Newsstand - Boston's Logan Airport Looking for TSA Screeners

In our local paper this morning theres a large ad for TSA screeners at Logan. It pays a whopping $23,600-$35,400** for full time. Now theres a job I want! I don't think they would hire me though. I don't know how to harrass passengers, especially the elderly and baby's. Do you think they would train me for this part of the job?

Where have all the screeners they previously hired gone? To apply for this position you need to be a US citizen or US national; HS diploma or GED or 1 year of aviation or screening experience. You must be fluent in english and be able to pass a background check.

Any takers out there?

Even though you come across as an "elitist" who obviously looks down on anyone who makes less than you do, or has a job that you do not agree with I will answer your query.

Many screeners took the job based on a sense of patriotism after 9/11. Many took the job out of economic necessity, the economy not being as strong as it once was. Some took the job as an easier way to get into the federal system and get that coveted government job. There are as many different reasons as there are people who work for the TSA. Your disdain for what they do in no way diminishes the importance of their job.

As for why they are quitting, there are again, many reasons. Some have found other jobs outside of the government, others finished their one year probation and found other government jobs.

It is ignorant statements such as yours that convince me that you have little knowledge of what the screeners do, much less go through when dealing with "citizens" such as yourself.

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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

[This message has been edited by The Unknown Screener (edited 09-04-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by The Unknown Screener:
It is ignorant statements such as yours that convince me that you have little knowledge of what the screeners do, much less go through when dealing with "citizens" such as yourself.</font>
It is ignorant statements such as yours that convince me that you have little knowledge of what the passengers deserve, much less go through when dealing with "screeners" such as yourself.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by xyzzy:
</font>It is ignorant statements such as yours that convince me that you have little knowledge of what the passengers deserve, much less go through when dealing with "screeners" such as yourself.[/QUOTE]

I certainly know what passengers deserve and what they go through. Which is much more pleasant than some of what passengers put screeners through with their name calling and sometimes violence. I have yet to see a screener led away in handcuffs for abusing a passenger, but I have seen several passengers led away for striking screeners and trying to justify it to the police who watch the whole thing. It is always funny how stories change in an instant.



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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

I think anyone who hits anyone else deserves the handcuffs. That includes screeners. Strangely, many of the screeners whose problems have been reported here (with guns, etc.) have not been immediately terminated, arrested, etc. I think that there is a distinct lack of equal treatment.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by xyzzy:
I think anyone who hits anyone else deserves the handcuffs. That includes screeners. Strangely, many of the screeners whose problems have been reported here (with guns, etc.) have not been immediately terminated, arrested, etc. I think that there is a distinct lack of equal treatment.</font>

No, you just do not hear about it. Screeners are terminated for some pretty stupid reasons. In fact, until your one year probation is over, they don't even need a reason to let you go. It is at the gov'ts pleasure that a screener works.

Does that mean that there are not bad screeners out there? No, there are. Just as there are bad cops. The difference here is that noone then says that ALL cops are like that, not so with the screeners. One screener does something stupid, therefore ALL screeners are stupid. There is your lack of equal treatment.



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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by The Unknown Screener:
No, you just do not hear about it. Screeners are terminated for some pretty stupid reasons. In fact, until your one year probation is over, they don't even need a reason to let you go. It is at the gov'ts pleasure that a screener works.

</font>

Many people work at their employer's pleasure. Why should the TSA be any different?

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Spiff:
Many people work at their employer's pleasure. Why should the TSA be any different?</font>

Because your employer has to have a "reason" to let you go or face a charge of unlawful termination.

With screeners, until they pass the one year mark, all an FSD has to do is not like the way you trim your mustache and he can let you go without recourse. That is the difference.

Because the general public does not get daily updates on who was fired and why does not mean that it does not happen. There are dozens of complaints to the Labor Dept. over this, but I would bet my bottom dollar that nothing will come of them. You scream about the rule of law, but I guess only so long as it applies to those who you do not hold in contempt.



