The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) called on March 22 for the immediate payment of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, citing long security delays at U.S. airports. The union released a joint statement with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 135.
The unions said that paying TSA officers is essential to maintaining airport safety and preventing further disruptions. They argued that the Department of Homeland Security has sufficient discretionary funds to pay TSA employees during the partial government shutdown, as it has done for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol agents, and active duty members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
“Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers must be paid now,” the unions said in their statement. “Instead of paying TSOs, they have chosen to create havoc in our airports.” The statement also criticized recent suggestions to use ICE agents at airports as a substitute for trained TSA staff: “This latest threat of ICE invasion at the airports is another distraction from solutions that protect Americans. TSOs can’t simply be replaced. They undergo a six-month training program in which they learn to screen passengers while evaluating and managing risks within the unique context of an airport—especially how to identify disguised or disassembled weapons and explosives. This is expertise and training that ICE agents simply do not have, and cannot learn quickly.”
The unions expressed concern that introducing ICE agents into airport operations could result in conflicting responsibilities: “Furthermore, the introduction of ICE agents into airports creates contradictory missions, as attempts to question passengers about immigration status may distract them from ensuring airport security.” They emphasized that properly trained personnel are necessary for effective protection against threats.
“There’s one solution that immediately solves the problem at our airports. Pay the people who are already trained to protect us from terror attacks today, especially as the war with Iran increases the desire to strike against Americans,” read part of their joint statement.
The groups concluded by reiterating their demand: “Pay TSA Workers now.”
