World's Largest Flight Attendant Union Acknowledges 10th Anniversary of TSA
Washington, DC – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) International President Veda Shook today issued the following statement on the upcoming tenth anniversary of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA):
“Since the tragic events of September 11th, Flight Attendants go to work with an even greater sense of responsibility. We know that not only are we first responders to emergencies affecting the health and safety of our passengers and other crewmembers, we are also the last line of defense in aviation security.
“Created in the aftermath of September 11th, the TSA has worked every day to strengthen the security of our nation's transportation systems. As front-line safety professionals, Flight Attendants count on the TSA and the thousands of unionized Transportation Security Officers who ensure a secure work environment and safe travels for passengers.
“As we mark the tenth anniversary of this vital organization, we applaud the enhancements TSA has provided to make our skies safer. In the past decade, TSA has added an additional level of security with the expansion of the Federal Air Marshall program and worked to provide Flight Attendants with a voluntary crewmember self defense training course to begin preparing crewmembers with important hands-on training to defend the cabin against physical attacks. AFA has also been a vocal proponent of TSA’s transition to risk-based screening at security checkpoints as well as their federal role of providing for our country's security.
“Flight Attendants across the country depend on the professionalism and expertise of the TSA and its dedicated women and men who work tirelessly on behalf of aviation security. Through the combined efforts of Flight Attendants, Pilots, Transportation Safety Officers, Air Marshall's and the traveling public, it has been ten years since the last successful attack. We celebrate the many milestones TSA has made over the last ten years and thank them for their continued service to our nation’s transportation infrastructure.”
The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for over 65 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 60,000 Flight Attendants at 24 airlines 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.
