Debbie Lesko: “Third, some benefits currently available to the screener workforce under ATSA would not be possible if this bill were to…”

“Third, some benefits currently available to the screener workforce under ATSA would not be possible if this bill were to become law. The bill does not fix the morale problem. The bill does not guarantee additional pay or benefits for TSOs. It may actually make situations worse. The bill eliminates the authority TSA has to pay TSOs more than other Federal employees under title 5. It also eliminates several benefits, such as the broadest application of veterans' hiring preference in the Federal Government, meaning that veterans may not get the same preference that they do now; shift trades between employees; voluntary leave transfers; partial overtime pay as compensation for schedule changes; and career progression bonuses of up to 5 percent of a screener's salary. Fourth, we have yet to receive a CBO score. However, TSA estimates the bill will cost $1.2 billion over the next 5 years. To cover the cost, funding for security priorities would be reduced. The bill does not even have a specific authorization of appropriations or means of paying for moving these employees under title 5. The fifth reason I have a concern on this bill, H.R. 1140, amounts to a forced unionization of the TSA workforce and a forced designation of the union that will represent that same workforce. It does not allow for an intervening election for TSA screeners to choose their labor representation.…”