The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) recently said it supports the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s (GOAA) decision to reverse a vote to begin the process of privatizing security at Orlando International Airport.
GOAA voted in February to use private contractors for airport security, a move AFGE called life threating to passengers and devastating to the community.
The reversal places the safety of passengers over profit-driven private contractors, AFGE said.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) “officers are federally trained and take an oath to protect our country,” Everett Kelley, AFGE District 5 national vice president, said. “Their competency and commitment cannot be reproduced by contractors. Any attempt to do so would have had serious implications on Orlando’s local and tourism economy– not to mention the safety of the flying public.”
TSA employees have been faced with the threat of the loss of jobs, pensions, and benefits, Kelley said.
Orlando is the nation’s top tourist destination. Last year, the airport ranked seventh for gun discoveries during the passenger screening and baggage checks. The majority, 84 percent, were found loaded.
AFGE said the decision was overturned thanks to the efforts of Florida lawmakers, the GOAA Board and the TSA.
Orlando Airport had the best customer-service satisfaction in J. D. Power’s 2017 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.