Skip to main content

News

Search News

Topics
Date Published Between

For the Media

For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.

No Knives on Planes - Ever Again!

Flight Attendants held a press conference today at Charlotte Douglas International Airport to continue to engage the traveling public in efforts to keep the aircraft cabin free of knives that have been used as weapons.

According to a recent Washington Post article "now the chatter is that the TSA may decide to put the new rules into effect over the Memorial Day weekend.” TSA officers have expressed concern not only with the dangers of allowing knives in the security checkpoints and beyond, but also noted that these new procedures would slow security lines.

The TSA’s delayed policy to allow knives into the aircraft cabin has been opposed by Flight Attendants, gate agents, TSA officers, air marshals, law enforcement officers, FBI agents, pilots, passengers, 9/11 families and airlines. Last week nine organizations representing 400,000 members of these groups filed a legal petition with the TSA in opposition to permitting knives in the cabin, reserving their right to take legal action against implementation.

Flight Attendants have also been pushing for passage of The No Knives Act of 2013 to legislate a permanent ban on knives in the passenger cabin. Flight Attendants are issuing a public plea to Congress, including North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson, to support the legislation and keep the traveling public safe.  Hudson’s support would be key to passage in the House since he serves as chairperson of the Transportation Security Subcommittee on the Homeland Security Committee.