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?
"a TSA checkpoint isn’t a Four Seasons" Bah! For real, though, this is absurd; let them sit. This administration hates workers; it's sad. Midterms are in 34 days; early voting has already started in some jurisdictions (MN, SD, VA, etc.) Check your eligibility/registrations. If eligible, please vote.
1990 - Vote yes for every choice and every candidate ; or , vote no for every choice and every candidate .
Oh, interesting, are those the only options on your ballot, Alert? Odd. Anyway, thanks for participating, at least. Fulfilling your civic duty... *salute*
Great, even more grumpy TSA agents at each security line.
Chairs are almost as woke as bike lanes.
I'm glad they're whipping the TSA boys into shape and I feel safer already
Mandelbaum Mandelbaum!!
The boss who made this decision is a wankpuff .
I have no idea of why someone taking your ID and/or picture can't sit down.
I don't think anyone would mistake the TSA checkpoint for the Four Seasons. I've always found the TSA agents to be helpful and accommodating when I ask them to turn off that bloody camera. Let them sit for crying out loud.
Number of times an agent sitting vs standing has had any impact on my life: 0. Thank god someone in DHS leadership is focused on solving these real and impactful issues with the airport security experience...
The cruelty is the point.
absolutely true - in keeping with the pettiness of this administration
There has never been anything hospitable about the TSA or its forerunner the INS. I remember JFK in 1989 with a guy flipping through a big binder, assumedly filled with the nasty people, angry I wasn't on it!
The staff at pre-clearance have always been mildly better (perk of an out station I assume, possibly with easy going Irish?) but with the same sarky attitude. 2008, going to Chicago, guy demanded to know why I...
There has never been anything hospitable about the TSA or its forerunner the INS. I remember JFK in 1989 with a guy flipping through a big binder, assumedly filled with the nasty people, angry I wasn't on it!
The staff at pre-clearance have always been mildly better (perk of an out station I assume, possibly with easy going Irish?) but with the same sarky attitude. 2008, going to Chicago, guy demanded to know why I was going to Chicago.. "cos its nice, cos it was €199, because, because" then he slams the passport down and smiles broadly with "Go to Las Vegas next time!"
It should not be nasty, but hospitable? Strange.
They want to roll out more "touchless ID". At some point you won't have to "stand on the slightly angled feet on the floor" and look directly at a camera an agent is directing you to, there will be a ton of cameras already in the TSA PreCheck lane and you'll automatically be scanned as you walk towards the screeners. Or you'll use a TSA app to pre-register your arrival so that the system knows...
They want to roll out more "touchless ID". At some point you won't have to "stand on the slightly angled feet on the floor" and look directly at a camera an agent is directing you to, there will be a ton of cameras already in the TSA PreCheck lane and you'll automatically be scanned as you walk towards the screeners. Or you'll use a TSA app to pre-register your arrival so that the system knows to look for you (like you can to skip the global entry kiosk). You'll then either pass through an automated gate, or one officer will waive you through like Global Entry - we won't need 4-6 kiosks at the front of the line.
At that point, jobs potentially become redundant. That said, is this absolutely petty? Of course. Is it completely insulting to frontline workers who have had to deal with long stretches without pay and assistance from ICE? Of course. But if the point of this announcement, whether or not it goes through, is to reduce the number of TSA employees, that may or may not be a reasonable goal from a workforce management perspective. One might have thought the last year with all of the pay interruptions may have accomplished some of that, but I have no clue. I also have no idea how many TSA employees will be needed next year let alone 5 years from now, but as the surveillance state continues its unabated march...
Completely unrelated of course but Children of Men is a good watch.
I'll bet 'ol Petey H. got involved in this as he is such a physical fitness buff and would have a coronary if someone in uniform was sitting. Don't want them sitting around endangering our national security now would ya?
There are a lot of things wrong with TSA, but agents sitting down is not one of them.
This is so totally dumb. However, the entire tsa concept, coming out of 9/11, which was facilitated by out govt...an inside job, it fed on fears of the sheeple, similar to covid. A gigantic scam. Can't take my own water on my flight? Insane. 98% security theatre.
Stephen, did you forget the '/s' ...or are you actually attempting 9/11 and Covid conspiracy theories on here? *sigh*
TSA look rude and bored most of the time. I can see this change at least helping them stay alert, aren't they supposed to be alert? How many TSA have I seen slouching on chairs scrolling their phone? LOTS! I expect they will get breaks. They will be fine. Stop acting like full adults are such fragile flowers they cannot be expected to perform their jobs. Especially this one.
Only at very very small airports do the Check In TSA agents have any down time to "scroll through their phone" --- most are busy non stop. Letting them sit at this rotation post is fine. Plus, they make better eye contact. This change is petty and punishing.
Be honest these TSA employees checking ID can now be standing for long hours . This is not good. They need to be focus on each document presented. Exhaustion will affect the quality of their work. I hope the decision is reversed.
Them sitting down 100% contributes to their flippant attitudes.
But this isn't solving the problem, they'll just be more annoyed and pissed off all the time.
I think someone just decided that they no longer wanted to pay for the upkeep up the chairs, and thus they are no longer.
Why do they change things that dont need changing. Dont they know the comfort which sitting provide,enable officers to be more focus on their job function.
George Costanza says this is wrong. Let them sit.
I'm sure this will assist with their recruiting and retention efforts.
currently (especially in tech) there is an informal status competition among CEOs/founders to exhibit how well they can discipline/subjugate their workforces (regardless of adverse impact on operations); and that mentality has now permeated the federal government via DOGE and the techbros brought in under this admin. this phenomenon is reactionary to the protections that workers were able to secure during the strong post-pandemic recovery, and CEOs were broadly traumatized by the experience of bargaining with...
currently (especially in tech) there is an informal status competition among CEOs/founders to exhibit how well they can discipline/subjugate their workforces (regardless of adverse impact on operations); and that mentality has now permeated the federal government via DOGE and the techbros brought in under this admin. this phenomenon is reactionary to the protections that workers were able to secure during the strong post-pandemic recovery, and CEOs were broadly traumatized by the experience of bargaining with labor. i think this action is best viewed through that paradigm.
Unless they can show the public is safer with these TSA agents standing instead of sitting, would love to know the time and analysis invested in a decision that did not need to be made. Feels like a move to irritate and push more employees out so they can privatize.
The administration has publicly said they would like to get rid of the TSA and contract the services to a private company. Preferably a company they themselves could profit from (although they leave that out).
One way to hasten this is to make the current job uncomfortable and miserable for existing workers. That increases the hardship for workers who move on to other work because, why wouldn’t you leave?
Then when the organization is...
The administration has publicly said they would like to get rid of the TSA and contract the services to a private company. Preferably a company they themselves could profit from (although they leave that out).
One way to hasten this is to make the current job uncomfortable and miserable for existing workers. That increases the hardship for workers who move on to other work because, why wouldn’t you leave?
Then when the organization is in disarray it’s easier to get congress and the public to agree that everyone is better off when a private company does the work.
This action isnt an accident or simply someone doesn’t know what they are doing. They know exactly what they are doing.