Unionized National Security Agencies Are a Mistake

James Sherk / July 12, 2011

Do you think that a government union would make the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) more effective? President Obama does. The White House recently decided to begin limited collective bargaining with airline security screeners.

The TSA will now collectively negotiate performance management processes, employee awards and recognition processes, and shift and transfer policies. Fortunately, the TSA will not (yet) bargain over promotions, security procedures, or personnel deployments—although the Administration can remove these limits later.

If the Administration is trying to protect Americans, this is a mistake. Collective bargaining is inherently adversarial. Pitting employees and employers against each other at the bargaining table fosters attitudes of “labor versus management” that often leads to strikes and job actions. (more…)