Rights for the TSA Workforce Act

Key Points

• This bill would move Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees into the same personnel system used by most other federal workers. Currently, the TSA uses its own unique rules for hiring and pay. This change would give airport screeners and air marshals the same legal protections and benefits as employees at other government agencies.
• The policy grants TSA workers full collective bargaining rights, allowing them to join unions and negotiate over their working conditions more effectively. While it expands these rights, it explicitly maintains the law that prevents federal employees from going on strike, ensuring that airport security operations are not interrupted.
• To ensure a smooth transition, the bill guarantees that no TSA employee will see a pay cut when the new system starts. It also fixes specific pay issues for Federal Air Marshals, ensuring they receive proper overtime pay and retirement credit. The goal is to finish this move to the new system by the end of 2025.
• Supporters of the bill argue that the current system doesn't provide enough benefits or protections, which leads to low morale and high turnover. By improving job stability and workplace rights, the bill aims to keep experienced security officers on the job and make the nation's transportation systems safer.
• The bill requires several reports on how the TSA treats its staff. This includes looking at how the agency recruits veterans, how it handles workplace harassment, and whether its leadership is diverse. It also requires the agency to track and report on physical or verbal assaults against its employees by the public.