Originally Posted by
richarddd
There are multiple media reports that TSA airport workers are increasingly calling in sick due to the gov't shutdown which has them working without pay.
I'm particularly interested in JFK T8, but wonder if people are seeing security slowdowns at major airports.
Originally Posted by
Boggie Dog
So much for a dedicated, professional workforce. In previous non-funded periods government employees have received all pay due for any work they performed during non-funded days. Calling out sick accomplishes nothing other than making the public more aware of how TSA screeners work. I wonder what AFGE's agreement between the government and TSA members says about work slowdowns and the like.
I fully realize that not getting a paycheck when expected makes life difficult. Just because a small part of the government isn't working doesn't mean bills are not coming due. Where I work we have already taken steps to assist any federal employees who need help.
First of all, I think we all have to consider that the youngest group of TSA clerks were babes-in-arms when the 9-11 terrorist attacks happened. (Yes -- it's almost 20 years already!) So, perhaps the youngest group of TSA clerks do not share their elders' convictions that all of aviation security and the very survival of the country is in their hands. I would assert that this is just another job available for those of Generation Z who do not decide to attend college. So, "sick-outs" and other "protests" are, to them, quite appropriate. In a booming economy with plenty of entry-level jobs out there, the TSA might not be such a desirable choice these days.