With TSA officers going into a new week without being paid as a result of the funding battle in Congress, a group of bodegas and markets is stepping in to help ease the financial burden.
“We know that they haven’t gotten paid in weeks, and we understand that they’re going through hardship and the cruelty that they’re having to live with right now is wrong,” said Fernando Mateo, President of the United Bodegas of America.
The UBA announced Sunday that unpaid TSA employees can apply to open lines of credit at dozens of locations in New York City, Newark, Yonkers and on Long Island. The officers would be allowed to settle their balances later.
“They can’t afford the cost of living in New York. I can imagine what their landlords are gonna do with their rents. I can imagine… what they’re gonna do with their car payments, right? At least we can relieve them with making sure they’re gonna have food to put on their table,” Mateo said.
Mateo appealed to lawmakers in both parties to work out a solution, saying they “need to get together and realize who are they hurting. They’re hurting the people that are working week-to-week to support their families.”
Click here for a list of locations taking part in the “Operation Rescue TSA” program.
TSA officers will need to show valid identification and proof of employment to qualify.
The UBA is just one of the organizations around the country working to aid the TSA Officers as they continue to report to work.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, says Saturday marked the highest number of callouts among TSA officers since the partial government shutdown began, with 11.5% out nationwide. Kennedy Airport saw 33.4% of its TSA workers stay home Saturday, while LaGuardia Airport had 17.3% of officers call out.