Catherwood LibraryILR School

The American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union are vying to represent over 40,000 airport screening. Both unions contend that the way to fix low pay, high turnover and low morale is through collective bargaining. Though screeners have been allowed to join unions since the creation of their field after 9/11, they have not been able to bargain collectively. The American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union both say that they plan to change the pay structure, scheduling and work system if they represent the workers. The issue of collective bargaining has attracted interest from Washington D.C.. Some Republican members of Congress say that collective bargaining could threaten screeners abilities to do their jobs. Both unions rejected the claim, and brought up firefighters and policemen as examples of unionized agencies that protect people effectively. Despite the opposition from some members of Congress, it is expected that screeners will win collective bargaining rights in the near future.