The union blames the media for their image, but I can't help but wonder if their own management is behind some of it.

Bob's cupcake post clearly made laughing-stocks out of the screener and manger involved, even in the minds of some AFS (anything for safety) people. Then publicly admitting something wasn't quite right with 'Granny-gate' - some deft footwork there, calling the grannies liars, but still admitting (shock!) that TSA didn't quite do everything right - again, makes the TSOs look like clowns or thugs. In particular, contrast this with TSA's defense of its screener when a woman was forced to remove nipple rings at the checkpoint.

It's not uncommon in private industry, when union games are afoot, for companies to counter by bad-mouthing and discrediting the unionized employees. I wonder if that's some of what's going on here.

Of course, the silence is still deafening about Fayetteville....