The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is no longer letting officers sit down while performing ID checks, suggesting that this initiative is intended to improve security and hospitality. As you’d expect, the union representing screeners isn’t so happy about this change.
TSA & union clash over officers standing vs. sitting
When you go through a TSA checkpoint, the first TSA employee you’ll often interact with is the person performing ID checks. Historically, those officers have often been seated, given that they stay in the same position for extended periods of time. Well, that’s no longer the case.
As of late last week, the TSA has started to take away chairs from these officers. This came as a surprise to frontline staff, with no formal notification to the union. In a statement, a TSA spokesperson explains that the move is designed to help officers stay alert:
“This welcome change reinforces both our security posture and our commitment to hospitality by having these officers on their feet and alert. All officers must meet fitness for duty requirements to be capable of performing their vital national security function while simultaneously creating a welcoming and professional environment for travelers.”
As you’d expect, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union representing TSA workers, is pushing back against this change, pointing out that the organization wasn’t consulted, and also pointing out that this is about basic comfort:
“These chairs serve as basic ergonomic and safety support for officers that stand and walk on hard surfaces all day. TSA is treating this matter like it is a privilege – it is not; it is basic safety and common decency for the workforce. This disregard for employee rights and safety is an example of a broad pattern of TSA’s true consideration of the employees who keep our nation safe.”
The union is further advising local leaders to reach out to their congressional leaders, to express their concern over this decision.
This strikes me as an odd initiative to prioritize
I’m rather puzzled as to who at the TSA said “yeah, you know what we really need to fix… we need those TSA officers to be standing when they greet passengers!”
Real talk — in high-end service environments, it’s standard to have someone stand up as they greet you. However, last I checked, a TSA checkpoint isn’t a Four Seasons. For that matter, in most high-end service environments you’re not “greeting” a new “guest” every few seconds.
Look, TSA agents work hard, and are on their feet all day. They rotate positions around the checkpoint, and I imagine some really appreciate being able to sit for a small portion of their shift, when they’re otherwise on their feet. People like to be jerks toward the frontline folks who keep our systems running, but I’d certainly struggle with being on my feet for eight hours straight.
Is alertness of these officers really an issue? I mean, checking IDs is a very “active” job, as every several seconds they deal with a new person. It’s different than being the person assigned to “guard” the exit from the secure area, where you just sit for hours on end.
This just strikes me as being exceedingly random, and the statement from the TSA seems rather tone deaf. “Welcome change,” “security posture,” and “commitment to hospitality?” Man. Is this just being done to spite employees, or…?
Bottom line
TSA employees are having their chairs taken away. Historically TSA officers doing ID checks have had the option of sitting. Given that TSA officers rotate positions, I imagine it was nice to be able to briefly sit, while otherwise standing for most of their shifts.
The TSA claims this is intended to reinforce a “security posture” and a “commitment to hospitality.” Meanwhile the union representing TSA employees says it wasn’t consulted on this, and that the chairs just provided basic ergonomic support for officers who stand and walk on hard surfaces all day.
What do you make of the TSA taking away chairs?
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