Fri, Nov 19, 2010
Union Calls On TSA To Issue Pat-Down Information To Every
Passenger
The American Federation of
Government Employees (AFGE) — a union jockeying to represent
TSA workers across the country — has heard from
Transportation Security Officer members that while most passengers
are understanding of the new TSA security procedures and recognize
that TSOs are not the ones who created those procedures, there have
been a few instances where passengers have become angry,
belligerent and even physical with TSOs. In Indianapolis, for
example, a TSO was reportedly punched by a passenger who didn't
like the new screening process.
"AFGE agrees that strong security measures need to be in place
and evolve as threats come anew, but the general public needs to
know what the security procedures are and what their rights are as
citizens," AFGE National President John Gage added. "TSA must do a
better job explaining these measures to the flying public. This
absence of information has resulted in a backlash against the
character and professionalism of TSOs based on a few widely
reported but largely ill-founded claims repeated over and over
again by the media."
AFGE further called on TSA to
provide an educational pamphlet to each passenger on the new
procedures and what the passenger rights are.
"Like all Americans, TSOs deserve to be treated with dignity and
respect. These men and women are the first line of defense against
those who seek to harm this country," Gage said. "It is
unacceptable for any passenger to verbally or physically assault
any security officers, and TSA must act now—before the
Thanksgiving rush— to ensure that TSOs are not being left to
fend for themselves."
AFGE is the only union to represent TSOs since the agency's
inception, and currently has more than 12,000 dues-paying members
in 38 AFGE TSA Locals across the country.
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