The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) called on March 22 for immediate payment to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, as long lines and delays continue at U.S. airports. The statement was released in partnership with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 135.
The unions say the current situation threatens airport security and inconveniences travelers. They argue that while other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees are being paid during a partial government shutdown, TSA officers are not.
“Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers must be paid now,” the groups said in their joint statement. “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has billions of dollars in discretionary funding that could be used to pay TSOs during this partial shutdown, just like they have chosen to continue paying ICE and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents, as well as active duty members of the U.S. Coast Guard. Instead of paying TSOs, they have chosen to create havoc in our airports.”
The unions also criticized recent moves to bring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents into airports as a substitute for trained TSA staff. “This latest threat of ICE invasion at the airports is another distraction from solutions that protect Americans,” they said. According to the statement, TSA officers undergo extensive training focused on detecting weapons or explosives—skills which ICE agents do not possess or cannot quickly acquire.
They further warned that introducing ICE agents into airport roles could lead to confusion over priorities: “the introduction of ICE agents into airports creates contradictory missions, as attempts to question passengers about immigration status may distract them from ensuring airport security.”
As tensions rise globally due to ongoing conflict with Iran, the unions urged immediate action: “There’s one solution that immediately solves the problem at our airports. Pay the people who are already trained to protect us from terror attacks today… Pay TSA Workers now.”
