TSA workers speak out against government shut down at Atlanta airport
TSA workers call on Congress to avert shutdown
Transportation Security Administration officials rallied with their union outside the front doors of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday. The rally comes as the countdown to a looming deadline for federal lawmakers to pass legislation to keep the government running. TSA workers are calling on Congress to avert a government shutdown that could severely impact holiday travel.
ATLANTA - Off-duty Transportation Security Administration officers rallied at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Friday.
Screeners and their union rallied against a possible government shutdown. They say lawmakers need to act to avoid one around one of their busiest times of year: the week of Thanksgiving.
"I'm hoping that it gets their attention, and they hear us," said Aaron Barker who has been a TSA officer for more than a decade and is president of AFGE Local 554. "We want to be loud and strong and let them know we are not for a government shutdown. Fund the government and fund the TSA."
If lawmakers in Washington cannot approve a spending package, the government will shut down next weekend. Air-traffic controllers and TSA officers are essential and must show up even without pay.
"Everybody deserves to be paid for the job that they show up to do," said Rep. Nikema Williams, the Democrat from Georgia’s 5th Congressional District.
Congresswoman Williams’ district includes the airport. She was at Friday’s rally to show support.
"We have an obligation to make sure that we're standing up for the workers who keep us safe, who keep the economic engine of the Southeast going every day," she said.
During 2018’s partial government shutdown, security lines grew as employees called out. Aviation experts say that could happen again.
"We definitely could see an increase in absenteeism and that would lead to longer lines getting through the TSA security checkpoints," said Laurie Garrow, a Professor at Georgia Tech and an aviation expert. "If air traffic controllers don't show up, that causes rippling delays through the system as well."
The TSA officers not only want a government shutdown avoided, but they want the "Fund the TSA Act’"passed which, among other things, would guarantee pay during a shutdown.
"We need congress to actually do their jobs, if they expect federal workers to do their jobs," said Tatishka Thomas, National Vice President Region 5 at AFGE.
Organizers say this is the first of several rallies planned around the country in the next week.