Originally Posted by
gsoltso
I am completely uneducated as to the other side of the situation, so I can't make an informed statement as to why this particular cutter was not allowed. Personally, I think that TSA is in the news more often because it is an easy bash - the public already has a perception that the workforce is uneducated (which in most cases is not true), they are poorly trained (which based on my training requirements is as far from true as you can get), and that they are power tripping LEO wannabes (I am certain that there are some employees out there that fit this description, but I have not run into but one of them and that person is no longer employed with TSA). Any little mistake, bad judgement or outright criminal act is immediately on the websites and newspapers, and this just furthers the initial perception. The vast majority of the TSA workforce are fairly educated, intelligent, and hard workers that just want to do the job well and keep passengers safe. I know that some of you will bag on me for saying that, but it is true regardless of the press we get. The problem is easy to boil down for you from my perspective. IMHO inconsistency is our biggest problem, whether it is involved in the training aspect, or the screening aspect. With an agency like this, there should be a reasonable expectation on the part of a traveler that if their bag is cleared in GSO, and there is nothing else in the bag a week later when they leave LAX, the bag should be good to go. If we cleared up the inconsistencies nationwide, I guarantee you that our public image would rise (mind you, not that people would like us per se, but the image of the agency would improve).
I have mentioned before that education shoiuld only be one aspect of evaluation for an employee, if Joe the high school dropout is able to do my job better than I am, communicate more effectively with the public and keep things wired tight - why would we not hire them? What would lead you to think that just because Joe didn't finish high school, he is not qualified to do the job? Seriously asking, I just don't understand the attitude towards the education level.
I have never seen a supervisor pencil whip training at TSA.
Yeah, in 5 years I have never had training or even had a conflict over a guillotine cutter, or any other cutter (other than a pocket knife and the aforementioned trick cutter).
Checked baggage is for things you buy to bring home with you...
To the points I highlighted.
Point one, if TSA is so hardworking and wanting to do a good job then why isn't it happening?
Point two, I think you are spot on and have identified a problem that has been discussed often. Secret shoppers and such could help with this but TSA refuses to listen to the public.
Point three, education also demonstrates a persons ability to set and obtain goals. I don't think everyone should go to college. Some people are better in the trades or other fields. Even people entering the trades often require additional education or long apprenticeships. Still, the ability to read, write and comprehend is central to teaching a person how to do any task. Teaching a person to evaluate an xray image or inspect a piece of luggage will require that person being able to learn. Education levels are an indicator of these capabilities.
It seems your agency gives employees a bit of latitude to make certain decisions on the fly. Who do you think is more likely to make correct decisions, a person who did not finish high school or a person with at least some higher eduction? The person with post high school education has been exposed to greater levels of critical thinking and problem solving.
I would also think the person with the most education would be better prepared to advance to more difficult positions within the organization.
Last point, about documenting training. If the TSA training process is so robust then just why do we continue to hear about certain ID documents not being accepted or the inconsistencies you mentioned in your post?
Is a person required to have completed a training program before they take a post and does a supervisor sign off that the person is qualified?
If the worker does not know the job then they are not qualified, and if someone signed off that the training has been completed successfully then I would call that pencil whipping.