TSA Screener Unions Blast Contracting-Out Human Resource Work
By ARI PAUL
Unions representing airport screeners responded bitterly to a decision by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to contract its human resources work to Lockheed Martin.

JOHN GAGE: Another blow to Federal workers.

The deal reportedly grants Lockheed $1.2 billion under the terms of the eight-year contract.

'No Reason to Contract Out'

"There is absolutely no reason to contract out this work," said John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, in a statement July 18. "TSA already has fully functional human resources. Why would they pay a contractor to do work that already is being done in-house? This is a waste of taxpayer money that will serve only to deplete an already strained workforce that has the lowest morale and highest turnover in the Federal Government."

A Lockheed spokeswoman told the Washington-based Federal Times that various Federal agencies were looking to the private sector for help in the human resources area.

National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen M. Kelley, who represents TSA screeners at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also blasted the deal.

"The profit Lockheed Martin will make from a $1.2 billion deal could be used to increase staffing and reduce congestion at our nation's airports," she said in a statement. "Is that not a much better use of taxpayers' money?"

While TSA screeners are allowed to join unions, they do not have the right to collectively bargain.

Business As Usual Under Bush?

Mr. Gage, like many other Federal union leaders, has opposed moves to shift government work to private contractors, and saw the Lockheed contract as a continuation of that trend under the Bush Administration.

"There also appears to be a conflict of interest stemming from any involvement by Lockheed Martin in TSA personnel matters," he said. "AFGE believes that Lockheed Martin would like to take over the duties of the federalized screener workforce, and so stands to gain by demonstrating that the federalization of screening duties has been a failure."