Coalition Of Flight Attendant Unions Calls On Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano To Halt Weakening Of Aviation Security As The Country Battles Terrorist Activity

Flight Attendants Express Grave Concern Over Allowing Knives on Planes

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As terrorist activity puts the country on high alert, the Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions, representing 90,000 U.S. flight attendants nationwide, today called on Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to immediately cancel a new policy that would allow airline passengers to bring knives aboard airline flights starting next Thursday, April 25. The Coalition is appealing to Napolitano with the following statement:

"Given this week's deadly terrorist attacks in Boston, this is not the time to be relaxing homeland security rules that protect the lives of the public, airline passengers and airline crews. It would be irresponsible to go forward next week with these ill-conceived changes in rules that were put in place after the 9/11 terrorist attacks for good reason.

"Secretary Napolitano, we call on you to act now to protect the American public before this new policy takes effect next week. Do not provide an open invitation for attacks against passengers and crews on our planes. Allowing knives on planes seven days from today would send a message to the country that this Administration is oblivious to the safety of the traveling public. You must keep knives out of the aircraft cabin. We demand an answer now."

The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions is joined by organizations representing security checkpoint screeners, pilots, airline passengers, air marshals and others in opposing the Transportation Security Administration's plan to let passengers bring aboard knives with blades up to 2.36 inches long starting April 25. Opponents of the new knife policy have sought to reason with TSA Administrator John Pistole without success. In light of the serious terrorist activity in Boston and Washington, DC this week, the Coalition is turning its focus to the DHS Secretary to ensure common sense prevails to keep knives off of planes.

www.NoKnivesOnPlanes.com

The Flight Attendants Union Coalition coordinates on issues of mutual interest to flight attendants. Members of the Coalition are the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Transport Workers Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

SOURCE The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions