The Guardian reports that the Transportation Security Administration is moving to bar officers who check travelers’ boarding passes and IDs before security checkpoints from sitting while they work. TSA says the policy is intended to keep officers alert, while the union representing TSA officers says it was not involved and objects that chairs provide basic support for workers standing and walking on hard surfaces.
A TSA spokesperson said the change would reinforce security and help create a welcoming, professional environment. The spokesperson also said officers must meet fitness-for-duty requirements to carry out their national security work. The report gives no effective date or further implementation details.
The American Federation of Government Employees Council, identified in the report as the union representing TSA officers, said it was not involved in the decision. It described chairs as ergonomic and safety support for officers who stand and walk on hard surfaces throughout the day, and called the policy a disregard for employee rights and safety.
