As the holiday season is approaching, AFGE is calling on Congress and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to do six things to achieve a safe, efficient and positive experience for the flying public as well as those charged with carrying out the mission of airport security.
In a testimony before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security on “On the Frontlines in Turbulent Times: Workforce Perspectives on the State of Transportation Security,” AFGE detailed the plight of the screening workforce the past 20 years and what needs to be done to make sure the TSA workforce have the resources and support they need to do their jobs.
Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) have worked on the frontlines through multiple government shutdowns, including the unprecedented 35-day shutdown in 2018-2019. Though TSOs are among the lowest-paid federal employees, they worked without pay over a span of three pay periods and some are still digging out from the financial consequences of having to go without paychecks for over a month.
For someone working with low pay and few rights at work, having to borrow money or work temporary second and third jobs, and deal with not being able to pay rent, car payments, child support, or even groceries – that is the real definition of turbulent times.
It doesn’t have to be that way – certainly not to the workers with an enormous responsibility of protecting the flying public from terrorism.
Here are 6 things that Congress can do and/or direct the administration to do:
AFGE looks forward to working with the committee and with TSA to achieve a safe, efficient and positive experience for the flying public as well as those charged with carrying out the mission of airport security.
AFGE applauds the Senate for passing an AFGE-backed bill that would allow law enforcement personnel and first responders to keep their full retirement benefits if they’re injured on the job and return to the federal workforce in another capacity. The bill, which passed the House in July, now heads to President Biden for his signature.
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AFGE and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Nov. 17 signed a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with several new benefits, including expanded telework and remote work as the two parties work together to find a new way to achieve efficiency and work-life balance.
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Since 2010, the number of Social Security beneficiaries has gone up more than 20%, but the budget for processing social security claims hasn’t kept up. In fact, it has gone down 14%, causing backlogs and delays in the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s ability to respond to families and individuals seeking Social Security benefits.
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