The president of the union representing Pennsylvania’s Transportation Security Administration workers says they are struggling to make ends meet during the government shutdown.TSA employees treated like ‘political pawns’ Danny Bauder, president of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, said TSA employees are being treated like political pawns, which has been demoralizing for those who wanted to keep air travel safe.Pennsylvania’s AFL-CIO represents 800 TSA workers at Philadelphia International Airport and 43,000 workers nationally.190 TSA workers quit in PennsylvaniaHe said that in the last five weeks, 190 TSA workers across Pennsylvania have quit their jobs since the government shutdown. He also mentioned that it didn’t help when ICE agents were deployed to airports, including Philadelphia’s airport.”For them to be treated so poorly by the federal government. It really just hollows out a person to be treated like this. And then on top of that, for someone to be sent to your workplace who’s not trained, and that person who is getting paid, sent to your workplace to stand around adds insult to injury,” Bauder said.DHS expected to pay TSA workers by MondayOn Friday, President Donald Trump signed an order directing the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA workers as early as Monday. Bauder reacted to the news.”That’s welcoming news. What would be great news would be for the House and the Senate to do their jobs, fund DHS, because it’s not just TSOs without work. There’s a number of other folks in different agencies that fall under DHS, like the Coast Guard and other civilians in the Coast Guard, and others who still haven’t been paid for these last five weeks,” Bauder said.Bauder and the other workers are also hoping for the passage of a piece of legislation called the “Shutdown Fairness Act.” That would ensure federal employees, contractors, and active-duty military members would be paid on time if and when another government shutdown occurs.

The president of the union representing Pennsylvania’s Transportation Security Administration workers says they are struggling to make ends meet during the government shutdown.

TSA employees treated like ‘political pawns’

Danny Bauder, president of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, said TSA employees are being treated like political pawns, which has been demoralizing for those who wanted to keep air travel safe.

Pennsylvania’s AFL-CIO represents 800 TSA workers at Philadelphia International Airport and 43,000 workers nationally.

190 TSA workers quit in Pennsylvania

He said that in the last five weeks, 190 TSA workers across Pennsylvania have quit their jobs since the government shutdown. He also mentioned that it didn’t help when ICE agents were deployed to airports, including Philadelphia’s airport.

“For them to be treated so poorly by the federal government. It really just hollows out a person to be treated like this. And then on top of that, for someone to be sent to your workplace who’s not trained, and that person who is getting paid, sent to your workplace to stand around adds insult to injury,” Bauder said.

DHS expected to pay TSA workers by Monday

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an order directing the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA workers as early as Monday. Bauder reacted to the news.

“That’s welcoming news. What would be great news would be for the House and the Senate to do their jobs, fund DHS, because it’s not just TSOs without work. There’s a number of other folks in different agencies that fall under DHS, like the Coast Guard and other civilians in the Coast Guard, and others who still haven’t been paid for these last five weeks,” Bauder said.

Bauder and the other workers are also hoping for the passage of a piece of legislation called the “Shutdown Fairness Act.” That would ensure federal employees, contractors, and active-duty military members would be paid on time if and when another government shutdown occurs.