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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by The Unknown Screener:
... Many screeners took the job based on a sense of patriotism after 9/11....</font>

Wow - I really do not like to get into personal flame wars, but this comment really has me thinking. Did people really take a job like this out of "patriotism"? I'm sorry, but this job, or should I say, this whole hassle the flying citizens thing is about un-patriotic as it gets. We KNOW this is not stopping terrorists, yet we continue to charade. I don't get it.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by The Unknown Screener:
all an FSD has to do is not like the way you trim your mustache and he can let you go without recourse.</font>Do they even have to say that much?

My biggest beef is with the TSA system, and in general not with the individual screeners. Of course some screeners tend to be more zealous in their abuse of our liberties than others.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by The Unknown Screener:
Because your employer has to have a "reason" to let you go or face a charge of unlawful termination. </font>

Not true. My employer can let me go for any reason at anytime... Even after 25 years they can do this.

True. If you live in the majority of states that are "Right to Work" states, then your employer doesn't need a reason to terminate you.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NoStressHere:
Wow - I really do not like to get into personal flame wars, but this comment really has me thinking. Did people really take a job like this out of "patriotism"? I'm sorry, but this job, or should I say, this whole hassle the flying citizens thing is about un-patriotic as it gets. We KNOW this is not stopping terrorists, yet we continue to charade. I don't get it.
</font>

Yes, some people did take the job out of a sense of patriotism. Your opinion about the veracity of that aside, I did have the pleasure of working with a great lady who was a retired civil servant who did indeed join the TSA out of a sense of patriotism. She left a few months later when they refused to give her a waiver that would allow her to draw her retirement AND her TSA paycheck. That is something that is given to all FSD's who previously retired from civil service, but not the much lower paid screeners.



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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by xyzzy:
[/b]</font>Do they even have to say that much?

My biggest beef is with the TSA system, and in general not with the individual screeners. Of course some screeners tend to be more zealous in their abuse of our liberties than others.[/B][/QUOTE]

Yes there are bad apples in every field of endeavor. How many bad cops do we read about, yet we continue to support the police.



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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

The one thing I cannot be accused of is snobbery. I came from humble beginnings and I never forget that. My point about the salary was that this was supposed to be "THE" job and this is what the goverment pays these people? Some of the TSA agents that I have encountered are on one huge power trip. A lot of people hate going to the airport these days because of the way they get treated. You must abide by what they say or you don't get on your flight, even if they go way overboard with the shoe thing or the groping thing or the pointy object thing. I already feel guilty of something before they start to grope even though I have done nothing wrong. I just want to get from point A to point B without the EXTRA hassle.

The safety of Americans is one thing, but the abuse of what little power they think they have is another. Just be pleasant and don't look at me like you think I just killed my mother. Unfold your arms from across your chest and breathe. Don't bark at me and treat me like I am stupid. Just lighten up some and let us non-terrorists get to where we are going. If I pass the first screening process why do the overkill thing and hold up the already long lines?

How else are we to feel when this is the way we are sometimes treated by the people who are supposed to be protecting us?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by svenskaflicka:
In our local paper this morning theres a large ad for TSA screeners at Logan. It pays a whopping $23,600-$35,400** for full time. Now theres a job I want! I don't think they would hire me though. I don't know how to harrass passengers, especially the elderly and baby's. Do you think they would train me for this part of the job?

Where have all the screeners they previously hired gone? To apply for this position you need to be a US citizen or US national; HS diploma or GED or 1 year of aviation or screening experience. You must be fluent in english and be able to pass a background check.

Any takers out there?</font>

Re-read the above and apply it to your job and see if it does not come across as "elitist."

As I have said many times, there ARE bad apples in every organization and they are far outnumbered by the good. You would see that if you enter the experience with a POSITIVE ATTITUDE and not go in acting as if the screeners are either 1.) beneath contempt because of their job or 2.) Actively violating your rights and getting a kick out of it. Truth be told, most screeners just want to get you through the checkpoint in as little time as possible and with as little contact as possible.



