Remember when President Obama nominated airport security vet Erroll Southers to run the Transportation Security Administration? And Jim DeMint placed a hold on his nomination because he was worried the guy would allow TSA screeners to unionize? And nothing happened for a long time? And then Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to ignite his underpants on a plane and everyone became concerned? So eventually Obama gave up and tried to nominate some other guy, who withdrew because of some sketchy stuff involving sleep apnea? And Obama finally got FBI man John Pistole confirmed to the position in June, 2010? Well, now we’re here:
The government will grant collective bargaining rights to the nation’s 40,000 airport screeners, the head of the largest federal workers union said Friday.
John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, told The Associated Press he was informed of the decision at a meeting with John Pistole, head of the Transportation Security Administration.