“MEMBERSHIP MEETING”

Monday, February 16, 2026

12:00 noon mtn time

Check your email for the meeting link

Brothers and Sisters,

Hello from Idaho. I do hope this email finds you safe and warm as we come to the end of January already. It’s hard to believe how quickly the time has passed.

So much has happened over these last twelve months that it can leave a person feeling a bit like they’ve suffered from whiplash. The pace of change, the challenges we’ve faced, and the weight of it all have certainly given us plenty to reflect on.

Unfortunately, it does not look like this is going to end anytime soon. I’ve received information from one of our legislative lobbyists in Washington, D.C., who has been speaking with several members of Congress, that a shutdown appears to be imminent.  We all know what it means when Congress cannot work together and come up with a plan. Now, with the recent events in Minnesota, things just keep escalating. Even though the agencies they seem intent on “punishing” or stopping, are covered under the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” and will continue to be paid, the irony is not lost on any of us. The rest of us — DHS employees across the board — are the ones who suffer because of the actions and decisions made at the very top of the agency.

I truly wish I had better news to share with you.

On top of all of this, I want to pass along some additional information that has been shared with me.

Medical Recertification

Medical recertification will begin February 1st at an airport near you. There will be a point of contact at each airport who will pull employees off the floor to log onto a computer and complete a 15-minute questionnaire. This process will now be done yearly.

Please be sure to answer the questions honestly. I’ve been told that if you answer “yes” or “unknown,” there may be follow-up questions at a later time. DHS/TSA Headquarters — not local management — will be reviewing these questionnaires.

TRX Scores

The next update concerns TRX scores for yearly certification. Required scores will be changing from what we are accustomed to. More details will be provided as they become available.

When you look at all of the changes happening, along with the continued attempts by the agency and the DHS Secretary to strip away our Collective Bargaining Rights, it becomes clear what their goal is: to get rid of you, me, all of us. This is how they attempt to pave the way toward privatization.

This is not a new idea — someone is always trying to eliminate TSA — but the reality of their plan becomes more apparent every day with each negative move against us.

The $10,000 award given to a select few out of more than 45,000 employees was designed to divide us on the floor. The showboating on the news was not for the benefit of the workforce — the men and women protecting the flying public while our families suffered — but for personal recognition and ego.

We need to remember to stand firmly and stand tall. We will get through this. The Union has proven that time and time again, most recently through our victories against the agency and Secretary Noem in court. While we are not out of the woods yet, we have proven that we are not going anywhere.

We will stand for justice.

We will stand for each and every one of you.

We will protect your rights, ensure you are treated with respect and dignity, and safeguard your jobs.

I encourage all of you to speak with your teams and urge them to join us. The more we grow, the stronger we become, and the louder our collective voice is.

The Union has done so much for all of us over the years. We have all benefited:

• Seniority protections
• Free uniforms and uniform allowances
• Free parking
• The right to wear shorts and polos during extreme heat
• The largest pay increase for any federal agency in history

Share this with your coworkers. Let them know the Union — WE — made this happen for everyone.

Lastly, I want to address E-DUES. We need everyone in our Local to be on e-dues.

Some common concerns I’ve heard:

1.     “I don’t want my bank information online.”

* Do you pay your electric, water, rent, or gym membership online? Do you make purchases online?    Your information is already out there. The AFGE site is secure and safe.

2.     “What if I get charged twice?”

* AFGE will reimburse you.

When you sign up for e-dues at afge.org, you will also need to complete a TSA Form 1158 so payroll deductions can be stopped. Here’s how it works:

• Fill out Form 1158
• Send it to me or your State RVP
• Include a screenshot showing you successfully signed up for e-dues

We will sign and submit the forms for you. You can start e-dues 1–2 pay periods out, which allows TSA time to process the 1158. I’ve attached the form for your convenience. You can also find it on TSA iShare if you need to complete it at work.

Now is not the time to sit back, grow tired, or stand alone. Now is the time to stand together. They want us to be divided. They want us to be discouraged. They want us to give up — and we will not.

Talk to your coworkers. Educate them. Bring them with you. Join the Union, stay active, get on e-dues, and be part of the fight. Our unity is our power, and that power is what protects our jobs, our rights, and each other.

We have faced worse, and we have won — because we stood shoulder to shoulder. Let’s continue to stand tall, lock arms, and show them that we are not going anywhere.

Together, we are strong.
Together, we will win.

In solidarity,

President, Rebecca Wolf