Message from the National President

Dear TSA Employee,

Over the past several days, NTEU has been pressing our overriding message with House and Senate members, with the White House, and with DHS that the agency is putting the health of its employees at risk by refusing to allow you to wear masks at your discretion. These concerns will be addressed at a congressional hearing next week.

The Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia will assess whether federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, are taking appropriate measures to protect their employees from the flu and other communicable diseases. I will testify that DHS is not taking adequate steps to ensure your health and that employees in high risk situations should be permitted to wear masks if that is what you choose. I will make sure lawmakers understand that employees charged with safeguarding the American public must have the right to protect their own individual health.

NTEU is working closely with the committee chair, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), who has called DHS's guidance on the mask issue "inconsistent and inadequate." He has voiced strong support for your right to wear protective masks and gloves "without delay." You can watch the hearing live on Thursday, May 14, at 2 p.m., ET, at federalworkforce.
oversight.house.gov/hearings.asp.   

TSA employees can have full confidence that NTEU is pursuing every possible avenue in this effort and I will continue to keep you updated when new information becomes available. Your support is vital, and deeply appreciated.

For more information about NTEU’s efforts and swine flu, visit www.nteu.org/swineflu.aspx.