the transition to the Title 5 personnel system.