petaluma1

You might recall that "retraining" was nowhere mentioned in the results listed here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28415572-post1.html

chollie

"Refresher briefing": "Hey guys, some whiner complained we took her brat's breast milk. Chill it for a couple days, 'kay? Double down on genital rubs and dip deep into those butt cracks instead."



HQ is well aware of the repeated issues with breast milk resulting from screeners having the final say. HQ clearly supports these activities or the word would go out that any screener who screws with a mother's breast milk will be facing a 30-day suspension - as will the STSO on duty who let it happen. Mention that in the 'refresher briefing' and we wouldn't be seeing this happen anymore.

Boggie Dog

I don't think a 30 day suspension gets the word out that these acts are not ok.

Flat out Fired for Cause and walked out of the airport right then and there. That would send a message.

chollie

The truth is, if TSA would do this and mention in briefings, this stuff would stop. This stuff keeps happening because HQ is fully on board with it. HQ would not have to fire more than two screeners for harassing breast-feeding mothers - and suspend the LTSO and STSO on duty at the time who were equally responsible.

There would be no more harassment of breast-feeding mothers.

Keep in mind: all of these people have recently had a two week vacation, courtesy of the taxpayers, at the 'academy' getting retrained. I can only assume that what is happening with breast milk is a direct result of what is being taught at the 'academy'. The sudden increase in assaults can only be because of the 'academy' training. It's too widespread to be the result of a couple random FSDs.

petaluma1

I would imagine that it's the same screeners who, over and over again, harass breast-feedings mothers or those with baby food.

A psychological profile of those screeners might product some interesting results.

chollie

By training, aptitude or both, there are clearly a LOT of TSOs who have an unhealthy interest in looking at and handling people's sexual parts.

Some very good TSOs have left the organization precisely because of this on-going focus on genitalia, particularly women's genitalia, but this thing with breast milk is crazy.

It can't be blamed on rogue TSOs, because pax have the right to ask for a supervisor, so in each case, at least two people, a TSO and a STSO signed off the confiscation.

nachtnebel

Frog marched is the term you want.

sunshinekid

Would not doubt it.

How many years have mothers had problems with TSA and breast milk? That the issue continues does show a level on approval from TSA.

Boggie Dog

Stacey Amato was one of the earliest that I recall but I'm sure there were others.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.1766297

TSA's solution then was retraining.

Retraining must have been just one more TSA failure.

Brighton Line

or Perp Walked is more applicable

petaluma1

Even if they are marched out of the airport, there are always more waiting to step in and assert their "authoritay".

Boggie Dog

Yes there is almost always someone ready to step in and fill the spot. Firing people on the spot and walking them out of the workplace sends a strong message. When other employees see such action by an employer it carries a lasting impression.

TSA claims to hold its employees to a higher standard, well lets see some of that bluster in action.

chollie

Misbehaving TSOs don't operate in a vacuum. Supporting every misbehaving TSO are other TSOs, LTSOs and STSOs who 'see something' but don't 'say something' - or, in the case of LTSOs and STSOs, don't DO something.

These TSOs would not be allowed to get away with this behavior - stealing, lying, abusing pax, chronic absenteeism and tardiness - at a McDonald's or a Costco or a 7-11 or a gas station.

sunshinekid

Without the support of the FSD - whose success likely continues to be measured based on unsafe production measures, Neffenger never reported back to state that otherwise - 'see something say something' is useless.

TWA884

Please let's get on topic, which is: TSA and Breast Milk.

Thank you,

TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator