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Unpaid TSA workers find gratitude at airports nationwide

By Blaine Tolison, wsoctv.com
By Blaine Tolison, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Channel 9 anchor Blaine Tolison learned there have been acts of kindness from passengers and airline officials who are giving unpaid TSA workers the strength they need to work through the partial government shutdown.

United Airlines provided lunches in Denver and two young travelers thanked TSA for keeping their family safe at another airport.

[TSA closes terminal at Bush Intercontinental Airport over government shutdown]

A passenger at Charlotte Douglas International Airport showed her gratitude in the screening line.

"She just said in a very loud voice, ‘I want to appreciate what you all are doing for us, keeping us safe,’ and she started to applaud,” said Kevin Frederick, federal security director for TSA.

Airlines have been buying food for the TSA employees, officials said.

Passengers said the agents working without pay deserve it.

"I think it's really admirable that they're still coming to work and putting the American people and their safety in front of, maybe, their own pay and their own gain," resident Julia Wilson said.

TSA officials said unscheduled absences Monday were up 4.4 percent compared to last year nationwide.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport officials said employees are not calling out beyond what is considered normal, but some of them are going broke.

Passenger Emmanuel Kei said the disagreement in Washington, D.C., is not worth employees not getting paid.

"We can point the finger all we want, but it's not really going to solve the problem,” Kei said.

Officials said there are emergency plans if the shutdown continues.

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