SeATTLE, WA – June 3, 2025 (TSA Workers Union Contract) – A federal judge has delivered a crucial win for airport security workers, blocking an attempt by Homeland Security leadership to abruptly cancel their union contract. The ruling preserves critical workplace protections for thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees nationwide.
TSA Workers Union Contract Protected by Court Order
U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman issued a preliminary injunction Monday, stopping Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from terminating the collective bargaining agreement between the TSA and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). The judge declared the move appeared to be unconstitutional retaliation against workers who opposed Trump administration policies.
“Terminating this TSA workers union contract would cause irreparable harm,” Judge Pechman stated in her ruling. She emphasized that the contract provides essential safeguards against dangerous working conditions and unreasonable hours – protections not otherwise guaranteed under federal law.
Timeline of the Contract Dispute
The conflict began when AFGE secured a new seven-year agreement for TSA staff in May 2024. The situation escalated dramatically on February 27, 2025, when Secretary Noem issued a memo rescinding the contract. One week later, TSA management informed the union that:
- The agreement was immediately voided
- All pending worker grievances would be erased
- Collective bargaining rights were suspended
Retaliation Claims Take Center Stage
During May 27 court arguments, AFGE attorney Abigail Carter presented compelling evidence that the termination targeted the union for challenging administration policies. Just days before Noem’s memo, AFGE had won a temporary restraining order blocking federal probationary worker firings – a major Trump administration initiative.
“The pattern is unmistakable,” Carter argued. “Unions that disagree politically lose protections, while compliant ones keep theirs.” She noted this violated workers’ First Amendment rights to free speech and Fifth Amendment due process protections.
Justice Department lawyer Brian Kipnis countered that the move reflected “different management styles,” not retaliation. He claimed workplace tensions between unions and administrators are routine.
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Judge Questions Administration’s Motives
Judge Pechman sharply challenged this defense, noting: “Previous TSA administrations renewed this TSA workers union contract for years because it created happier, better-treated employees. The only change is this administration’s attitude toward dissenters.”
When Kipnis characterized the termination as legitimate discretion, Pechman responded: “Abruptly canceling contracts the government itself signed is legally questionable and hard to accept.”
What the Contract Protects
The endangered TSA workers union contract guaranteed:
- Safety protections against hazardous conditions
- Limits on excessive overtime
- Grievance and arbitration procedures
- Collective bargaining power for workplace improvements
“Without this agreement,” the judge wrote, “workers lose their voice to demand benefits impossible to secure individually.”
Union Hails Victory for Labor Rights
AFGE National President Everett Kelley celebrated the injunction as a “crucial victory for federal workers and the rule of law,” vowing to continue fighting unlawful union-busting tactics. The ruling preserves the contract while litigation continues.
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