TSA UNION RESPONDS TO ADMINISTRATOR NOMINEE JOHN PISTOLE

(WASHINGTON)—The American Federation of Government Employees today responded to President Obama’s announcement that he intends to nominate FBI Deputy Director John Pistole to the position of TSA administrator.

“AFGE is anxious for a qualified appointee to be confirmed and from what we can tell, Pistole looks like he might make it through the confirmation process,” said AFGE Membership and Organization Director Sharon Pinnock.

“Mr. Pistole appears to have a deep commitment to public service and values a federalized workforce. Based on his background, he seems to have extensive experience developing relationships between domestic law enforcement and intelligence agencies. This bodes well for his chances to be quickly confirmed, which will move AFGE one step closer to the bargaining rights we have been sought for Transportation Security Officers for more than eight years now,” Pinnock said.

AFGE is the only union to represent TSOs since the agency’s inception, and currently has approximately 13,000 dues-paying members in more than 100 airports in 38 AFGE Locals across the country.

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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.