Assaults on Airport Workers Might Now Be Treated as Federal Crimes

Officials say that federal protections previously only extended to TSA employees will now be considered in cases of assault involving some airport workers as well.

Labor leaders are hailing a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) decision affirming that many more airport employees than before may be protected under a 2002 statute that makes it a federal crime to physically assault workers directly engaged in airport security responsibilities. Until now, the federal law passed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, has largely been interpreted by federal prosecutors to cover Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, but not other frontline employees such as gate agents.

Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents tens of thousands of airline employees in the U.S., has worked for more than fifteen years to convince DOJ officials to recognize airline agents as federally protected airport personnel. A campaign of lobbying, protests, and letter writing finally paid off this month when Justice Department officials reversed years of precedent, announcing that the law would now be interpreted to include frontline airport employees.

“As a result of this decision, and CWA’s work to ensure these safeguards, passenger service agents at every airport in the nation now can be assured that ‘air rage’ incidents they face as they perform their critical safety roles will be prosecuted,” Union officials said in a statement praising the DOJ decision. “Agents at all airports regularly endure luggage and equipment thrown at them, as well as punches, slaps, and verbal abuse from angry passengers. Without the protections of federal law, these workers had little recourse and abusive passengers usually faced no consequences.”

Labor leaders say they will now turn their attention to making sure that the “decision is fully implemented at all airports and by all airlines.”

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