The Senate on Monday could consider a controversial bill to deny TSA workers collective bargaining rights.

Sen. Roger Wicker Roger Frederick WickerRestaurants brace for long COVID-19 winter The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns MORE (R-Miss.) indicated Monday that the Senate would take up his legislation, which he said could come to the Senate floor as early as Tuesday morning.

Senate consideration would come just days after Transportation Security Administration head John Pistole's Feb. 4 announcement that he would give TSA officers (such as airport screeners) some collective bargaining rights, including on issues such as scheduling. Wicker sees that decision as one that could pose a security risk, since it could impede TSA's ability to move personnel around in emergency situations.

He also sees it as an effort by the Obama administration to reward Democrats. "Frankly, I think many observers would conclude that the current administration is intent on doling out rewards to campaign supporters, and therefore is moving to reverse this decade-old decision and allow for collective bargaining among TSA employees," Wicker said on the Senate floor.

"I don't believe our country needs 50,000 TSA screeners to be part of a union, but the Obama administration does," he added.

Another senator, Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsSenate Democrats want to avoid Kavanaugh 2.0 Trump's Teflon problem: Nothing sticks, including the 'wins' Durbin: Democrats can 'slow' Supreme Court confirmation 'perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at most' MORE (R-Maine), said today that the Senate would consider a modified Wicker amendment that gives TSA employees some rights. She said she has worked with Wicker and Sen. Tom Coburn Thomas (Tom) Allen CoburnCOVID response shows a way forward on private gun sale checks Inspector general independence must be a bipartisan priority in 2020 Congress must protect federal watchdogs MORE (R-Okla.) to give more rights to TSA employees, although the amendment would still give TSA the flexibility to deploy resources the way it sees fit in order to deal with emergencies.

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Collins said that, for example, the modified amendment would still give TSA employees the ability to be represented by a union on some issues, but would not give them collective bargaining rights. She also said it would give TSA employees the right to an independent appeal of adverse personnel decisions.

Even with these modifications, the amendment is still likely to be controversial, and several Democratic senators, including Sens. Tom Harkin Thomas (Tom) Richard HarkinThe Memo: Trump attacks on Harris risk backfiring Ernst challenges Greenfield to six debates in Iowa Senate race Biden unveils disability rights plan: 'Your voices must be heard' MORE (D-Iowa) and Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) have spoken against it over the last few days.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority last November decided that TSA employees can vote on union representation, and balloting on this question is expected to be held March 9 to April 19.