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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by The Unknown Screener:
Truth be told, most screeners just want to get you through the checkpoint in as little time as possible and with as little contact as possible.
</font>

How do you know what most screeners want? Have you talked to most of them? Has your agency conducte some sort of survey about what most screeners want? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

It's overgeneralizations like this that confirm much of what I think about many TSA employees. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Good luck in your future endeavors. May you soon be joined by the other 55,000. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FWAAA:
How do you know what most screeners want? Have you talked to most of them? Has your agency conducte some sort of survey about what most screeners want? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

It's overgeneralizations like this that confirm much of what I think about many TSA employees. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Good luck in your future endeavors. May you soon be joined by the other 55,000. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

I know how the ones I worked with feel, and as a "slice" of the whole, are a fair representation of the majority. Unlike some who would not urinate on a screener if he/she was on fire, based solely on their employment, I have spoken to hundreds of screeners and they want, like I said, as little contact with passengers as possible. The chronic complainers, those who go out of their way to tell them that "it was my watch that set of the magnetometer" despite the Rockport shoes or the wicked huge necklace and the 10 pounds of hairpins.

As for what you think of screeners, your posts have certainly shown what type of passenger you are.

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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

[This message has been edited by The Unknown Screener (edited 09-04-2003).]

I am the type of passenger that jokes with the the ticket agents and I am the passenger who insists that the FA call me by my first name because I am a human being just like them. I am the type of passenger that says please and thank you because I was brought up with good manners. I am the type of passenger that treats others as I want to be treated.I am also the type of passenger that sends letters off to the airline to say thank you for the wonderful service. I have never had to send off a letter of complaint yet. Perhaps it is because I am very approachable. Some of the screeners should try to be more approachable. It truly makes life so much nicer. The screeners never seem to give me this chance. They seem to reguard passengers as just a bunch of cattle, just as you said they want to get the cattle, oops, passengers through as fast as they can. There is a reason that someone as easy going as I am and thousands more like me get resentful. Perhaps instead of the "attitude" some of your fellow co-workers may want to look at things from our perspective for once.

I am sure that you are, I have nothing to dispute that. The problem is that although I have flown recently through several different airports and talked to screeners every chance I could, I "know" what to expect and react accordingly. The majority of the passengers I saw as a screener were those who seldom fly and had no clue about the process. Those who fly often were a breeze as they obviously knew what to do and I never had a problem with them. No, the job was not all that (yesterday was my last day) and there are better jobs out there. Your reference to cattle is appropriate as thats how many passengers act. Many had been drinking, and quite a few needed a shower. No, the huddled masses are not something that you really want to spend much time with believe me. So move them along, cause another one will be right behind them.

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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by svenskaflicka:
Some of the screeners should try to be more approachable. It truly makes life so much nicer. The screeners never seem to give me this chance. They seem to reguard passengers as just a bunch of cattle, just as you said they want to get the cattle, oops, passengers through as fast as they can. There is a reason that someone as easy going as I am and thousands more like me get resentful. Perhaps instead of the "attitude" some of your fellow co-workers may want to look at things from our perspective for once.</font>

It's impossible to look "approachable" when you're moving hundreds of passengers through during a heavy push. If the magnetometer station is operating smoothly the most I can say to a passenger is "thank you" as they hand me their bags. If I'm on the x-ray and all the other screeners are doing secondary searches the most I can do is ask passengers to please put their bags on the conveyor belt. I can't look away from the x-ray for long and I'm trying to keep the line moving so there's no time for chit-chat. I'm polite but I don't get into any small-talk unless the passenger initiates it and there's a bit of a lull.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by The Unknown Screener:
Even though you come across as an "elitist" who obviously looks down on anyone who makes less than you do, or has a job that you do not agree with I will answer your query.</font>

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif Who is the elitist here? I don't see anything in his statement that suggests anything about his rate of pay vs. a screener's. How did you come to the conclusion that he makes more or less than a screener? Frankly, rate of pay makes no difference to me. I am concerned about the government spending my tax dollars on this game show they choose to call "Security".

What's behind door number 3 today?



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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by tazi:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif Who is the elitist here? I don't see anything in his statement that suggests anything about his rate of pay vs. a screener's. How did you come to the conclusion that he makes more or less than a screener? Frankly, rate of pay makes no difference to me. I am concerned about the government spending my tax dollars on this game show they choose to call "Security".

What's behind door number 3 today?
</font>

I was wondering when that Tazmanian Devil would come spinning in. Only someone who is looking down at the screeners would even mention the rate of pay they receive and also insinuate that they are trained to "harass" passengers. No, you cannot "spin" your way out of that one no matter how much you try. It must be nice looking down on the minions from that ivory tower.

