Shutdown Threatens TSA Election

Airport screeners at the Transportation Security Administration have been waiting a long time for union representation, but a shutdown could upset the voting process currently underway.

According to J. David Cox, national secretary-treasurer at the American Federation of Government Employees, furloughs would impact workers at the Federal Labor Relations Authority responsible for managing the election. Eligible voters who need additional information or a replacement ballot would be able to contact FLRA, but the agency would be unable to mail ballots to people who did not receive them.

The election began on March 9 and is scheduled to run until April 19. FLRA, which oversees federal labor-management relations, will count the votes on April 20. AFGE and the National Treasury Employees Union are vying for exclusive representation of 40,000 TSA employees.