PRESIDENT

My career with the Transportation Security Administration began in New York City at John F. Kennedy airport in November 2002. Hello my name is Hydrick Thomas being a retired Peace Officer and former U.S. Marine I have 30 plus years of intense police training and advance security experience. As a U.S. Marine I served my country all over the world from 1977 to 1981. After 911 in which will always be remembered as one of the most horrific days in American history, I was inspired to serve with the TSA.This gave me an opportunity to make a substantial difference utilizing my law enforcement expertise in protecting people and governed property.

. As a peace officer stationed in Star Rite City for over 20 years I was involved in numerous situations where my primary duties were protecting the rights of the residents, employees, and neighborhood vendors. I have always been an active member of each union I was involved in. In Star Rite City I believed in protecting the rights of my colleagues, giving them a strong voice that didn't just speak in range, but spoke in volumes. From then to now workers who have built and made this country grow still do not know their constitutional rights. The constitution states you have the right to represent yourself, and you can choose your union as your representative. Yes that choice is yours and yours alone, but if you don't know your rights how could you protect yourself. When I was working as a unionized peace officer I was confronted with situation as to where non unionized workers were hired to take over the existing contract we were working under. The company in which I was employed by tried to hire non union employees for less money and benefits. It was a direct violation of the contract we were employed by. The non union employees reported to our location without warning to take over our post locations. At the same time our employers threatened to have all of us arrested if we didn't vacate the premises. I had informed my colleagues that they had the legal right to oppose the takeover. That according to the current contract we were the legally binding employees of that location. The employers didn't have the jurisdiction to arrest any of the peace officers. The situation escalated and the fear of being arrested scarred everyone else but me. The police responded to the scene and I was arrested because I was the only one who refused to leave the premises. I stood my ground and fought for what I truly believed in. Once the police department clarified the situation they informed that I was falsely arrested and that I was correct for fighting for my rights. I was not only commended by NYPD and my colleagues for what I did, but I also sued my former employers for what transpired that day. In history you learn something new every day laws, rules, guidelines, and rights. Since I started at TSA, I was making sure that officer's rights weren't violated by either passengers or TSA personnel. My experience in helping my fellow workers was evident from 2002 when I began educating our screening workforce on their rights. In October of 2007 the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union appointed me as the President to operate and organize the largest TSA local on the east coast. The inception of Local 2222 was created covering the entire state of New York and New Jersey. We were trained to combine every officer's critical thinking skills to remain focused on protecting the flying public. Never forget the mission each one of sworn to abide by. Success doesn't always come from upper management it is organized layers from the entire unit working cohesively together that truly generates success. Together we will be successful for years to come because our devotion is universal to the purpose and cause. The evolution of local 2222 will rely on all of us working extremely harder than ever to make it happen. Of course our mission is not going to be easy, but I believe in each of you. Today, I am asking you to believe in yourselves.