Flight Attendant Union Statement on Reports of TSA Directed to Divert Staff to Border
Washington, D.C. (May 15, 2019) The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) released the following statement on reports that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to deploy staff, including air marshals, to the border:
"Once again aviation security is being undermined by the Trump administration. The Transportation Security Administration is charged with transportation security, not border patrol. TSA's own mission statement says, 'to protect the nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.' We vehemently oppose any effort by this Administration to diminish our security by diverting Federal Air Marshals and other personnel away from transportation security.
"TSA said it will do its best to 'try to minimize operational impact,' and we know the agency always works hard to best utilize the resources it has to maintain our security. But the problem here is the directive to the agency, not the agency itself. Summer flying begins this month. This is the exact wrong time to stretch resources thin. Uniformed transportation security officers are only part of the important security network that keeps the flying public and aviation workers safe.
"There are thousands of security personnel in plain sight or behind the scenes that monitor aviation security as well. While the public may not be able to see this staff diversion, removing them from their post will undoubtedly have effects.
"Aviation security should not be undermined for any reason. We implore the White House and Department of Homeland Security to reverse this harmful plan.”
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The Association of Flight Attendants is the Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 73 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.
