AFGE Leader to Testify on the Federal Protective Service

Tuesday November 17, 2009

Contact:Emily Ryan
(202) 639-6421

Contract guards, 9/11 trials top priorities

Who:
American Federation of Government Employees Local 918 President David Wright

What:
To testify before House Committee on Homeland Security

Where:
Cannon House Office Building, Room 311

When:
Wednesday, Nov. 18; 10 a.m.

(WASHINGTON)—American Federation of Government Employees Local 918 President David Wright will testify on Nov. 18 before the House Committee on Homeland Security regarding the Federal Protective Service, and specifically dangers of having contract guards and FPS responsibility at upcoming trials of the 9/11 masterminds in New York City.

“With the terrorist trials in New York likely requiring significant augmentation of the FPS NYC staff, more staff is required to prevent diversion of staff from other areas,” Wright noted. “We are very much concerned that diverting FPS officers from the already depleted force to man these trials will leave other federal buildings vulnerable.”

On the issue of contract guards, they “lack law enforcement authority, and are not properly trained or monitored,” Wright said. “Short of converting all contract guards to FPS officers, if we were given additional staff, FPS would have significantly higher assurance guards are performing and are trained to the specifications of the contract, through robust inspection and monitoring protocols.”

Wright also will testify about the lack of full-funding at FPS and the problems that causes, staffing and turnovers, work hours, inter-agency cooperation, and other issues.

AFGE Local 918 is a national local that represents FPS employees across the country.