To be fair
 

When the powers that be created TSA they did not give the agency or the people in it ANY rights. We are not protected by any government policies that are in place for other agencies. It appears that Title 9 and many other safeguards are not applicable to TSA. The problems that are mentioned are perceptions, I have been there over 6 years and I have had some rough moments too. Things are better than they were in the start. I just wonder why after 7 years things are not perfect.

To be fair, the referenced OIG report was from 2006. Since 2006, there have been a number of policy changes and new programs implemented to address this issue. It seems, to me, that things have improved. There is far more progress to be made, though.

Like any large organization, TSA has some locations that are far better than average, and some that are far worse. There is a big emphasis on local control, and local high level management has a fair amount of control over how things are run. This is largely necessary to address the different configurations and security concerns unique to each airport. The problem is how you balance local control with HQ to maintain the necessary flexibility and provide for oversight, fair treatment, and reasonably consistent procedures.

You need a reason to get rid of federal employees. The question is, what reason is used. The federal government does have a procedure for a reduction in force (RIF). It is a pretty significant action, and requires a lot of work. This, combined with my previous statement, is about as far as I'm willing to go in commenting on this issue (out of abundant caution.)

Because the TSA is the result of a knee-jerk panic reaction & nothing good ever comes from that.

The problem is hopelessly compounded by the fact tha tthe TSA can sidestep any FOIA request in the name of "national security". **IF** these lawsuits get to trial instead of mysteriously disappearing, the agency will claim SSI on everything and I doubt the judge will be able to do a damned thing about it. They are above the law, they are accountable to no one, and they waste 6 billion dollars a year doing it, and nothing had been done about it by mister "change and accountability" who is currently touring Europe campaigning for a job he already won.

CHANGE!! CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!

--PP

Usually when that comes up, the Judge(s) view it in camera. The most recent one I can think of where this happened was Gilmore v. Gonzalez, but it's been done almost every time someone files a suit against the TSA, and, prior to them, the FAA. The judge(s) view the SSI documentation relevant to the case, then come out and state their decision.

That's how it's been done previously, anyway, when the FAA/TSA states that the information required by the court is SSI.

From the article linked in the OP's remarks:

"A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) report in May 2008 shows the problems may be nationwide.

"TSA employees... have criticized the agency for discrimination, selective hiring practices, nepotism, management misconduct and other questionable activities," according to the DHS OIG.

As a result, the OIG report found low morale "could adversely affect the effectiveness of TSA's security screening function." "

You're right. I've even seen this done with real classified information. A Federal judge, like members of Congress, can have access to any level of classified information necessary to do their jobs. I recall one instance where we cleared both sides' attorneys (civil whistle-blower suit).

We call it the "Good Old Boys Club" I just hope that with the new administration things will change. The upper ranks were filled with FAA guys and the women in this organization have been looked over for many jobs and promotions. The abuse towards women has been going on for along time and the word is always they were dealt with but under the privacy act we can never tell you how they were dealt with soooo we know zip happens. I think it is all smoke and mirrors on many levels and we seen things that needed changing for 6 and 1/2 years. It is like someone teaching you how to drive that doesn't drive. Total nonsense and many upper management that try and justify their big salary job. I work at an airport and we see the waste and the tsa screeners are the first to agree. It is typical Federal crap.

I am a TSA manager. I have read this forum for some time, and often considered contributing. I don't know if this thread is the best vehicle for my first post. However I am going to jump in with both feet.

My initial reading is that the original article should be read from the perspective that there is a vast union organizing campaign happening right now. President Obama made several promises to the AFGE in the campaign, and TSA collective bargaining was a part of that. That doesn't mean that the allegations are untrue, they should just be read with the understanding that right now the labor organizers are trying to highlight TSA abuses of their employees to justify unionization.

My other reading is that if you interviewed former employees or disgruntled employees at my airport, you would probably hear many of the same allegations. In this forum, you can read many examples of TSA employees acting unprofessionally. It is my job to try to improve performance. I truly don't believe that I treat people badly. However many of my poor performing officers have complained about me in the same terms described in the article.

TSA has some good employees. It also has some awful ones. If the agency is going to help the worst employees move on to different career choices and help some of the others improve their daily performance, then you can expect more articles just like this one.

I am not defending anything that happened in Denver because I wasn't there. And I don't know the specifics. But I do know that if you interview disgruntled employees from any organization then you will get a certain type of news story.

Welcome to FlyerTalk, castrobenes!

+1. I hope you can take the heat here & will stay & contribute.

ditto on the welcome ^ and i for one (and sure others do as well) look forward to you sharing your insight(s) and please, do not take what you read here personally :) as where i'm sure you know, the tsa on f/t is a very, shall we say "spirited" ;) discussion topic.

again welcome and thanks in advance for sharing :)

Thanks Spiff, Goalie, etc,

Castro Benes

I'm sorry. My mistake. It does not, however, change my point that TSA really is trying to do things to recognize problems and improve the work environment.

Welcome! :)

You make some excellent points, especially the bit about this article being published in the context of major union activities.

It is also fair to mention that TSA has some very good, caring, professional management. Unfortunately, there are some bad apples who ruin the reputation for the rest of you.

Don't let the members here get you down, they're mostly a nice bunch of folks, once you get to know them. :D

The TSA shut down screening for 55 minutes at Denver today, marooning several hundred passengers. No announcement, no explanation. Had it not been Easter Sunday, the impact would have been infinitely worse.

A city police officer later told us it was a drill, not an actual breach.

DIA is my least-favorite major airport.