NO to Privatization: Solidarity with Union TSA Officers at Tampa Int'l Airport

Union TSA officers invite all supporters (union or not!) to attend. The meeting will be held at HCAA's boardroom at SkyCenter One (level 4). Members of the general public attending the SkyCenter Boardroom meetings should park in the Economy Garage, and then take the SkyConnect train to the Rental Car Center. Exit the train at the Rental Car Center station and follow the signage to SkyCenter, taking the pedestrian bridge that leads to the main lobby of the SkyCenter Authority offices. All guests are required to check in at the Security Desk before entering the Boardroom. **From AFGE 556 President Chris Finlay:** On September 11th, 2001 the United States of America was attacked by terrorists who hijacked several aircrafts and flew them into key targets, to include the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This terrorist attack killed 2,977 people. TSA was created in response to this horrific event so that this never happens again, and “We Will Never Forget” was said nationwide. TSA announced on Monday July 20th that Tampa International Airport (TPA) had submitted an application to participate in the TSA GOLD+ privatization, which would replace all federal TSA officers with private contract workers. As a federal agency, TSA’s first objective is the mission, to ensure the safety of the traveling public and to protect the nation’s transportation system to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce. A private contractor is beholden to the shareholders and their bottom line to remain profitable. TSA expects a 12% attrition rate with the contractor, as opposed to the 7.8% achieved by the agency after implementing a fairer pay structure in 2024. The safety of the travelling public is being sold to for profit companies. Over 700 TSA employees are now facing the elimination of their federal careers. These are dedicated men and women who went through two government shutdowns this year, totaling 116 days. Despite this they still reported for duty while dealing with the struggles of providing for their families. Flights at Tampa were largely unaffected. Callouts stayed well within the bounds of reason, and the mission never stopped. All of this because they made an oath to the American people, the Constitution, and the traveling public. Now is not the time to remove them from Federal service in favor of an untested Gold+ program. We are asking everyone to attend Thursday's HCAA Board meeting. The need to reverse this action now before it is too late. The safety of the traveling public is not for sale to private contractors who want to monetize screening at the airports. The TSA officers deserve better, the traveling public deserve better, and the memory of 2,977 people who were killed by terrorists on September 11th deserve better.

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