Federal Daily - April 30, 2009

Union Says TSA Must Protect Workforce From Swine Flu

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) criticized the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for not doing enough to protect Transportation Security Officers (TSO) who screen passengers potentially exposed to swine flu. In an April 28 statement, AFGE said some TSOs are being made to work with no precautionary measures as they screen passengers, and that requests for protective gear have been denied. In Denver and Miami, for example, TSOs were told they could not be given masks for fear that it would cause public panic, AFGE said. However, at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, baggage screeners were given protective gear while checkpoint screeners—who come in direct contact with travelers—are being denied the gear, AFGE said. “TSA has an unfortunate pattern of inconsistent responses when it comes to issues of employee safety,” said union President John Gage. “This is a perfect example of why collective bargaining in general, and one nationwide contract specifically, is needed at this agency. A measured and consistent response to emergencies at our nation’s ports is exactly what the creation of the agency was meant to achieve.” Gage suggested that any TSO who wants an N-95 respirator be given one, as recommended by Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry. This strain of the flu is suspected to have killed more than 150 people in Mexico and has been confirmed in at least seven countries around the globe, from Spain to Canada. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on April 29 reported the first American death from the disease: a 23-month-old child in Texas. To see more, go to: www.afge.org/Index.cfm?Page=PressReleases&PressReleaseID=988.

:: Back to Top ::

DoD Lists New Recovery Act Projects for Army, National Guard

DoD on April 28 announced a new list of more than 850 facility improvement projects funded by the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The $835 million allocated to these new projects represents the balance of the ARRA funds provided to DoD for construction and repair, and is part of the total $7.4 billion in ARRA funding provided to the department. All of the new projects on the April 28 list will be at Army and Army National Guard facilities in 37 states and the District of Columbia. More than half of the $835 million will be spent in five states: Texas ($155 million), Kentucky ($83 million), North Carolina ($83 million), Oklahoma ($66 million) and Hawaii ($59 million). In addition to making improvements to military installations, an additional $346 million will be spent on DoD energy-related projects, the department said. To see more, go to: www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12637.

:: Back to Top ::

Whistleblower Complaint Produces Probe of FAA Mechanic Screening

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has ordered the Department of Transportation (DOT) to investigate a whistleblower’s allegations that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not effectively screen out fraudulently certified airplane mechanics, according to documents posted by the Government Accountability Project. The group, which represents government whistleblowers, on April 28 posted a letter from OSC which said there was a “substantial likelihood” of a national security vulnerability in connection with a complaint filed by Gabriel Bruno, a former FAA manager of the Orlando Flight Standards District Office.  Bruno alleged in November 2007 that the FAA lacks a national security screening mechanism for certain mechanics who received fraudulent certificates from Anthony St. George—an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME)—and who have refused to, or failed to fully complete, a recertification program. According to GAP, “the basis of Bruno’s national security disclosure was a list of these mechanics in question, which were fraudulently certified from 1995 to 1999. One such mechanic’s name on the list is the same name as a 9/11 hijacker, and 33 others share the same P.O. Box number in Saudi Arabia.” GAP said the finding is the third of its kind by OSC related to disclosures by Bruno stemming from FAA’s handling of the St. George Aviation recertification program. DOT has 60 days to complete its investigation. To see more, go to: www.whistleblower.org/content/press_detail
.cfm?press_id=1625&keyword=.

:: Back to Top ::