The Federal Labor Relations Authority has started counting votes in one of the largest union representation election contests in the government in many years, a contest between the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union over who will represent employees of the Customs and Border Protection bureau within the Department of Homeland Security.
The contest is the result of the creation of DHS, which included the creation of CBP mainly out of elements of the old Immigration and Naturalization Service from the Justice Department–where AFGE has its base for this contest–and the old U.S. Customs Service from the Treasury Department–where NTEU has its base. AFGE also has units in other parts of DHS, including within the Coast Guard.
The two unions have cooperated on many issues regarding the merger and DHS, including the joint filing of the lawsuit that has stalled many elements of the revised DHS personnel system. However, the department–as was expected when the merger took place–asked and was granted permission from FLRA to deal with just one union in CBP.
An announcement of the winner is expected soon.