Born in St. Matthews, Calhoun County, South Carolina to a father with no education, who picked cotton for a living and a mother who did not even finish seventh grade, Hydrick Thomas was born into poverty and experienced racism in its worst forms. Yet he learned at an early age what it was to struggle and ultimately succeed with hard work, perseverance, and a positive attitude—despite circumstances. When he was six years old, Hydrick and his family moved to New York City; a much different world, but in some ways, similar to South Carolina. Growing up in a small apartment in a rough neighborhood, he learned how to navigate his way through the crowded tenements and crime-filled streets, relatively unscathed. His dad began working at a bike factory where he learned a trade and established himself and his family, raising five boys and one girl. Hydrick was taught old-fashioned values, gaining inherent discipline and a burden of caring for others. Much of Hydrick’s young life has influenced his characteristic traits today. Hydrick always knew he would land a career protecting people, because that’s what he always believed in—helping those who were unable to help themselves.
From 1977-1981, Hydrick began his career of helping people, by sacrificing himself and enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. He traveled various parts of the world defending freedom in his capacity as a Marine. In 1981, Hydrick was honorably discharged from the military; soon after, he went to work as a Peace Officer for Starrett City Private Housing Complex in Brooklyn, New York, where he stayed until the early 2000s. During his tenure at Starrett City, Hydrick was a proud union member of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32JB. After watching the devastating events of September 11th, 2001 unfold, Hydrick felt a call to a higher purpose. After retiring as a peace officer, Hydrick joined TSA in August 2002.
During the early years of TSA, Hydrick became involved with the union at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, where he was initially a representative for the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 304. Hydrick represented 753 members for NTEU JFK Chapter 304. However, in December 2007, Hydrick met with then-National President John Gage of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), in becoming a member of and establishing AFGE TSA Local 2222, which would encompass New York and New Jersey airports. In January 2008, Hydrick was able to successfully convince over 600 of 753 members to join AFGE. That significant exodus from NTEU to AFGE allowed AFGE to triumph over NTEU in the subsequent election.
Hydrick has been Local President of AFGE TSA Local 2222, since January 2008. Local 2222 is the largest AFGE TSA Local in the Federation, boasting nearly 3,000 members to date. Much of that success is attributed to Hydrick’s leadership, organizing efforts, and the early days of fighting poor management tactics. Hydrick’s passion for a successful union did not stop with his local union; he wanted to contribute more, offer more to the members, and make an impactful change at TSA. In 2012, Hydrick ran for and became the first elected President of AFGE Council of Transportation Security Administration Locals (Council 100), where he was tasked with overseeing and assisting all AFGE TSA Locals at over 450 airports across the United States.
Under his leadership, Hydrick has grown the Council membership to just under 20,000 AFGE TSA members nationwide. Council 100 has negotiated three successful contracts, amid anti-labor, anti-union administrations in the White House and at TSA. Currently, Council 100, under the direct leadership of Hydrick, is on the cusp of major change by once-and-for-all attaining Title 5 rights and a pay scale in line with the General Schedule. As Hydrick reminds us all, though our agency was essentially created overnight, this fight did not happen over the course of one night, so our victories will not be won in a short period of time. But they will be won; and when that time comes, we must take a deep breath, take a step back, and understand that it was us, this group of leaders—all of you—who made this dream a reality.