Union representatives have started a push to get airport security personnel the ability to sit down again after the Trump administration abruptly took away all the chairs for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff at checkpoints.
“People are pissed,” said Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) TSA council 100 and president of AFGE local 1040, which represents TSA workers in Dallas-Fort Worth.
TSA officials ordered that chairs be removed from travel document check stations on September 25, arguing “maintaining a standing posture helps reinforce professionalism, attentiveness and active engagement with passengers” and that the policy change “reinforces both our security posture and our commitment to hospitality”.
Jones said his members have been inundated with calls and messages regarding the agency’s decision to remove chairs.
“People are calling, members are mad, employees are upset because they literally started their day, everything was normal, and by halfway through their shift, they’re (TSA) taking all the chairs out and replacing them with inadequate mats,” said Jones. “The amount of phone calls I received is almost the same as if everybody got fired all at once, almost similar to when we have government shutdowns.”
“Our officers screen millions of people a day and they do it right, sitting or standing,” said Hydrick Thomas, president of AFGE TSA council 100, in a statement. “Nobody who works a checkpoint asked for this. Nobody who flies asked for this.”
Jones pointed out that TSA checkpoint podiums are one of two places where TSA officers can rest their legs while screening passengers. Chairs were not taken away from x-ray machines because manufacturers recommend sitting while operating those machines.
Jones mentioned that the union wasn’t informed about this policy change beforehand and it wasn’t negotiated but rather imposed by the agency unilaterally. It’s unclear what this means for TSA employees needing light duty accommodations.
After the policy change was made, TSA workers were also required to sign a pledge promising to support “the well-being and morale of our colleagues,” according to the union.
“They didn’t notify the union at all, obviously, nor the employees. They decided it would be a great idea to make their employees upset,” said Jones.
He expressed uncertainty about what has happened to all the chairs in airports across the US.
Jones explained that this new policy worsens working conditions for TSA officers who no longer have an option to take breaks off their feet. He noted that border patrol officers and customs officers still use chairs while checking travel documents.
US Customs and Border Patrol stated it has not implemented this policy.
“A lot of people don’t have adequate footwear to need to stand up for that long,” Jones said. “The agency didn’t allow us to bargain any of these changes. They just implemented them. It’s very demoralizing; it’s upsetting that they would do this to transportation security officers.”
AFGE launched a letter-writing campaign urging people to tell TSA to “restore the chairs”.
Union leaders criticized both the policy change itself as well as TSA’s reasoning behind it while also questioning why workers had to sign a morality pledge right after such an abrupt implementation.
“Nobody who works a checkpoint asked for this. Nobody who flies asked for this,” said Thomas in a statement. “If TSA leadership truly believes standing makes people better at their jobs, I look forward to watching every manager in the building prove it for eight hours straight. We will bring the pledge. They can bring their own chair if they are allowed one.”
This recent change is just one more issue affecting workers at TSA under Trump’s administration; they’re also facing potential pay freezes along with major increases in health insurance premiums.
Under Trump’s administration, twice attempts were made by DHS to cancel collective bargaining agreements between agencies and unions representing TSA workers; however, in January a judge ruled against those attempts stating they violated court orders meant to keep those contracts intact.
During two government shutdown periods without pay since Trump began his second term-one from October 01 until November 12 last year-and then another partial shutdown impacting some workers including those from T. S. A., which lasted about 76 days between February through April earlier this year-T. S. A employees continued working without pay during these times as well
The Trump administration has pushed privatization initiatives involving work usually done by T. S. A personnel transferring over tasks into private contractor hands through programs like Gold+ offered by T. S. A.; Tampa International Airport later backed away from its plans following backlash against joining such efforts
TSA did not respond after multiple requests regarding comments concerning both newly imposed policies alongside criticisms voiced within unions pertaining morale pledges made recently yet maintains requirement where traveling public should always find chair available upon request
A spokesperson gave ABC News brief remarks concerning changes asserting adoption enhances security measures further reflecting hospitable attitudes expected during interactions yet failed explaining rationale behind lack negotiations surrounding alterations made directly affecting employment conditions
All officers must meet fitness standards ensuring capabilities aligned with carrying out critical national safety responsibilities while creating welcoming environments travelers enjoy each time passing checkpoints.
Source link
