Kristi Noem gives $10K bonuses to 48 MSP TSA officers, union calls move 'illegal'

TWIN CITIES, MINNESOTA: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Sunday, November 23, came back to the Twin Cities in order to present bonus checks to a select group of TSA officers; she however received criticism from the local 899 Airport Screeners Union.

Noem's effort was to show appreciation to workers who remained on the job without pay during the longest government shutdown in American history.

Krisiti Noem delivers $10,000 bonuses to dedicated TSA officers

Krisiti Noem made a stop at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport to personally deliver $10,000 bonus checks to 48 TSA employees in appreciation for their service during the 43-day government shutdown.

She said, "We have just endured the longest government shutdown in American history. It was 43 days where our federal government was shut down."

The monetary relief was welcomed by the recipients. According to TSA officer Jonathan Pringle, "Ten thousand dollars is going to help out a lot."

Alex Garcia, a 14-year TSA veteran and former Marine, emphasized his commitment to the job, saying, "One of the reasons I continue with the sacrifice is to ensure the safety of the traveling public. Ever since my service in the Marine Corp, I was called to something bigger than me."

Employee Steven Grubb shared the personal strain he faced during the shutdown, saying, "The bane of my existence coming here everyday, driving here 45 minutes was the distance to 'empty' on my vehicle, and so I'm very grateful to everyone and I'm very grateful for this bonus."

Union criticizes bonuses as illegal and unfair

The decision to issue these bonuses was met with criticism from Local 899 Airport Screeners Union, which argues the payments are illegal and only recognize 7% of the MSP workforce.

In a statement, union treasurer Neal Gosman expressed opposition to the plan, saying in part, "Nearly every TSO showed up consistently to maintain the security of the travelling public during the shutdown. The process of making these awards completely bypassed local management involvement and participation with the union."

When WCCO asked why some staff were omitted, Noem said that the recipients included staff who had been nominated for the reward.

The DHS secretary further said, "Those nominations happen at the local level, where they serve and the individuals that they work with, also their leadership team. It's been applied equally across the department."

Union opts for food shelf donation to thank members

In stark contrast to the bonuses, the Local 899 Airport Screeners Union announced its own form of recognition for TSO employees who worked during the shutdown.

They are donating over $2,000 to local food shelves in Midwest states where the union serves, including Minnesota, as a way to thank their members.