WASHINGTON - A federal employees' union said Monday it will ask Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge to let them represent airport security screeners.
The American Federation of Government Employees plans to send a letter to Ridge this week, asking him to overrule a January decision by Transportation Security Administration head James Loy.
"When 9-11 happened, we didn't say, 'Wait a minute, our collective bargaining agreement says we have to do this,'" said Bobby L. Harnage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees. "We did what was necessary. This has nothing to do with national security."
WASHINGTON - The Homeland Security Department is ill-equipped to analyze the bioterror threat to the nation, which brings into question a $6 billion administration-backed plan to stockpile antidotes, House Democrats said Monday.
Rep. Jim Turner of Texas, top Democrat on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, said in a letter to President Bush the department's office responsible for analyzing bioterror threats "is not remotely close to having the tools it needs to meet its critical mandate."
A department spokesman, responding to the allegation, said officials were moving quickly to rectify staffing and space shortcomings.