WASHINGTON – On behalf of our 39 affiliated labor unions, the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) issued the following statement on the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks on September 11, 2001:
“Today, our nation observes a solemn milestone: a quarter-century since the horrific terror attacks on September 11, 2001, that claimed nearly 3,000 lives, including 36 airline employees, 343 New York City fire fighters, and one New York Fire Patrolman, and forever altered the lives of countless others. In addition, the hijacking of four commercial aircraft exposed security vulnerabilities and the need for stronger flight deck security. We must never forget why passenger security screening was federalized in the first place. Prior to 9/11, airport security screening was provided by private companies contracted out by the airlines and airport authorities, with insufficient focus on comprehensive threats. This system failed to detect the hijackers’ weapons, a catastrophic lapse. That failure is why Congress created the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and entrusted a single federal agency to oversee the security operations at our nation’s airports. Efforts to haphazardly privatize airport security screening today would abandon the lessons of September 11th and could reopen the very security gap that made those attacks possible.
“For more than 20 years, the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program has provided monitoring, treatment, and medical research for health conditions related to the terror attacks. We are grateful that Congress provided permanent funding for this program earlier this year to ensure continued resources and support for first responders, firefighters, and others living with chronic, long-term health challenges.
“In the decades following the attacks, the pace of additional safety reforms has been slow. While hardened flight deck doors are an improvement, they are not foolproof and still leave the cockpit vulnerable when the doors are open. That’s why aviation safety advocates have fought for aircraft to be equipped with an installed physical secondary barrier (IPSB) to add an additional layer of security when the flight deck door is opened during flight. When Congress passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act in 2024, it required the FAA to issue a rule requiring the installation of secondary barriers on new commercial aircraft, which is now law.
“As America’s largest transportation labor federation, representing millions of transportation workers and thousands of aviation workers, we renew our calls for installed physical secondary barriers (IPSBs) on all existing aircraft. Secondary barriers protect the flight deck from vulnerabilities, rather than forcing crew members to use beverage carts or their own bodies to defend it. While we appreciate the requirement for barriers on new aircraft, there are still many planes in service that do not have this crucial layer of protection. The FAA must now require airlines to retrofit existing passenger aircraft with these barriers and close the existing security gap on planes already in service, as well as install primary barriers on every all-cargo aircraft.
“Furthermore, we call on Congress to continue providing strong support for the AFG and SAFER Grant Programs which ensure fire fighters are properly staffed, trained, and equipped to respond to all types of emergencies, including acts of terrorism. Data clearly show that fire departments must be fully-staffed to allow fire fighters to safely and effectively perform their jobs. We also urge the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to finalize its proposed Emergency Response Standard to require fire departments to provide their personnel with comprehensive training and incident pre-planning, safe fire apparatus and equipment, and robust occupational health programs to stay safe and healthy on the job.
“On 9/11, everyday heroes rose up to meet the call of service and we owe them eternal gratitude for their bravery and sacrifice. Frontline transportation workers, firefighters, and first responders went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety of the American public. Air traffic controllers safely and efficiently cleared our national airspace. Technicians and aviation safety inspectors worked on the front lines and behind the scenes to help ensure the safety of the country’s air space by securing air traffic control and national security equipment. Bus, subway, and rail operators in New York and Washington, D.C. collectively helped millions make it home to their families. Ship captains, engineers, and deckhands in New York rescued nearly 500,000 people in the largest sea evacuation in history. As a nation, we collectively promised that we would Never Forget.
“Today, we remind lawmakers and agency officials of that commitment. We cannot afford to wait until another tragedy occurs to regain a sense of urgency. The time is now, and airlines have a responsibility to the flying public to take all necessary precautions against attacks.”
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