Congress is moving to shore up security at the nation's airports this fall, considering legislation that could be a watershed in the public debate over privatization of these services.

One measure of the bill, which passed on a 100-0 vote in the Senate, would turn baggage screeners into federal employees. Baggage screening currently is contracted out to private companies--an arrangement that has come under fire since the September attack on America. In their efforts to win contracts through low bids, companies that handle baggage screening have staffed checkpoints with a low-wage, high-turnover, poorly trained work force. Critics charge that this system contributed to security lapses that allowed terrorists to commandeer and crash four commercial jets on Sept. 11, costing the lives of thousands.

By making baggage screeners part of the professional federal work force, the bipartisan measure passed by the Senate would help ensure that screeners are offered salaries, benefits, training and career opportunities that promote a stable, well-trained work force. But bipartisanship on this issue was just too much to bear for GOP House leaders, who gave public safety a back seat to their ideology of downsized government made possible by privatization of public services and to their fears that federalizing baggage screeners might make it easier for them to join unions.

GOP leaders marshaled enough support to defeat a bill on airport security, offered by the Democrats, that was a mirror image of legislation passed unanimously in the Senate. That measure--one that could have been signed into law the same day--was defeated in a 218-214 vote that broke largely along party lines.

As American Teacher went to press, action on airport security could be delayed by weeks while a House-Senate conference attempts to reconcile differences in the two bills.

Speaking at the AFT state federation presidents' conference this fall, AFT president Sandra Feldman said she was dismayed that some members of Congress seem willing to jeopardize the safety of the traveling American public because of an ideological and philosophical hostility toward public employees in general and toward unionized employees in particular.

Indeed, the unnecessary, ideologically driven stall on a vital public safety issue has drawn fire from all circles.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) lambasted his colleagues in the House. He pointed out that while House GOP leaders want airport security contracted out for the American public, they insist on having security in their own chambers handled by Capitol Hill police, a federal work force. "The House of Representatives [on Nov. 1] passed a bill that significantly weakens provisions contained in the Senate bill that gives Americans the confidence to fly again by making aviation security at all of our nation's airports a federal law enforcement responsibility.

"Since the Senate bill passed with no dissension on a rare 100-0 vote, I expect my Senate colleagues to fight to restore these important security measures and give the American public the same level of safety that members of Congress insist on for themselves."

American Federation of Teachers, AFL•CIO - 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW - Washington, DC 20001