AFA Press
Release - TSA AUTHORIZATION PASSES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Dear
Council 89 Members,
AFA Press Release - TSA AUTHORIZATION
PASSES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WITH IMPORTANT FLIGHT ATTENDANT SECURITY PROVISIONS
Washington, DC The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
(AFA-CWA) today hailed the United States House of
Representatives for passing the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) Authorization - with flight
attendant security training included - by an
overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 397 - 25. The bill,
H.R. 2200 authorizes flight attendants to complete no
less than five hours of hands-on self defense security
training every two years. Currently, comprehensive
flight attendant self defense training is strictly
voluntary.
"Since the day after 9-11, AFA-CWA has demanded enhanced
security and self defense training in order to provide
flight attendants with the effective tools needed to
increase safety and security onboard the aircraft," said
Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. Over
the past seven years, the federal government has focused
on cockpit security, but little has been done to protect
flight attendants. This self defense language, if
enacted into law, will finally provide all flight
attendants with the training to protect themselves and
the traveling public.
The TSA Authorization also calls for a study of wireless
communication devices that can be used by flight
attendants to discreetly communicate among flight crew.
The study will evaluate current technology available and
assess which would benefit flight attendants the most.
"The current, voluntary self defense training provides a
decent foundation, but it is important that all flight
attendants are equipped with the knowledge and
experience to protect themselves, as well as the
integrity of the cabin. A flight attendant should not
have to worry whether their flying partners have had the
same training, should a situation arise. By
incorporating this self defense training and other
existing security training programs as part of flight
attendant recurrent training, flight attendants will
further enhance their role as safety and security
professionals" said Friend.
For over 60 years, the Association of Flight
Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight
attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry,
in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 50,000
flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form
AFA-CWA, the world’s largest flight attendant union. AFA
is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications
Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at
www.afanet.org.
COUNCIL 89 OFFICERS
ANN CROWLEY
GLENDA TALLEY
BETH CARPENTER
LUCY MOSBY
MARY ANN THOMAS
