Flight Attendant Union Applauds Announcement Of New TSA Alternative Screening Program
Washington, DC – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) today issued support of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) new program that will promote an alternate screening of crewmembers. The new program, sponsored by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Air Transport Association (ATA), will begin testing later this year.
“As first responders, Flight Attendants hold a primary stake and are the last line of defense in aviation security. Flight Attendants benefit through our partnership with ALPA, ATA and TSA and we look forward to being a key partner in the advancement of this alternate screening system,” said Veda Shook, AFA International President. “This program will highlight the importance of all crewmembers working as a security team for the safety of the crew and the traveling public.”
The program, as proposed by ALPA and ATA, includes Flight Attendants after initial testing. Alternate screening identifies authorized and trusted crewmembers at security screening checkpoints. The process, which Congress intended for all crewmembers in 2007, utilizes security screening clearances which are a condition of employment for aviation employees.
For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants at 21 airlines come together to form AFA, the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.
