A cadre of laid-off airport screeners led a trail of voices chanting — “Immigrants, workers, human rights, job and safety, fight, fight, fight!” — through San Francisco’s Civic Center, culminating at the Federal Building, where hundreds gathered last Wednesday to demand job reinstatements and promised paychecks.
Community groups and activists joined the Filipino screeners from San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland airports, as they demanded justice from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Organizers said this rally marks the first anniversary of the federalization of all U.S. airports by the TSA.
“Many of these screeners were let off without any real reason and we’re here together in support of getting their promised Patriot Bonus pay,” said Rhonda Ramiro of Filipinos for Affirmative Action. “We’re also asking the federal government to develop some kind of plan to give these screeners their former jobs back.”
The TSA and the independent employers of the screeners, Globe Aviation Security, Argenbright Security and its, promised to remit a “Patriot Bonus” to the laid-off workers. The screeners were told that if they stayed at their jobs until the last day before they were to be terminated, they would receive a bonus known as the Patriot Pay bonus. But the screeners still have not received the promised checks and have been given conflicting answers every time they ask TSA officials about the pay date. The checks range from $500 to $700 per person.
Many present at the demonstration said the federal takeover has not only resulted in reports of airport security breaches, but has compromised public safety.
Lenora Magallanes, 56, who was fired from her security checkpoint job at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) last December, said she is worried and upset about security lapses at the three local airports, and those nationwide as well. She said this is because many of the new hires are inexperienced and don’t enjoy the pressure that the job carries.
Approximately 85 to 90 percent of the current baggage screeners at the three Bay Area airports are new hires, who lack the experience that many of the laid-off screeners had.
Magallanes is upset that the federal government doesn’t seem to be in a rush to get rid of or reprimand newly hired screeners who have allowed security breaches, but was in a hurry to get rid of the old baggage screeners.
“I worked at SFO for a year and then I was laid off in December for no reason, without any real notice,” she said. “We were pushed out of the airport for no reason because I’m a good worker and all these people are good workers too. They just wanted us out because we’re Filipino.”
Magallanes did take the reassessment test but was told she failed, and in turn wasn’t rehired. But she is still dubious about the test results since she wasn’t given a score or told exactly which section she failed or given an explanation as to why she didn’t meet the requirements.
For eight years, Eduardo Climaco, 48, worked at SFO. But when he was let go from his job last November, he knew that it wasn’t because of his clean work record, but rather because of racial discrimination.
“I’ve been depressed for so long now, I don’t really know what to do,” he said. “All I want is fair justice. Even if I were to be reinstated, I don’t think I would want to work at the airport unless they change their policies and take care of their employees. There’s too much politics, and if it’s going to be run by the same people, I’m scared to work there.”
Climaco also took the reassessment exam but was told that he failed. But he said that he thought the test was easy, and knows for a fact that he passed several of the sections.
“It’s just very disrespectful. I’m a U.S. citizen, and this is how I get treated,” said Climaco, shaking his head.
Fifty-seven-year-old Nestor Reyes, who was also an eight-year-veteran at SFO, said the exam discriminated against people who spoke English as a second language or spoke English with an accent. He said the accent should be a measure of qualifications.
“We have the experience and capability of making airports safe from terrorists’ attacks,” he said. “Come hell or high water, we make sure that the passengers are safe. So we demand that the TSA reinstate us now. Do they want safety or good English pronunciation?”
