TSA to prohibit airport security officers from sitting down while checking travelers’ IDs
TSA says rule change is meant to keep officers ‘alert’, but union says it ignores safety and ‘common decency’ US airport security officers who verify boarding passes and IDs ahead of security checkpoints will no longer be allowed to sit down while working. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was moving forward with this change in policy to keep officers “alert”, the agency confirmed…
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is set to prohibit airport security officers from sitting down while checking travelers' identification documents. The agency is implementing this change to ensure officers remain "alert" and capable of performing their duties, according to the TSA spokesperson. However, the American Federation of Government Employees Council (AFGE), which represents TSA officers, opposes this decision, stating that it disregards safety and "common decency."
The union argues that the chairs provide essential ergonomic and safety support for officers who stand and walk on hard surfaces throughout their shifts. The AFGE views the TSA's decision as a "disregard for employee rights and safety," reflecting a broader pattern of the administration's treatment of employees. This move comes after a tumultuous year for TSA, including a 76-day government shutdown in 2021 that resulted in unpaid duty for many officers.
The union is also scrutinizing a new program that will expand privatizing security checkpoints at three airports, with the AFGE considering legal action to fight against this initiative.
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