Screeners will be joined by San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan to raise attention to the unfair treatment by the TSA
Media Contact: Stephen Boardman, (510) 424-3269 or stephen.boardman@seiu-usww.org
San Francisco, CA – Security Screeners at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are protesting this Thursday to let the Department of Homeland Security know that they are done waiting for millions of dollars in back pay that they have earned over the past two years. The screeners, who work for a contractor called Covenant and are members of Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), will be picketing and leafleting passengers to bring attention to the continued inequities and mistreatment of screeners who work for contractors of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The action aims to direct public pressure on the TSA, demanding immediate action on longstanding pay equity issues, which fall entirely within TSA’s control to resolve. This action comes after years of effort, calling on Congress to help resolve a critical pay issue that has left them without the wage increases promised under TSA’s 2023 Pay Equity plan. Despite the legislation mandating that contractors’ employees receive compensation matching that of TSA employees, screeners at SFO have yet to see those increases, creating financial difficulties for workers and jeopardizing passenger safety. They are urging lawmakers to hold the agency accountable.
SFO is one of 21 airports nationally that participate in TSA’s Screening Partnership Program (SPP), where private contractors handle security screening operations. The 2022 Pay Equity law requires contractors to compensate their employees at levels comparable to TSA’s workers, ensuring pay fairness across the board.
Joe Grandov, a Screener who has 12 years on the job at SFO, said this about the public action: “Passengers and the airport administration need to know that morale is low for security screeners at SFO because the TSA continues to fight against us. Experienced screeners help keep SFO safe, and a lot of us are looking to other airports like Oakland and San Jose where our effort is recognized. Something has to be done.”
What: Rally for SFO Security Screeners. Screeners will be chanting, marching with signs and leafleting passengers. There will be a speaking program with Supervisor Connie Chan, where security screeners will talk about unfair conditions. Screeners will be available for interviews during the action.
When: Thursday, January 9th @ 12pm
Where: San Francisco International Airport Terminal 1 Departures Level
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SEIU-United Service Workers West represents more than 45,000 janitors, security officers, airport service workers, and other property service workers across California.