TSA Implements Enhanced Whistleblower Protections for Officers

WASHINGTON, DC, Jul 31 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today the
implementation of enhanced whistleblower protections for 46,000
transportation security officers (TSOs).

Under an agreement with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB),
security officers will now be able to appeal whistleblower retaliation
complaints to the Board after exhausting options with the Office of
Special Counsel (OSC). Additionally, OSC may now seek corrective action
on behalf of a TSO with the MSPB.

"The additional protection now afforded to our frontline officers enhances
their ability to protect the traveling public," said TSA Deputy
Administrator Gale Rossides. "Giving our officers every opportunity to
communicate security concerns without fear of reprisal is an important
tool in a creative, engaged workforce."

The enhanced whistleblower protections continue the trend of major
workforce initiatives at TSA. In 2007, TSA began providing full-time
health benefits to part-time security officers. The agency has also
instituted pay-for-performance and career progression programs, while
offering increased opportunities for frontline security officers to
participate in the decision making process through the agency's
innovative National Advisory Council.

Prior to this agreement, the OSC, an independent, federal investigative
and prosecutorial agency, investigated retaliation complaints and made
recommendations to TSA to take corrective and/or disciplinary action when
warranted.

The MSPB is an independent, quasi-judicial agency with responsibility for
deciding Federal employee appeals from personnel actions taken against
them, protecting the integrity of the civil service and other Federal
merit systems, and conducting studies of the civil service and other merit
systems in the Executive Branch.

For more information, please visit www.tsa.gov.

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