This Time, It's for Pliable Part-Timers

The Transportation Security Administration, after having hired 'way too many people and after having fired thousands, has a new scheme to fill its ranks: part timers. Not only will part-timers not agitate for union representation, they are easy to get rid of. Though they can cost as much to train and maintain as full-timers, they seldom command management time or effort, and are thus perfect, for again swelling the ranks of federal luggage-snoops. Here's the latest recruiting press release -- aimed at the once-fired screeners:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced it will begin recruiting more than 1,300 part-time federal security screeners at 30 airports. Over the next few days, TSA will post job announcements at www.tsa.gov for positions at select airports in several cities including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Raleigh, New Orleans, Seattle, and Anchorage.

The addition of part-time screeners is a part of TSA's 'rightsizing plan' and will produce the flexibility needed to optimize the scheduling process so the workforce can be applied to the workload, with special attention to the periods of peak passenger throughput.

"Once on the job these new part-time screeners will help air travelers by ensuring that checkpoint lanes are open during peak times and helping to keep wait times to a minimum," said pensioned Adm. James M. Loy, Administrator of TSA.

Starting today [Friday], candidates interested in working at specific airports are encouraged to complete a personal profile at https://tsacareers.recruitsoft.com. Candidates then will be notified of future TSA job opportunities via email within 24 hours of the job being posted. In addition, candidates can contact TSA Recruitment Services at 1-800-887-1895 or TTY 800-887-5506.

TSA is on track to right-size its workforce, moving to a mix of full and part-time screeners positions.

Transportation security screeners' duties include providing frontline security and protection of travelers, airports and airplanes by identifying dangerous objects in baggage and on passengers.  Their job is to prevent those objects from being transported onto aircraft by utilizing diverse, cutting edge electronic detection and imaging equipment, as well as using the lessons learned from a concentrated training curriculum.

TSA will recruit part-time screeners at the following airports:

• Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, CA; Baltimore-Washington International, MD;
• Cyril E. King International Airport, VI (Virgin Islands);
• Denver International Airport, CO;
• El Paso International Airport, TX;
• Fairbanks International Airport, AK;
• Indianapolis International Airport, IN;
• JFK International Airport; NY;
• Juneau International Airport, AK;
• LaGuardia International Airport, NY;
• Little Rock National Airport, AR;
• Los Angeles International Airport, CA;
• Louisville International Airport, KY;
• Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, CA;
• Mobile Regional Airport, AL;
• New Orleans International Airport, LA;
• Newark International Airport, NJ;
• Philadelphia International Airport, PA;
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ;
• Port Columbus International Airport, OH;
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport, NC;
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, VA;
• Sacramento International Airport, CA;
• San Jose International Airport, CA;
• Savannah International Airport, GA;
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, WA;
• T. F. Green State Airport, RI;
• Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, AK;
• Tulsa International Airport, OK; and
• Washington-Dulles International Airport, VA.

Part-time security salaries will depend upon a screener's work schedule. Hourly wages can range from $11.30 to $16.96 depending upon experience, plus locality pay depending upon the location of the airport. For example, hourly wages for part-time screeners in New York City can range from $13.21 - $19.82 a hour depending upon experience. Part-time security screeners also are eligible for federal benefits including health insurance, life insurance, retirement, paid annual (vacation) and sick leave. The amount of the premium paid for both health and life insurance and retirement as well as accrued annual (vacation) and sick leave are based upon the work schedule.

The recruiting of potential candidates is the first step in the deployment of federal screeners.  Candidates need to apply on-line and must meet the minimum requirements under the law. Candidates are then assessed, hired, and required to successfully complete 44 hours of classroom instruction and 60 hours of on-the-job training. The entire process takes several weeks.

All candidates by law must meet the following minimum requirements:

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. national;
• High school diploma, GED or equivalent, or one year of security or aviation screening experience;
• English proficiency; and
• Pass a background check

The Aviation and Transportation Security Act mandates that TSA recruit, hire and train screening personnel to assume passenger and baggage screening responsibilities for the nation's commercial airports.

FMI: www.tsa.gov