TSA wants to get more intimate when doing passenger pat downs.
#46
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 471
They are at will employees. TSOs were not drafted. No one is forcing them to work there. The fact that they remain employed at this point means they are part of the problem. I'm sorry, but if my boss told me that I now had to molest people as part of my job my resignation would be on their desk in minutes and my lawyer would be on the phone next.
#47
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I generally try to avoid shaming the individual screener, as in my experience most are even less thrilled than we are about the whole process. I had one guy who, when I told him that he was patting me down because his co-worker would not let me use the Precheck line as I was shepherding someone travelling with me through the elite line, even though my boarding pass clearly stated Precheck, causing me to use normal security and opt out, he was really pissed at his co-worker . That said, imagine being told by your boss that you must thoroughly touch and feel someone's genitals or you'll be fired...the worst that generally would happen to us as passengers is not flying that day if we decline the "full" screening. I don't envy someone who is coerced into committing sexual assault at threat of job loss. I don't have a lot of sympathy for most TSA employees, as most had a good idea of what they were getting themselves into, but I have a nonzero level of sympathy, barring the few who feel "a calling" and seem to feel they are the only thing preventing disaster. I sense that, for the majority, this is the best paying job they can find (logically, would you work at TSA frontline if you could do almost any other job? I'd rather be a plumber.). But with these changes, my level of sympathy is looking more and more to be asymptotically approaching zero...
I think the better question is; what kind of person would work in a place that requires such despicable acts of its employees?
TSA has spent Billions of Tax Dollars on Body Scanners of one sort or another and apparently they aren't worth the powder to blow them sky high. Shouldn't someone be asking TSA Leadership just why they bought these expensive devices if they can't be trusted to do a thorough screening?
Folks, unless you are OK with being sexually assaulted for no other reason than traveling freely in your country then you should be contacting your elected's and demanding an investigation.
#48
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, WN, US, Avis, AA
Posts: 662
TSA doesn't have a clue as to how many people have been traumatized by these sexual assaults - and that's exactly what they are. There are thousands of accounts of people, mostly women but many men aso, leaving checkpoints in tears, shaking, nauseous and now traumatized for life as a result of being sexually assaulted by TSA.
Last edited by TWA884; Mar 22, 2017 at 3:49 pm Reason: Term not used in this forum; please refer to list in sticky thread.
#49
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They are at will employees. TSOs were not drafted. No one is forcing them to work there. The fact that they remain employed at this point means they are part of the problem. I'm sorry, but if my boss told me that I now had to molest people as part of my job my resignation would be on their desk in minutes and my lawyer would be on the phone next.
I don't give a rats behind for the morale of TSA screeners. If they don't like what they have to do then they should move on. If something is wrong then don't do it.
I think the better question is; what kind of person would work in a place that requires such despicable acts of its employees?
I think the better question is; what kind of person would work in a place that requires such despicable acts of its employees?
But, as I noted, whatever sympathy I have is withering rapidly.
TSA has spent Billions of Tax Dollars on Body Scanners of one sort or another and apparently they aren't worth the powder to blow them sky high. Shouldn't someone be asking TSA Leadership just why they bought these expensive devices if they can't be trusted to do a thorough screening?
Folks, unless you are OK with being sexually assaulted for no other reason than traveling freely in your country then you should be contacting your elected's and demanding an investigation.
Folks, unless you are OK with being sexually assaulted for no other reason than traveling freely in your country then you should be contacting your elected's and demanding an investigation.
Last edited by TheBOSman; Mar 6, 2017 at 11:28 am
#50
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There is a good reason why TSA "doesn't have a clue". The sad but inescapable truth is that absolutely no one at TSA cares who is traumatized. From the top management all the way down to the low-level screener/<deleted>, not a single one of them has any meaningful concern for the inconvenience, delay, injuries or trauma they cause.
Last edited by TWA884; Mar 22, 2017 at 3:50 pm Reason: Conform to moderator's edit of quoted post
#51
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Maybe I've just worked enough really ...... jobs in my life that I understand it better. Life isn't as simple as many would want to view it. Quitting a paycheck is tough when other people depend on you to put food on their plates. And, again, I note that I do assume many TSA employees aren't qualified for many other jobs; if they were, they would be taking them assuredly. There are few jobs that seem less appealing to me than TSO, if only because it seems totally monotonous.
But, as I noted, whatever sympathy I have is withering rapidly.
Most of the electeds in my area don't give a ...., they feel it is part of keeping Americans safe, and their districts are gerrymandered beyond belief to that it would be a waste of my time as I would be heavily outvoted. And one of the reps who represents part of Austin is the House Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security.
But, as I noted, whatever sympathy I have is withering rapidly.
Most of the electeds in my area don't give a ...., they feel it is part of keeping Americans safe, and their districts are gerrymandered beyond belief to that it would be a waste of my time as I would be heavily outvoted. And one of the reps who represents part of Austin is the House Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security.
Submitting comments to your congresscritters may not help but would it hurt to do so?
#52
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All the more reason to register your concerns. One person may not make an impact but when those numbers start climbing some elected congressperson who wants to keep their seat will blink.
Submitting comments to your congresscritters may not help but would it hurt to do so?
Submitting comments to your congresscritters may not help but would it hurt to do so?
#53
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,165
Looks like TSA is trying to head complainers off at the pass:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...port-pat-downs
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...port-pat-downs
#54
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As I usually travel by myself, I plan on requesting a uniformed officer to witness any pat down I may receive going forward. I will also go down like a lightly tapped footballer begging the official for a penalty in stoppage time.
They've only succeeded in further lengthening the range for which I am willing to drive instead of fly.
They've only succeeded in further lengthening the range for which I am willing to drive instead of fly.
#55
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 574
Abnormal?
Given that this is all going on in the one country that is supposed to have some of the firmest Constitutional protections, with respect to privacy, this whole charade is "abnormal."
Aren't we due for a "Have you no shame? Have you no sense of decency?"
moment like we saw in the McCarthy Witch Hunt, or are politicians still afraid to confront the Wizards of Oz behind the Security Theater smoke screen?
Given that this is all going on in the one country that is supposed to have some of the firmest Constitutional protections, with respect to privacy, this whole charade is "abnormal."
Aren't we due for a "Have you no shame? Have you no sense of decency?"
moment like we saw in the McCarthy Witch Hunt, or are politicians still afraid to confront the Wizards of Oz behind the Security Theater smoke screen?
Last edited by yandosan; Mar 6, 2017 at 1:20 pm
#56
Join Date: May 2011
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Just left a message via phone for my US Representative (it's after "his" working hours -- sigh). Not expecting a reply but I will keep calling.
#57
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Wow...whoever at TSA wrote "lessens the cognitive burden" has trouble with the cognitive demands of being a spokeperson.
#58
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TSA had five types of pat downs, now one, because TSA screeners could not be relied upon to choose the correct screening method. <deleted>.
Last edited by TWA884; Mar 6, 2017 at 6:50 pm Reason: Not necessary
#59
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I edited my post at the same time you responded: all of my possible Austin congresscritters are quite secure in their positions thanks to heavy gerrymandering. Ask the lone Democrat of the six, Lloyd Doggett.
#60
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Moderator's Note:
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TWA884
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Moderators may delete posts and move or close threads without notice. This notice may be considered your “warning”.
Appropriate topics include:
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Activism and protest discussions
Generalized venting aka “Outrage of the Day”
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TWA884
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