| Union leaders are celebrating Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s tireless leadership for Florida workers after she successfully saved over 700 local jobs.
According to recent reporting, a new TSA program would have outsourced private contractors for security screenings at Tampa International Airport, “[eliminating] more than 700 federal officers and [putting] their pay, health coverage and earned retirement benefits at risk.” Castor immediately intervened to save these jobs, a move that the American Federation of Government Employees called “critical work” both for national security and the local workforce.
Joined by TSA workers, firefighters and union members at a press conference following the reversal, she said:
“I was outraged that they were going to propose eliminating our professional TSA officers and replac[ing] them with private contractors. Thankfully, the Tampa Airport, one of the best airports in the world, heard our concerns and rejected that proposal.” – Congresswoman Kathy Castor
The decisive win for Tampa follows Castor’s long record of standing with first responders and working families, fighting to protect good-paying jobs, defend workers’ hard-earned benefits, and ensure the public servants who keep Tampa safe have the support they deserve.
DCCC Spokesperson Anna Elsasser:
“Kathy Castor has proved time and time again that she’ll take on anybody to fight for working Floridians. Castor continues to deliver wins for Tampa workers and families, which is why they’ll re-elect her in November.”
See more about the Congresswoman’s fight for Floridian workers:
U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor is touting Tampa International Airport’s decision to pull out of the TSA Gold+ program. While speaking today at the Tampa Firefighters Museum, the Congresswoman says the move helped protect good paying jobs while keeping experienced federal security officers on the job.
Castor was a high profile opponent of the new privatized TSA program, openly calling for TPA to reverse their decision of adopting this new program. Castor’s office estimates a switch to the private screenings would have eliminated more than 700 federal officers and put their pay, health coverage and retirement benefits at risk.
Florida Politics: Union leaders rally around Kathy Castor after she helps save 700 jobs at Tampa International Airport
- Union workers will rally around U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor after she successfully fought a privatization plan at Tampa International Airport (TPA).
- Leaders of the Transportation Security Officers, AFGE Local 556 and Tampa Firefighters Local 754 will appear alongside the Tampa Democrat, who currently is running for re-election in a battleground district.
- Chris Finlay, President of the AFGE chapter, and Nick Stocco, President of the Tampa Firefighters chapter, will share a stage at the Tampa Firefighters Museum with Castor at noon.
- The public show of support came weeks after Castor became a high-profile opponent of plans for TPA to hire an outside vendor to manage screenings through the Transportation Security Administration’s TSA Gold+ initiative. Castor had sent a letter to TPA CEO Michael Stephens and Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Chair Chip Diehl urging them to reverse the decision, which they did last month.
- “To replace these federal officers with a private contractor is to risk public safety, place profit above people and jeopardize the livelihoods of those who have served us faithfully,” Castor told airport officials in the letter.
- The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has fought privatization efforts across the country, and said the decision by TPA leaders against privatization was critical both for national security and the local workforce.
- “Ensuring the safety and security of the flying public is too important to contract out to the lowest bidder, and the Tampa airport’s decision to reject TSA Gold+ is a clear vote of confidence in the federal employees who currently perform this critical work,” said AFGE District 5 National Vice President Tatishka Thomas.
- Castor’s office had estimated a switch to private screenings would eliminate more than 700 federal officers and put their pay, health coverage and earned retirement benefits at risk.
- On the political front, a show of support from unions for Castor comes as she seeks re-election under a new Florida congressional map.
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