Rokita Introduces First Bill, Will Prohibit Collective Bargaining

Statement

Today Rep. Todd Rokita introduced his first bill as a member of Congress, the TSA Employee Freedom Act, to prevent TSA unions from engaging in collective bargaining, thereby threatening employee freedom, jeopardizing national security, and limiting the recourse Americans have to redress mistreatment by TSA personnel.

"Since the creation of the Transportation Security Administration a decade ago, its unions have been prohibited from collective bargaining,"Rokita said. "Collective bargaining agreements would hamper the sensitive nature of TSA agents' national security responsibilities. TSA agents are no different than FBI, CIA, and Secret Service agents; we do not negotiate collective bargaining agreements with security personnel."

"Collective bargaining would also threaten employee freedom. This decision is not about the welfare of TSA employees, but just another brazen attempt by this Administration to reward their allies in Big Labor," Rokita added.

This year the Obama Administration reversed course and announced a decision to allow the Transportation Security Administration and TSA unions to enter into collective bargaining agreements. This would restrict the TSA's ability to meet ever-changing national security needs and will add to already out-of-control federal spending, a highly irresponsible decision at a time the United States faces a grave debt crisis.

"Union demands as a result of collective bargaining will unquestionably make our transportation security more costly and less efficient,"Rokita added. "And let's not ignore the fact that citizens who are mistreated by TSA agents will see their recourse greatly reduced, if not eliminated, by collective bargaining. I will work to ensure that collective bargaining does not impact the safety of any American or needlessly subject our rights and privacy to a union or its leaders."

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