Airport Screener Threaten to Boycott Exam
The Journal News | July 6, 2003 | Caren Halbfinger
Upset that their scores on one exam will determine if they keep their jobs, passenger and baggage screeners at Westchester County Airport are threatening to refuse to take the exam when it is given in the next few weeks.
Upset that their scores on one exam will determine if they keep their jobs, passenger and baggage screeners at Westchester County Airport are threatening to refuse to take the exam when it is given in the next few weeks.
As part of a nationwide downsizing of airport screeners by Sept. 30, the Transportation Security Administration plans to fire 25 to 30 of the 86 screeners now employed at the Westchester airport. That would leave the equivalent of 60 full-time screeners, down from the initial 96. Nationwide, the agency will cut 6,000 screeners' jobs to reduce the agency's budget by $32 million this year and $288 million in 2004, to a proposed $4.82 billion. The TSA has said the cuts should not affect airport security but could lead to longer lines for travelers.
Screeners are irked that the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., plans to make staffing choices based on a nationwide exam, rather than allowing supervisors at each airport to make their own cuts.
"Somebody who is a terrible worker could take my job if I don't do well on this test,'' said Kristine Koziak, 24, a Mahopac resident who is a lead screener. "I'm a good worker, because I got promoted. But somebody who's below me but may test better may get the job, and I'll be out of a job.''
Koziak was earning more money as a paralegal when she was called by the TSA one Friday in October and was told to report for orientation that Sunday. Like many others, she had to leave her job without giving notice, which would make it difficult, if not impossible, to return should she lose the screener's job.
"I am very concerned about the cuts Westchester County Airport will sustain,'' said Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison. "These cuts could hamper baggage screening, cause increased delays and processing time, and will certainly hurt the many families who will join the unemployment rolls at a time when jobs are scarce.''
Screener Kerry Davie, 40, of Manhattan is worried he'll be asked to accept a part-time job, which he can ill afford, because he supports his four children.
"Coming up to Westchester for 20 hours — that's gas money,'' Davie said. "I would refuse to do that. It's a tough situation. There's so much uncertainty. In every job you have slackers, people who are more laid-back than others, and I think that should be the main reason for keeping someone or releasing them.''
But that's not the plan.
"One of the driving goals here is to make sure there's an equitable system in place, one that gives the highest performers a chance to capitalize on the work they've done,'' TSA spokesman Mark Hatfield said. "No system is perfect, but the tests really mirror what they're doing on the job.''
Hatfield cautioned that screeners could be courting trouble if they refuse to take the test. "That would be poor judgment on their part,'' he said. "There are airports in commuting distance here that are having reductions, and there will be trained screeners available and looking for positions.''
Dick Phelps, 72, of Stamford, Conn., said longer lines wouldn't bother him. Now that he is retired, he said, he has plenty of time. Phelps arrived at the airport at 8 a.m. Wednesday for an 11 a.m. flight to Chicago en route to Minneapolis, and was relaxing in the airport lounge.
"The cutbacks don't bother me,'' he said. "I assume the TSA knows what they're doing. I don't have a problem with a test. I don't think they've had a long enough time to measure performance.''
Not everyone was as sanguine about the cutbacks. "It seems a little early to be cutting back on security,'' said Polly Winans, 78, of Bedford, who was waiting for a flight to Washington, D.C., en route to Irvington, Va. "I think job performance is top priority and seems more sensible and fair.''
Kaoru Nishikawa, 17, of Chappaqua, also wasn't thrilled to hear about the downsizing. "Too many people are losing their jobs,'' she said, "and it's not good.''
The Journal News | July 6, 2003 | Caren Halbfinger
Upset that their scores on one exam will determine if they keep their jobs, passenger and baggage screeners at Westchester County Airport are threatening to refuse to take the exam when it is given in the next few weeks.
Upset that their scores on one exam will determine if they keep their jobs, passenger and baggage screeners at Westchester County Airport are threatening to refuse to take the exam when it is given in the next few weeks.
As part of a nationwide downsizing of airport screeners by Sept. 30, the Transportation Security Administration plans to fire 25 to 30 of the 86 screeners now employed at the Westchester airport. That would leave the equivalent of 60 full-time screeners, down from the initial 96. Nationwide, the agency will cut 6,000 screeners' jobs to reduce the agency's budget by $32 million this year and $288 million in 2004, to a proposed $4.82 billion. The TSA has said the cuts should not affect airport security but could lead to longer lines for travelers.
Screeners are irked that the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., plans to make staffing choices based on a nationwide exam, rather than allowing supervisors at each airport to make their own cuts.
"Somebody who is a terrible worker could take my job if I don't do well on this test,'' said Kristine Koziak, 24, a Mahopac resident who is a lead screener. "I'm a good worker, because I got promoted. But somebody who's below me but may test better may get the job, and I'll be out of a job.''
Koziak was earning more money as a paralegal when she was called by the TSA one Friday in October and was told to report for orientation that Sunday. Like many others, she had to leave her job without giving notice, which would make it difficult, if not impossible, to return should she lose the screener's job.
"I am very concerned about the cuts Westchester County Airport will sustain,'' said Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison. "These cuts could hamper baggage screening, cause increased delays and processing time, and will certainly hurt the many families who will join the unemployment rolls at a time when jobs are scarce.''
Screener Kerry Davie, 40, of Manhattan is worried he'll be asked to accept a part-time job, which he can ill afford, because he supports his four children.
"Coming up to Westchester for 20 hours — that's gas money,'' Davie said. "I would refuse to do that. It's a tough situation. There's so much uncertainty. In every job you have slackers, people who are more laid-back than others, and I think that should be the main reason for keeping someone or releasing them.''
But that's not the plan.
"One of the driving goals here is to make sure there's an equitable system in place, one that gives the highest performers a chance to capitalize on the work they've done,'' TSA spokesman Mark Hatfield said. "No system is perfect, but the tests really mirror what they're doing on the job.''
Hatfield cautioned that screeners could be courting trouble if they refuse to take the test. "That would be poor judgment on their part,'' he said. "There are airports in commuting distance here that are having reductions, and there will be trained screeners available and looking for positions.''
Dick Phelps, 72, of Stamford, Conn., said longer lines wouldn't bother him. Now that he is retired, he said, he has plenty of time. Phelps arrived at the airport at 8 a.m. Wednesday for an 11 a.m. flight to Chicago en route to Minneapolis, and was relaxing in the airport lounge.
"The cutbacks don't bother me,'' he said. "I assume the TSA knows what they're doing. I don't have a problem with a test. I don't think they've had a long enough time to measure performance.''
Not everyone was as sanguine about the cutbacks. "It seems a little early to be cutting back on security,'' said Polly Winans, 78, of Bedford, who was waiting for a flight to Washington, D.C., en route to Irvington, Va. "I think job performance is top priority and seems more sensible and fair.''
Kaoru Nishikawa, 17, of Chappaqua, also wasn't thrilled to hear about the downsizing. "Too many people are losing their jobs,'' she said, "and it's not good.''
