From the outside, maybe. From the inside, nope.

Case in point: Police and firemen (persons) do not consider themselves to be civillians, and pretty much the same with most uniformed government agencies. TSA is a uniformed government agency.

Oh, boy, is that comment going to wind some people up.

There's no reason TSOs shouldn't have the right to join a union (and the right not to join a union). There's no reason for a union to do much if managers are adept. Happy workplaces need little union attention.

And therein lies the crux of the problem with TSA. :(

I guess that would make the United States Post Office a uniformed government agency also....

:rolleyes:

Ron, for the record, there are seven uniformed services here in our United States of America. Although from different departments, all receive appropriations and authorizations from the armed services committees and the defense appropriations subcommittees. All have equivalent rank structures, pay & benefits, and the 20-year retirement:

1. United States Army
2. United States Navy
3. United States Air Force
4. United States Marine Corps
5. NOAA Commissioned Officer Coprs (Department of Commerce)
6. United States Coast Guard (DHS, should be Department of Transportation, but that's another issue)
7. U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (HHS)

TSA is a government agency that requires wearing a uniform at its lowest employee levels. Many restaurants including chains, and many service and retail businesses, even sports teams, require their employees or members to have a standardized code of dress or a uniform, or an apron, or vest. Even a business suit can be considered a uniform of sorts. ;) It makes them easy to spot in a crowd.

Even further it makes an individual part of a group which is expected to adhere to a certain set of rules and boundaries. It implies consistency in obediency, thoughts and actions.

Burger King employees wear uniforms.

Police and firemen serve the public, TSA no so much.

TSA is a civilian agency. But I agree, it's employees wear uniforms, but only in an attempt to display a false police like appearance.

That's just more smoke and mirrors like the TSA's concept of security.

So, your going to tell a cop that he is a civillian? Hmmm, let us know how that goes please. :rolleyes:

That’s your opinion. And like certain body parts, everyone has one. The difference is that the vast majority of the citizens of the United States agree with mine, not with yours.

The following are not uniformed government agencies:

Burger King
Retail businesses
Sports teams
Service business’
United States Postal Service

The following ARE uniformed government agencies:
United States Air Force
United States Army
United States Navy
United States Coast Guard
United States Marine Corps
Municipal Police Departments
Municipal Fire Departments
United States Secret Service
Transportation Security Administration Employee’s

See the difference? Government agencies. USPS is not a government agency.

Facts is facts. If that upsets people then they need to get over it, life is full of these little disappointments.

I don’t support unions on other grounds. If folks want to join one then let them have at it. I don’t have a problem with their decision. Personally, I have seen far too many problems caused by Unions over the years, too many to make up for what small bit that they do for their members.

TSA may wear uniforms but are not in any way shape or form equal to the military services.

USSS agents that I know wear suits. Is that a uniform?

Your ego is getting in the way of clear thinking.

^^ I'm sure all of the 1811 FBI agents, DEA agents, and ICE agents will be pleased to know that because they don't wear a uniform, they don't rate on Ron's uniformed pantheon of government heroes. :rolleyes:

The uniform that TSO's wear mean absolutely nothing. Contrast this with the uniform of the Armed Forces, which if you are lawfully wearing it, entitles the wearer to certain protections under the law of war as set forth in the Geneva Conventions.

The only thing a TSA uniform provides is recognition that the wearer belongs to an agency that routinely exceeds the authority they operate under, and gives life to the South Park character Eric Cartman - "respect mah authoritay!"

I never said it was, you are making an inappropriate assumption. :td:

Some do, some wear uniforms. Ever been to the White House?

Your “clear thinking” is murky, at best. :rolleyes:

So, you are of the opinion that the FBI, ICE, and DEA are uniformed services? Wow, interesting.

Another unsupported opinion. And of course we all know what that means.

Been there, done that.

While not a definitive source I believe following is accurate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform..._United_States

Answer the question. Ever been to the White House? You will find uniformed Secret Service agents there.

While you may have "been there" and "done that" you apparently didn't learn much during your visit.

I can play the same games you do, Ron. :D

So exactly what does the uniform of TSA represent? What powers are vested once one puts on that uniform? Does the statute that created TSA and gave it authority (ignoring the issue of how often TSO's exceed that authority) require TSA employees to wear uniforms?

I have been to the White House.

The USSS does have a uniform division. However that does not make them a Uniformed Service, just an agency that wears uniforms.

There is a big difference between the two but I understand that you can't understand the those differences. That's why I provided the link to some other discussion.

I agree that TSA wears uniforms, as does several other government agencies like BOP and such. But again that does not make them a Uniformed Service.