TSA seeks to fire or suspend largest group of agents ever

[alp227]

Source: CNN

The Transportation Security Administration said Friday it has started the process of firing 25 of its agents and suspending 19 others for not following screening procedures.

The 44 employees all worked in a checked-baggage screening room in Terminal B of Newark's Liberty International Airport, TSA spokesman David Castelveter told CNN in a written statement.

In November and December of 2011, they were caught on surveillance cameras not following proper screening protocols, an agency internal investigation revealed.

After passengers check their bags, TSA screeners are supposed to search the luggage with electronic scanners and open some bags by hand.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/19/travel/newark-airport-security/index.html

[fasttense]

1. When you pay minimum wage and expect maximum performance

You are bound to have to fire a lot of people.

These are the same people who we trust with naked pictures of us.

http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2001/09/20_airpt.html

[Ilsa]

2. I thought TSA Agents did alot better

than minimum wage. I don't know if they make a "living wage", but I thought they made $16-17/hour, which is about the same as some medical staff makes (LVNs, certain respiratory therapist, etc, who actually perform CPR on patients).

The article was excellent, BTW.

[intheflow]

3. Your link is from 2001.

Average TSA agents make between $14-17 dollars per hour dependingon experience, length of time on the job, and location.

[olddad56]

4. I think it is part of a plot to take the TSA private.

In August, I flew out of Logan Airport in Boston. It took about an hour and 20 minutes to get through the baggage check. They were clearly understaffed. I asked a TSA employee if it was always this crowded. He told me that the TSA had just fired 29 employees. I asked him why. I was told that they failed a test on the procedures. He then told me that the procedure and regulations change so often that is was almost impossible to keep up with the changes.

I have no way to verify what he told me, I just know that experience sucked. It also pissed me off that people flying first class went through a separate line where there was no waiting. Why does the government give perks to people because they can afford to fly first class?