this post was submitted on 07 Mar 2025
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/26471893

Summary

Trump is revoking collective bargaining rights at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), ending union protections for thousands of airport security officers.

The Department of Homeland Security claims the move will improve efficiency and security, but unions argue it is a retaliatory attack on federal workers.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) plans to challenge the decision. TSA workers fear the rollback will worsen working conditions and retention.

The policy reverses union rights granted under Obama and expanded by Biden.

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[–] DontTreadOnBigfoot@lemmy.world 49 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Except the TSA has never shown to be remotely effective at doing any of that.

I'm of the opinion that the TSA should probably be abolished, but keeping it while abusing its employees is the worst of both worlds...

[–] crusa187@lemmy.ml 17 points 1 day ago

Worst jobs program ever, all you need is a good metal detector and that’s it. The security theater after 9/11 has been and always will be a joke.

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Except the TSA has never shown to be remotely effective at doing any of that.

So, we'd all be OK if these 6,000+ loaded firearms PER YEAR were allowed to pass through unchecked?

There's always room for improvement, but the idea that everything needs to be abolished, rather than improved, seems crazy.

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Considering the TSA frequently fails up to up to 95% of tests, I'm going to guess the number of uneventful loaded firearms on planes is much higher.

https://web.archive.org/web/20220128030412/http://www.travelandleisure.com/airlines-airports/minneapolis-airport-tsa-fail

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

🫢 Like I said, room for improvement.

But context matters:

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that airport security misses 95 percent of threats that pass through: The TSA red team is specially trained to detect weaknesses in security at airports throughout the nation.

So your run of the mill bad guy isn't going to sneak by so easily. And one can only imagine that most bad guys aren't some elite team of security experts... Unless they are in a Hollywood movie.

[–] AdamEatsAss@lemmy.world -4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

There is no way to quantify the number of attacks that would have happened without the TSA. "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". The TSA is a very effective deterrent.

[–] orcrist@lemm.ee 5 points 1 day ago

Oh, my friend, of course we can quantify it. There was a time when TSA didn't exist. And of course many other countries don't have TSA.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world -4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Bust/siezing data must be classified. I bet Congress has access to it, no?

Also many “mundane” duties of customs are important. Like keeping parasites or invasive species out.

[–] 4_degrees@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago (1 children)

TSA has nothing to do with customs, who do an actual important job as you note. TSA is strictly domestic "security"

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Ah yeah I mixed that up.

People are kinda crazy though. It doesn’t have to be so extreme, they aren’t going to stop a smart/motivated terrorist, but I think a deterrent against some poor soul bringing their family gun on board is a good idea.

[–] 4_degrees@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Hey, maybe they're a deterrent but they definitely don't have a good track record. I just miss when you could see your friend or family member off to the gate. Now it's just another part of the misery factory that is air travel.

you still can go, you just have to ask the ticket agent for a pass to get through security.