Officials with the American Federation of Government Employees joined a virtual roundtable to talk about what Congress can do to protect TSA officers working during the coronavirus pandemic.
In the virtual meeting, the AFGE President Everett Kelley met with Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) Homeland Security Committee Transportation and Maritime Subcommittee Chairman, Dina Titus (D-NV), and Val Demings (D-FL) to discuss how best to protect Transportation Security Administration officers as they work at the nation’s airports. TSA officers face substantial exposure to COVID-19 because of their work with the public. As of April 31, nearly 500 TSA officers have tested positive for the coronavirus.
While the union initially felt that workplace protection equipment was not called for, it changed its mind in March, opting to provide masks to its frontline workforce. The organization is still working to provide protective eyewear.
The union is now calling for hazardous duty pay for its frontline staff, as well as a presumption that if a TSA officer contracts COVID-19, it was from their workplace, making them entitled to workers’ compensation. The union also asked for a temporary standard for TSA officers from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration during the pandemic.
The union is also asking that it be a requirement for airline passengers to wear face masks to be allowed into security areas for screening.
“We’ve heard concerns from TSOs that many passengers coming through the security line are still not wearing masks, threatening the health of TSOs,” said Kelley. “This will become an even greater problem when higher travel volume resumes. TSA should require all passengers to wear a mask in order to enter the security process.”
Lastly, the union asked that TSA officers be allowed to speak out about perceived safety issues that could impact workers and/or passengers.
“TSA officers are out there protecting the flying public even though they receive some of the lowest pay and have the fewest workplace protections,” said Kelley. “Just as they did during last year’s government shutdown, they come to work and fulfill the agency’s mission.”
The representatives are expected to introduce bills to provide workplace presumptions of illness, to provide hazardous duty pay for frontline TSA workers, and to restore the full federal share of the healthcare premium to part-time TSA officers on Friday.