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Unions, Democrats Stand to Gain from Airport Security Bill Jason Pierce, CNSNews.comCNSNews.com -- Despite increasing pressure to pass an airport security bill, the House Republican leadership is holding firm in its opposition to any legislation that would federalize government workers because of the likelihood that those workers would become unionized. The Senate passed its version of the airport security bill last week by a rare 100-0 vote that included a provision to federalize most airport security workers, stabilize cockpit doors, and put sky marshals on more flights. Senate Republicans insist any debate over the workers becoming unionized is unnecessary since a provision in the Senate bill prevents workers from striking. However, Gregg Crist, spokesman for House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), said estimates show that unions could collect $27 million if airport security workers joined them. "[Unions are] not the principle concern, but it is one that makes you scratch your head and wonder," he said. "There is a lot of money to be collected if this entire work force was federalized and unionized, and that seems to be the principle force behind the Democratic argument, because we know it is not safety." Crist added that despite failed attempts in the past to federalize airport security personnel, many in Congress are still calling for such a move. "When it comes down to the best safety mechanism, it seems as though all logic goes out the window, all historical basis and recent data goes out the window, and we are worried about union issues," Crist said. "Security has taken a back seat to federal employment issues." Ed Gillooly, spokesman for National Association for Government Employees, denied that the unions' main concern is to enroll more members. "We are not looking at it as something that will bring in a lot more members," Gillooly said. "Only 15% of federal employees typically join unions, so they are not all going to be unionized, that is for sure." However, Linda Chavez, who was President Bush's first nominee to be secretary of labor until allegations surfaced that she had hired an illegal alien, said it is undeniable that unions stand to gain from the federalization of airport security workers. "There is all this emphasis on bipartisanship, but I am not always sure that there are not other simultaneous agendas going on with the Democrats," Chavez said. "This time, they are essentially trying to create a whole new bureaucracy and group of federal workers, many of whom would, in fact, be union members." Chavez said the downside of having more federalized, union workers, is that employers lose control of their work force, especially in cases of quick response capabilities, and time off. The reason, Chavez said, that security personnel haven't unionized before is that they could have been much easier replaced than federal employees. "It is a much more unresponsive group of workers. Meanwhile, you are not ensuring any better quality in terms of skill," she said. Chavez said Democrats can look forward to a major victory if airport security workers are unionized. "The unions that represent workers in the federal government will get lots of new members if this happens," Chavez said. "And anytime you enlarge the size of the federal government, the Democrats win, because they are the party of big government, they will see this as a victory." Copyright CNSNews.com All Rights Reserved Also see the NewsMax editorial, Don't Federalize Airport Security
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