Feb 16, 2011 - On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate voted down the so-called Wicker amendment to the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, which would have excluded Transportation Security Administration employees from collective bargaining rights. The measure failed in a straight party line vote (47-51), with Republicans unable to get any Democrats to break ranks and side with them in an attempt to adopt the language. Federal employee unions such as The American Federation of Government Employees and The National Treasury Employees Union were against the measure.
Over a six-year period, senators voting against adoption received on average $17,404 from contributions connected to federal employee unions while senators in favor of adoption only received $2,633 on average.
Includes reported contributions to congressional campaigns of senators in office on day of vote, from Federal employees unions interest groups, November 23, 2004 – November 22, 2010. Contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org.