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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

edited for spelling

[This message has been edited by The Unknown Screener (edited 09-05-2003).]

By mentioning the rate of pay I was saying that this is all the government is willing to pay for this type of position. $23,000 for this high pressure position hardly seems like a position I would want to endure. As far as harrassing passengers; look at all the complaints here on FT alone and you will see what I am talking about. It can't be denied. How many screeners have been fired for having a criminal background? How many screeners have pilferred through luggage and been caught? How many screeners have now left this position because they realize that for the rate of pay they are receiving, that it just isn't worth it? It is a high pressure position when you have to grope ladies bra's because their underwire sets off the alarm. Checking baby's diapers can't be much fun and those 90 year old ladies with those attack sticks they call canes. That sounds like a weapon to me.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by svenskaflicka:
By mentioning the rate of pay I was saying that this is all the government is willing to pay for this type of position. $23,000 for this high pressure position hardly seems like a position I would want to endure. As far as harrassing passengers; look at all the complaints here on FT alone and you will see what I am talking about. It can't be denied. How many screeners have been fired for having a criminal background? How many screeners have pilferred through luggage and been caught? How many screeners have now left this position because they realize that for the rate of pay they are receiving, that it just isn't worth it? It is a high pressure position when you have to grope ladies bra's because their underwire sets off the alarm. Checking baby's diapers can't be much fun and those 90 year old ladies with those attack sticks they call canes. That sounds like a weapon to me.</font>

Yes, there are complaints here on FT, but look at the source, mostly Libertarians who feel that everything is good unless it hurts someone else. They would not have a problem sitting next to someone shooting up on heroin as long as the person did not harm anyone else. These are the people who accuse screeners of violating their civil rights, call them nazi thugs and the like.

The negative is always reported while the positive goes by the wayside, it does not sell papers as they say. As for the money paid, yes it is a pittance and if I were not already receiving a pension (retired disabled veteran) then I would have moved on long before I did. Now, whether you would take the job or not is your call but someone has to do it. It can be a stressful job, only due to the interaction with SOME passengers. The vast majority of the passengers I dealt with were pleasant and very pleased with the way things were going. There were others who came to the checkpoint looking for a fight. We would get people who would accuse us of racism because they were "selected" for additional screening. How we could even know they were a "selectee" before they get to the checkpoint is beyond me, ignorance at it's finest.

I have seen passengers try to barge their way through the line, knocking other passengers out of their way because they were late for their flight. Too many people are still part of the "me" generation and have an inflated sense of self worth.

The biggest problem with the TSA is the prohibited item list. It is so inclusive that it is virtually unworkable. So many things on it are pretty much harmless that screeners get a big laugh over it because we realize how silly it is.

As for screeners who are fired over their background checks, the same thing happens in the military, with the police and I would bet in every type of job out there. In fact, there is one guy working in operations at my airport who was recently convicted of child molesting and is now a registered sex offender. His picture and offense sheet can be seen on www.sexoffender.com (http://www.sexoffender.com) He is still working even though such an offense automatically negates his security clearance. So to insinuate that these things only seem to happen with screeners is disingenuous at best.

There have been a handful of screeners who have stolen from passengers and been caught, I would bet the same percentage as those in other fields where others property is involved. How many "rings" of thieves have been caught in the ranks of the baggage handlers?

No, being a screener is not a perfect job, but it is far from being the worst job out there, despite what some would say.

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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist

[This message has been edited by The Unknown Screener (edited 09-05-2003).]

For all of you that want a return to the "old" days of pre boarding security, just go to the UA terminal in ORD.

All the TSA did was issue uniforms to the old screeners and hire more.

If you look at the uniform you will see
that the company Huntleigh Security is still there as it was prior to 9-11. The patch is on the uniform

Huntleigh Security is part of ICTS International. This is NOT a USA company.

It also controls APS the Advanced Passenger Screening System, Apis solutions which handles the Customs documents, and "Travel Doc" which scans documents to verify they are authentic.

From the companies web site:
"formed by select security experts,former military commanders,veterans of government intelligence and security agencies, some of whom remain with the company today"

These were NOT USA veterans and experts.