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Bob Crandall on Unionizing the TSA

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    Former American Airlines CEO Bob Crandall on how unions will impact airport security and travel.

  • Duration 5:13
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-- the Transportation Security Administration the TC TSA is unionizing.

So what labour issues slowdown -- process of airport security.

How only affect the business of airlines here -- reaction former American Airlines CEO Bob Crandall.

He joins us now this Fox Business exclusive from the great port of Gloucester Massachusetts so Bob.

Our house is gonna affect air travel in general.

Well initially shouldn't have any impact David you know when John -- only authorized.

Unionization.

Back in 2000 a year ago.

He put off as a special rules I can't negotiate for compensation they can't negotiate any chance to do security at center at senator senator.

So that -- I'm not so much worried about the union I'm worried about congress.

Because the experience.

And it has I think most people know public employees now make substantially more than private employees.

And the consequence in part of the reason for that is it every time there's a labor dispute.

Congress sticks -- nose in and chose the agency and opted give the people whatever they want.

I think the problem here is -- likely to be that and union now that it's an organized voting bloc who appealed to congress.

And some of those controls is John -- -- put in place make far away.

And if that's the case and then me that -- may very well see union trying to reduce productivity.

Our increased compensation and of course that would have effectively.

Raising costs for travel and -- -- him in and potentially slowing things down.

OK even if those things don't happen a lot of put it into perspective of the passenger -- -- for second here.

It seems to me that if -- -- these folks who a lot of people don't like by the way you don't like deal I know I know the reasons why they're necessary obviously I live in New York I was here 9/11 but.

But the fact is is that a lot of people don't like these guys they say they go -- Doesn't this in some way in -- those 44 45000.

TSA workers to a degree that they hadn't been insulated from criticism before.

Well I would hope not David now once again a lot it all depends on how this thing gets man.

If congress -- its nose into it.

Any if in fact -- TSA administration -- yesterday.

It's prevented from district finding TSA.

Workers who don't be -- properly.

And what are have a problem either -- is that is simple question -- forgive me for an erupting but what does congress is not stick their nose in.

Unfortunately David they stick their nose and all right -- everything.

And and and in most cases they do it wrong.

Yes so so bottom line is there's I think there's gonna have some effect but again it's the passenger.

Turn off stood -- to these people that.

That they -- -- to do that that most passengers feel are horror.

Intruding into our lives in -- -- in a way that is unnecessary I think that's where it might affect airlines -- most of my wrong.

Well our I don't know I think you're right to enter but I I think the unnecessary aspects it is and I think there are many unnecessary aspects.

And many very stupid aspects.

For example I think these full body scanners are -- total waste of money.

They have being used in a totally inappropriate way.

They should be used only for those people about whom we have very fully developed suspicions.

Not for the average passenger.

That's imposed on us by the TSA itself not by that people.

So you're quite right I don't like the fact that that people might be even less responsive to public opinion.

But I do think that the TSA itself is an agency.

Did Dan really needs to rehabilitation.

You know talking about -- I know you don't wanna talk about the bankruptcy of American Airlines -- find could you still have an effect on what happens here but.

We've talked in the past about unions and their role in hurting the airline and then you really think that they played.

A major role was as part of things that that did hurt the airline.

Have they learn anything or at least the members of the union -- they realize that the damage that their leaders had done to their jobs.

Well I don't know David it's okay if it's very -- -- understand.

It's really is very hard to understand the motivations.

Either the union members -- the union leadership.

I'm -- -- as a great company who is our largest airline in the world those -- very successful company.

And the fact is over very long period of time because other airlines went bankrupt yeah and it had very high costs and because the unions would not agree to.

Reduce those costs to industry averages.

American is now in bankruptcy that's bad for the employees it's bad for the unions is bad for the passengers.

It's bad for the shareholders.

So is very very difficult for me to sort out in Lima and why people who do not understand.

That cooperation.

Between management and labor is an essential.

Or any successful company.

Bob Crandall former American Airlines CEO -- great to see a thank you for coming in appreciate it David good to see.

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