House members weigh alternate paths to TSA bargaining rights

House lawmakers selected to negotiate with the Senate on major homeland security legislation said Tuesday that they are unsure whether they'll be able to address an effort to grant collective bargaining rights to federal airport screeners.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said at a press briefing that conferees are hoping to begin negotiations this week on a bill to implement the unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

But Thompson added that it is "subject to question" whether the conferees will be able to include a provision that would provide collective bargaining rights to thousands of airport screeners at the Transportation Security Administration.

Last week, Senate Democrats agreed to strip language from the bill that would have granted bargaining rights to TSA screeners. Senate Republicans had requested assurances that the measure would not grant screeners such rights, largely because President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, citing the TSA provision.

"We don't see it as an issue to national security that TSA workers have the right to bargain," Thompson said. He added, however, that conferees view the TSA issue with reluctance, especially if its inclusion means the entire bill would falter. He said there has been some discussion with the Senate as to whether there is another way to get at the collective bargaining issue.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, said after the briefing that she may try to address screener bargaining rights through separate legislation, should the final 9/11 bill not include the provision.

Federal labor unions indicated last week that they would continue to work with House and Senate Democrats in hopes of securing the rights.

"I remain open and very interested," Jackson-Lee said. "This is an issue that greatly warrants our consideration."