CITIZENSHIP Airport workers may lose jobs

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Nov 24, 2001

San Francisco Airport Workers Upset They May Lose Jobs Over Citizenship

By Karen Gaudette Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Security screeners at San Francisco International Airport are upset that they could lose their jobs under a new federal law requiring them to gain U.S. citizenship, and the city's mayor has offered to intervene.

Some workers have threatened a sickout Sunday that could create kinks as travelers return from the biggest travel weekend of the year. But airport and union officials said the majority of workers were expected to report to work.

"We understand from the union that they're confident there won't be any type of action," airport duty manager Bob Rotiski said Saturday. "The union has a good feel for what the employees are going to do, and they've assured us that they're not going to walk out."

SFO spokesman Ron Wilson said workers' supervisors would fill in for employees who do not come to work.

The new federal law requires all security screeners to become U.S. citizens within a year. Leaders of Service Employees International Union Local 790 say as many as 80 percent of the 1,200 screeners at SFO are legal residents, not citizens. Those not already on the cusp of attaining citizenship could lose their jobs, said Daz Lampares, SFO representative for the union.

Union leaders say they hope workers stay on the job Sunday and let SFO director John Martin and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown negotiate with Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta on a plan that would allow the busiest airports to employ some non-citizens.

The mayor "has definitely indicated he would try to talk with federal officials," said Brown's spokesman, P.J. Johnston. "This is not a typical labor issue where the workers have a beef with management. This is a situation that's been handed down from the federal government."

Johnston said no meeting has been scheduled and he is unsure what type of plan Brown would submit.

Wilson said airport officials empathize with the workers, but worry a walkout would shut down the airport and hurt chances of a compromise.

AP-ES-11-24-01 2054EST

This story can be found at : http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA0ZND7GUC.html

-- Anonymous, November 24, 2001

Answers

And what the h*ll is the problem???

If you don't want to become a citizen, then find another job like at Mickey D's that doesn't affect security.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2001


Exactly.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2001

Agreed.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2001

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