In theory yes. We work at the will of the Secretary of Transportation. In reality, it is VERY hard to get fired from TSA.

Not quite "at-will," although many disagree over what this means.

A new employee is on a one year probation and may be terminated if he or she fails to meet the standards for employment. This is where things such as adverse information developed during a background check (not just talking about past convictions but any and all adverse information) may affect an employee's eligibility for employment.

After three years, the employee becomes vested. Not so sure I know what that means, but I take it that it means the government can't screw with us as easily as it could for those who aren't vested.

As a general rule, employees are protected from unfair employer treatment just like every one else who works for the federal government. Employee rights laws apply to everyone. So while TSA employees don't enjoy the same sort of protections as civil service federal employees, for example, TSA screeners are still afforded certain employee rights. With the direct control Congress has exercised over TSA so far, employees are also subject to reductions-in-force. Everyone in the government is subject to this; however, with TSA, the size of the workforce has always been a contentious issue. It's an issue this year.

One of the interesting ironies I've found is that it is, as eyecue pointed out, very difficult for TSA to fire screeners. In a vast majority of the cases, if not all of them, screeners are given the option of resigning or being terminated. And most of them opt to resign because it would look bad to be fired from a federal job when applying for another job either within or out of federal government. This is nothing but an intimidation tactic TSA is able to get away with. If screeners were to challenge the TSA decision and take it to court, TSA would lose a great majority of the time. The case of the Houston rapper known as the Arabic Assassin is one case in point. Of course, for obvious matters such as theft, the case against the employee is strong for TSA to initiate termination procedures. However, even then, it's still a difficult road for TSA, and even in what may appear to be an open-and-shut case against the employee, TSA relies on the employee voluntarily resigning as opposed to actually terminating the employee.

For fellow screeners: don't give the bas*ards an easy way out. It's a matter of staring them down. Whoever blinks first loses, and TSA counts on you blinking first. If you have a strong case, look 'em in the eye and smile.

But didn't you mention several months ago that you had to sign some kind of laundry-list document kissing a lot of your rights away?

I tried to stay out of this one. I just read it all. Interesting division amongst the group. The guys choice of words shows a real lack of creativity and mental power. After reading some of the lyrics it appears that he made a remark to someone at work and had a sexual harassment complaint made against him. I think he has brought his second job to TSA. He didnt take TSA to his second job. When we are hired we are told not to do things in our private lives that would bring discredit to us and the Federal Government. IT appears that his choice of medium (rap) has done that. Last but not least dont forget that the appearance of impropriety is sometimes worse than the impropriety itself.

The documents I've signed don't kiss any of my rights away. If I compromise SSI to unauthorized persons, I am doing the same as giving away corporate secrets and strategies in the private sector. The difference is that in the private sector, that's proprietary information that can cost a corporation in terms of money, clients and competitiveness. In government, it's a matter of disclosing information without the proper authorization. Both amount to the same thing: obtaining authorization.

As for the other stuff, I've read the TSA bullsh*t memo about keeping up appearances but seriously, truly, greatly doubt TSA can enforce it and withstand the scrutiny of a legal challenge. If I call the FSD a dumb son-of-a-b*tch at work, I am being disruptive and non-Kumbaya-like and could face disciplinary action. That's with any job, especially when it involves the boss. Should be no surprise here. However, if I post a comment on this web site that I think my FSD is a dumb son-of-a-b*tch, then that's just an opinion I'm expressing and that's about all it is. I may be subject to libel and slander charges, but I think I'd have to do more than just express an opinion. I'm no lawyer, but I think I'd have to go out of my way to defame his character. At any rate, according to TSA, I could be terminated for just posting such thoughts on this web site. Again, we're talking about comments I type on my own personal computer from the comfort and convenience of my own home on an internet access that I pay for on a web site that is not affiliated with TSA (although I have agreed to abide by certain TOS standards). The TSA memo, IMHO, is just a scare tactic that TSA has successfully used to coerce its own employees into swallowing this public image provision hook, line and sinker. There's a big difference between exercising my right to express myself and going into a topless bar right after work while wearing my TSA uniform. In the latter case, I have crossed a line that may subject me to disciplinary action, perhaps even termination. Again, this is no different than any other corporation, company or business that seeks to maintain a favorable public image, especially when it has employees who wear uniforms that are immediately identifiable by the public.

Many TSA employees have been duped into thinking that they have no rights. TSA has successfully blinded many with its bullsh*t memos, scare tactics and bullying.

As I've said repeatedly, there's nothing wrong with the security procedures (although, yes, there is room for improvement...there is ALWAYS room for improvement in any endeavor or enterprise), there's nothing wrong with a vast majority of the screener workforce (clowns like Khalaf make it bad for the rest of us, but even here there was nothing mentioned about his performance as a screener; would be somewhat ironic if he had happened to received a couple spot performance awards or have exceptionally high test scores on our annual recertification exams). The problem is, and will remain for some time....l-e-a-d-e-r-s-h-i-p! TSA pledges about having the Model Workplace but doesn't know how to get there.

It all begins with leadership.

"Leadership is action, not position." ---Donald H. McGannon

I would not be surprised if a guy like this was involved in sexual harassment; his lyrics alone indicate a lack of respect for women in general (and himself too) given his filthy language. Even then, firing people on the basis of sexual harassment claims generally involves some kind of workplace investigation, right? Otherwise, wrongful termination may expose the TSA (in so far as government employers can be exposed) to lawsuits and/or a need to settle out of court.