Knives in the Sky: Flight Attendants Fight Back
March 7, 2013
Quick links+
The IAM is standing up with Flight Attendants who are pushing back against a recent Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announcement that passengers would be allowed to carry small knives aboard commercial flights.
“The IAM strongly opposes the newly announced relaxation of prohibited items and calls for a repeal of this change, said IAM Transportation General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “Allowing any type of weapon on an aircraft endangers the safety of both Flight Attendants and the flying public. It makes no sense for the TSA to allow clubs and knives to pass through security, but not a cup of coffee.”
The new policy will allow passengers to carry on knives with blades less than 2.36 inches (6 centimeters) or shorter and less than a 1/2 inch wide, effective April 25. Knives of any kind have not been allowed on commercial flights since 9/11.
“The convenience of TSA should never trump the safety of Flight Attendants and the flying public. Flight Attendants spend their days ensuring the safety of others and deserve that same protection from TSA,” said IAM District 142 Special Representative and Flight Attendant Sara Gonzales. “There is no room for cutting corners when it comes to security.”
The Flight Attendants Union Coalition encourages everyone concerned for their safety to sign a White House petition calling on the knife ban to continue. The White House will respond to the petition if it receives 100,000 signatures by April 5.
