TSO First Responders

AFGE Leaders and Members,

During a weekly tele-town hall conducted by TSA Administrator David Pekoske, a question was posed during the question and answer session of the call: “Are TSOs considered ‘first responders’?” Administrator Pekoske quickly turned the question over to Executive Assistant Administrator for Enterprise Support Kimberly Walton. EAA Walton proceeded to answer with some guidance from other support staff, but essentially TSA leaderships response to the question was a resounding, “No.”

The answer provided by TSA leadership, with respect to this question, to its own workforces’ ears was a gut-punch of the worst kind. It’s immense impact was felt through the struggles of a post-9-11 world where successful career men and women put away their former attire for a TSA uniform; it was felt through TSOs’ work during Hurricanes Charley (2004), Frances (2004), Ivan (2004), Rita (2005), Katrina (2005), Sandy (2012), Matthew (2016), Harvey (2017), Irma (2017), and Maria (2017); and it was felt through TSOs’ struggles during countless tornadoes, blizzards, snow storms, floods, and wildfires.

The immense impact of TSA leaderships stance on whether TSOs are considered “first responders” was a boot on the back of its workforce, who recently endured the longest government shutdown in the history of the United States; and who have now dealt with the worst outbreak in the United States since the 1918 Flu pandemic (over 100 years ago!). A simple question posed, with the simplest, shortest of answers (“No”) has the ability to make or break a workforce. A workforce who is—by all standards of decency and pay, treated poorly, lacking employee rights, and housed in one of the worst places to work in the Federal government among over 400 departments, agencies, and subcomponents—already broken.

This answer was not only a hurtful gut-punch—the same gut by which TSOs used their ‘gut-feeling’ to detect anomalies, threats, and perceived threats; the same gut of which sits upright at an X-Ray machine deciphering potential deadly explosives; the same gut of which checks concerning baggage, pats down passengers, and sits in training classes, certifies annually, and provides valuable input to management via its committee work. Yes, that gut. That’s the gut that TSA leadership punched with its answer. Beyond the physical hurt, there was an emotional hurt felt even harder than the gut-punch administered by TSA leadership—it was the face-slap! The proverbial slap-in-the-face comment was made to one of the most dedicated workforces’ in the entire government—especially recently. And especially given the low pay and poor treatment from management. The answer provided by management, denying TSOs their “first responder” status, was more stinging than the Administrators laughable “pay increases” based on a watered-down version of its subjective pay-for-performance plans. This insult stems from TSOs being perceived as first responders when it’s convenient for management to bestow upon them the duties of a first responder; even though TSOs have consistently dedicated their lives to protecting the Homeland.

For example, TSOs were constantly placed in danger during some of the aforementioned natural and unnatural disasters working with FEMA, state, and local agencies. TSOs were conveniently considered “first responders” when they were sent in harm’s way to the U.S. southern border for clearly unknown purposes. TSOs were considered “first responders” when they were required to work during the government shutdown without pay; or during this coronavirus pandemic for the sake of TSA pandering to airline industry executives. Administrator Pekoske should tell LAX TSO Gerardo Hernandez’s family that he was not a “first responder” when he became the first TSO to be killed in the line of duty.

TSA leadership has once again failed its employees by providing a rhetorical means of honoring its heroes when it’s totally convenient, yet it fails to provide true support or meaningful actions. Instead, its answers are to raise the medical expenses on part-time employees; and now to reduce their hours by as much as 48 hours per month in some cases. It is as if TSA leadership wants TSA to continue its revolving door status through its contentment with TSA providing a springboard to hire-out to other Federal agencies as opposed to leading from within. TSA has become the Wal-Mart of the Federal government-keeping wages as low as possible with the lowest possible focus on improving morale, yet expecting the highest standards of its frontline workforce, while holding management to dismal standards at best.

As an employee of the United States Department of Homeland Security – Transportation Security Administration, your Personal Identity Verification (PIV) badge contains a red stripe on the bottom center clearly stating, “Federal Emergency Response Official.” While there may not be one specific defining description for “first responder,” the U.S. Congress has consistently associated the term “first responder” with “emergency response provider.” For this reason alone, whether it is defined or not, TSA leaderships choice of deciding not to call its frontline TSOs “first responders” was a gut-punching, slap-in-the-face answer that will require follow-up from your Union, AFGE, to both TSA and congressional leadership.

With regard to other matters which require attention, the TSA Administrators’ Determination and its contents deserve to be re-evaluated, especially since a post-COVID-19 environment exists. Council 100 continues to fight for Title V Rights in the workplace and full death benefits for Officers who die in the line of duty—despite TSA leadership vehemently fighting against both publicly and privately.

Thank you for serving the United States of America by protecting our Homeland as a First Responder!