We work to ensure that Boise’s air travel is safe. We’re severely underpaid for it | Opinion

Over 4 million passengers fly in and out of Boise Airport every year. Whether flying in or out of Boise, they’re guaranteed to reach their destinations safely. That’s thanks to the working people who serve our community and country as Transportation Security Officers.

I am proud to represent my fellow Transportation Security Officers at Boise Airport and across Idaho as president of AFGE Local 1127, having worked at TSA for 21 years. Our members have worked through security crises, the COVID-19 pandemic and gone unpaid through government shutdowns, all to keep our skies safe.

TSOs have consistently been some of the lowest-paid federal workers in the nation, and turnover at the agency has been egregiously high for years, leading to TSOs being overworked and underpaid.

Thanks to legislation passed in Congress last year, TSOs finally received their first major pay raise in years. This pay raise is a huge step up for TSOs and is already leading to a dramatic decrease in turnover. However, those pay raises aren’t set in stone unless Congress takes action. We’re dedicated to doing our jobs. We just need support and recognition to do our important work.

TSOs are the front line of our nation’s security. People forget why our agency exists and think all TSOs do is pat people down and “take their liquids away.” In reality, TSOs are looking for explosives, bombs, weapons and contraband in order to keep air travelers safe. As a nation, we vowed never again to let a tragedy like 9/11 happen. That’s why our jobs exist.

Many times, TSOs have come across an item that has scared them. Some drove home at the end of those days in tears. Had those items been the real deal, we may have orphaned our children for $12, $15 or even $20 an hour. Our members put our lives on the line every time we put on our uniforms and head to our airports.

This pay raise is the first time in many of our careers that we’ve been paid anywhere close to a living wage. That’s why it’s critical for our U.S. representatives in Idaho to cosponsor HR 3394, the Fund the TSA Act. If passed, this bill will lock in these pay raises and make sure we have the equipment to continue protecting our skies.

For almost a decade, the TSA has not been receiving the funds that it’s guaranteed. Since 9/11, air travelers have paid a small passenger fee when they fly. That money is intended for the TSA, but since 2013, a third of those funds have been diverted to other government uses. The cost of these losses is estimated to be in the billions. The Fund the TSA Act will guarantee that all fees collected towards funding the TSA go directly to the agency, increasing staff retention and high-quality service. The bill will also peg the fee to inflation, guaranteeing that the TSA can stay properly funded.

During the last government shutdown, which lasted 35 days, many TSOs struggled. We couldn’t pay for medications, food, rent or even gas to get to work, but we had no choice but to report to our jobs. If we didn’t show up, our jobs were at risk. The Fund the TSA Act would guarantee that we’re able to continue to be paid for our labor regardless of whether or not Washington infighting keeps the government funded.

America’s Transportation Security Officers keep our nation’s airways secure, our local economies humming, and the American people moving. Our work is essential. It’s time for our U.S. representatives to recognize that and help us do our jobs by cosponsoring the Fund the TSA Act.