Alaska lawmakers back Cissna, criticize airport patdowns

From Lisa Demer in Juneau -- The state House took a stand Wednesday in support of Rep. Sharon Cissna, D-Anchorage, who was denied a flight from a Seattle airport over the weekend after refusing a pat-down search.

State Rep. Chris Tuck, another Democrat from Anchorage, said Cissna stood up for her rights and "chose respect."

He called for a "sense of the House that efficient travel is a cornerstone of our economy and our quality of life especially here in Alaska, and that no one should have to sacrifice their dignity in order to travel."

The House voted 36-2 to adopt that sentiment. Reps. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, and Dan Saddler, R-Eagle River, voted "no." Cissna and Rep. Anna Fairclough, another Eagle River Republican, were absent.

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FLRA Accepts AFGE Petition for Union Election at TSA

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire
The Federal Labor Relations Authority today accepted the petition from the American Federation of Government Employees to hold a union election at the Transportation Security Administration.

"AFGE argued, and the FLRA agreed, that the right for employees to elect an exclusive representative and the right to engage in collective bargaining are two separate and distinct rights," AFGE National President John Gage said. "We have always said the choice to unionize and the task of winning collective bargaining rights at TSA would be a two-part process.

"While we wait for the decision on collective bargaining rights that TSA Administrator Pistole has indicated will come soon, the election process can begin to move forward," Gage added. "TSOs have waited long enough for both formal representation in the workplace and for the same collective bargaining rights held by Border Patrol and Federal Protective Service officers, ICE agents, FEMA employees, DoD civilians—as well as those screening officers that work for TSA contractors.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flra-accepts-afge-petition-for-union-election-at-tsa-107570868.html

TSA to hold union election

By Emily Long November 12, 2010

Transportation Security Administration employees soon will be able to vote for exclusive union representation.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority on Friday accepted a petition from the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union to hold an election to determine which group will represent TSA workers. Petitions filed by AFGE and NTEU earlier this year were denied by an FLRA regional official, but Friday's decision reverses that ruling. Both unions have been vying for exclusive representation of 40,000 TSA employees. FLRA will set the timeline for the election, count the votes and certify the results.

AFGE National President John Gage praised the decision, arguing Transportation Security officers have waited too long for union representation.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/111210l3.htm

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