(WASHINGTON) – The Teamsters Union today lauded the Transportation Security Administration for reversing its plan to allow knives on planes after facing months of fierce opposition, saying the move ensures the continued safety of flight attendants, pilots and the flying public.

“Airline employees and their passengers made it clear that there is no place for dangerous weapons on airplanes,” said Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa. “We commend TSA for hearing those real concerns of workers on the front lines and rethinking the agency’s position. We will all be safer because of it.”

The Teamsters Union is part of a coalition of unions representing 90,000 flight attendants that fought the proposal to allow knives of up to 2.36 inches on planes. First announced in March, TSA’s proposed rule would have permitted knives in the cabin of passenger airplanes for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The Teamsters and its coalition filed a legal challenge to prevent the knives from coming on board and legislation was introduced in Congress.

“This decision marks a big victory for airline workers and the flying public,” said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. “The current rules, which allow knives to be included in checked luggage, have been shown to work. There is no reason to change course from the safety measures put in place after September 11th.”

The Teamsters Airline Division represents about 80,000 workers in all segments of commercial aviation, including pilots and flight attendants. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903 and represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.teamster.org. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share via email