Airport Workers Say More Emergency Training Needed after Brussels Attack

Workers across several major airports in the U.S. went on a strike Wednesday night, demanding more emergency response training after the recent terrorist attacks in Brussels. 

Contract employees at airports like Chicago's O'Hare, New York's Kennedy and LaGuardia airports and Washington's Reagan National walked off the job for 24 hours.

CBN News caught up with some of those workers, like Legesse Woldearegay, at Reagan Airport.  He doesn't work directly for the airport but he's a security consultant for TSA and also works in customer service.

"If somebody plans to attack this airport, this is really an open area. Somebody can bring his bags full of explosives and can come straight to the check-in counter or come to the departure lounge," he said.  "There's an open loop here so everybody or the management has to consider this."

Patrick Kent, a passenger traveling from New Orleans, said he feels safe flying, but he does think about the recent terror attacks.

"It was in the back of my mind the whole time, but you know, I trust our security," he said.  "I never once questioned, you know, the job that they were doing but it was in the back of my mind.  I cannot forget about that."

Jaime Contreras, the Vice President of the Service Employees International Union, attended a rally outside Reagan Airport during the strike.  He is asking for workers to be trained in providing first aid in case disaster strikes.

"Airport security, passenger security, worker security is something we all care about at these airports.  I think as part of the compensation, they also need to provide training for workers so they can also serve as first responders."

Emergency response training isn't the only reason why airport workers went on strike.  They are also asking for higher pay.