TSA fights major image problem...
Oct 24, 2012 | 10:22 am
#1
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TSA fights major image problem...
Really? It's more than just "image"....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/....html?hpid=z10
So, it's simply a matter of "the standards are higher for us, so it looks like we're bad" ???
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/....html?hpid=z10
“I believe it’s more a function of the fact that 1) the standards of conduct are both clearer and more stringent at TSA than at many other federal agencies, 2) TSA workers are more in the public eye than many other federal employees and 3) TSA has a more streamlined disciplinary process than most agencies,” John Palguta said by e-mail. “So when there are problems they are more easily identified and more quickly dealt with.” He is a Partnership for Public Service vice president who previously worked for the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Office of Personnel Management.
Oct 24, 2012 | 10:30 am
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TSA has a more streamlined disciplinary process than most agencies,” John Palguta said by e-mail. “So when there are problems they are more easily identified and more quickly dealt with.
Oct 24, 2012 | 10:37 am
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Fortunately, most of the comments rip the TSA to shreds (excepting a couple of AFS types). Unfortunately, by posing this as an "image problem", those comments merely serve to support the thesis that it's an image problem and not a real problem.
Oct 24, 2012 | 1:39 pm
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Acknowledging “it obviously hurts our image” during the interview, Pistole said one thing the cases have not done is endanger the flying public. The chances the improper baggage screening has compromised security “is so remote,” he said, given the nearly 1.8 million passengers and 3.4 million bags screened every day by about 50,000 TSAs.
What happened to "we have to be lucky every time"?
Oct 24, 2012 | 1:48 pm
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Really? It's more than just "image"....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/....html?hpid=z10
So, it's simply a matter of "the standards are higher for us, so it looks like we're bad" ???
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/....html?hpid=z10
So, it's simply a matter of "the standards are higher for us, so it looks like we're bad" ???
Oct 24, 2012 | 2:22 pm
#7
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TSA has a more streamlined disciplinary process than most agencies,” John Palguta said by e-mail. “So when there are problems they are more easily identified and more quickly dealt with.
Oct 24, 2012 | 4:01 pm
#8
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At some point, folks will realize that the two issues are independent of one another. You can have an image problem but not have a real problem. You can have a real problem but not have an image problem. Or, as in this case, you can have both.
Oct 24, 2012 | 7:11 pm
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Streamlined Disciplinary Process
1. It never happened.2. We're investigating but we believe it never happened.
3. Okay, something happened but normal procedures were followed. And we're still trying to locate the video.
Note that the process usually ends here.
(If necessary) 4. We couldn't find the video but it was obviously the passenger's fault.
(If necessary) 5. Maybe the TS"O" did something that wasn't quite SOP but s/he's being retrained.
(Only if the media is still clamoring after a week and someone has actual video)
6. We're sorry if the passenger felt they were treated in an unprofessional manner.For steps 4, 5, and 6, include the following:
"TSA holds its staff to the highest standards of professionalism and this incident (which didn't actually happen and the employee who did it is being retrained) in no way reflects upon the 84,000 other TSA employees who work 19 hour days at minimum wage in hazardous conditions out of the goodness of their hearts just to protect the uncaring American public from the imminent disasters that await them on every single flight blah blah blah." 
I wish I was making this up. Really.