TSA Screener positions: Anyone else still waiting?

[Mike in Cincy]

I passed the Phase II assessment March 3rd and assume that my background investigation is complete. Have positions been postponed?

anyone else in the same boat?

[jdp]

I guess I am, Mike. I passed the assessments and submitted the SF86 about a week after you did, and received confirmation that I'd passed the BI about two weeks later. I was told that I had been assigned to the 'Ready Pool', and that should an offer of employment be made it would most likely be for a part-time position. I asked in the forum what all this meant on April 1st, and was told to 'Stay Ready', that it could be weeks to a couple of months. Around April 10th, the 'dismantling' posts showed up, and the local paper ran an article saying that the 'final class' had gone through the training center, and that by the time they finished their OJT, the mission of the center would have been reduced to one of skills maintainance for current screeners. At this point, I would seriously consider accepting a part-time position if scheduling could be worked out, but very reticent to trade the investmment and benefits of my day job for for a full-time appointment even if it were to be made.

jdp

[mscottm]

We’re working so short now; management is saying “no vacations until August or later”. We’re also being told that the TSA overall numbers are too high and there is a hiring freeze until at least the end of July, longer if the overall numbers don’t drop.

[dmclark]

We're not freezing. We went OVER on the on board numbers to accomodate airports in dire needs during the first half of FY05. In order to get to the authorized 45K number, we are slowing the hiring process to allow us to get to 44,600 which will balance the FTE out for FY05.

I'm hearing the cavalry is over the next hill! DM

[mscottm]

I guess that is management’s way of shifting the blame for no vacations this summer and working so short at our airport. I here the term “hiring freeze” about 20 times a shift.

[dmclark]

You want to listen to rumors, be my guest. I just told you the facts.

[mscottm]

I’m not trying to argue with you, but our FSD called a mandatory meeting of all screeners and tells use were going to be working short for the summer because there is a hiring freeze until the numbers come down, that’s what I go with until I here something different.

[dmclark]

Again, we're dealing in semantics. It is not a hiring freeze. We're paying the piper for hiring OVER the 45K for the first half of FY05. It all has to balance out to 45K by the end of this fiscal year or we're in anti-deficiency issues.

If you dropped 20% below your FTE, HQ would turn on the hiring faucets. We're going to have to make up the hiring shortfall until September.

There IS some relief in sight, but I don't think we'll see it until October. DM

[3N16MAT1K]

I can say that I agree or disagree with either of you both. But I work at LAS and we have been put on "mandatory overtime." We've lost many of our screeners to other agencies and to the private industry. The extra money is nice, but one can get burned out after working 8.5 hours a day, six days a week.

[dmclark]

Totally agree. We are working through the manpower issues and many airports, yours included, are getting some plus ups in staff. You're at a very good airport too! :)

[Mike in Cincy]

I know PT'ers are hourly, how about FT'ers?

One last thing, I applied and was given a COE for a Part-Time position at CVG. Still waiting however.... ;)

If a FT position opens up before or at the same time as a PT position, will I be able to obtain the FT spot?

[3N16MAT1K]

Mike:

Both PT and FT positions are hourly... Starting pay is approx. $12.45 or something like that. Depending on the airport, there is locality pay as well; but this varies.

As for the COE, keep waiting. I waited for 4 months before a spot opened up in one of the airports in which I was interested. Two weeks later, training began. Upon near completion of your initial week of training, you might receive a form asking if you wish to convert to a FT screener. Bear in mind, at this point, you may or may not have received your work schedule, hours, and days off in writing yet. Thus, choose wisely :o before you make the jump to FT -- that is, unless, you were seeking FT to begin with.

I myself was a PT screener because I had to accomodate my school schedule and I wanted to get used to working at the airport. At the time, I was not ready to take on a full time, 40 hour work week. Only recently have I converted to FT for two reasons: (1) My airport is in dire need of the manpower, and (2) I was assured that I can have hours that would not conflict with school (as long as I provided proof/documentation of my schedule)...

Since then, I've adjusted and enjoy the bigger paychecks :) . Plus it has enabled me to further refine my screening skills. I just hope I don't get burned out. :eek:

DM:

I agree, LAS is a great airport and the management staff (for the most part) is above-average. I just wish they would address some small, yet meaningful, issues that would make the typical work day much more bearable. All I hear from co-workers are rants/raves ;) about the "little" things... Unfortunately, things begin to snowball, leading to attrition and mandatory increase in hours worked. I wish I could talk to management. But then again, I must follow chain-of-command and oftentimes my supervisors are busy with enough stuff of their own. We have a screener-representative mechanism in place for us to addess our concerns. Though I'm not sure how effective that is yet. :o

You're in the Vegas area, so I'm sure you've seen our setup here. All I can do for now is hope that things will improve. After all, I would hate to quit this job. :(

[dmclark]

Make SURE that your Screener Council knows those "little things" that are bugging the workforce. That's the purpose of the Council, to resolve those little things before they become big issues.

Hang in there...TSA is still a work in progress and the new Administrator will be a breath of fresh air. DM

[3N16MAT1K]

DM:

If it were only that easy. For one, our particular checkpoint (I believe) does not have a representative, and our LTSS and STSSs don't know either. I assume it is because we recently had a shift change and people were moved around the entire airport. Secondly, many of the representatives tend to address issues pertinent to their own needs, as opposed to the needs of the checkpoint/baggage node they represent. Lastly, the number of representatives and the frequency that they meet seems a bit low to address issues. When the minutes from the meeting are finally released and available, other issues or addendums to prior issues are raised.

I guess we ended up chasing our tail on this one.

At any rate, I'm still doing what I can to contact our representative. If only there were a way to apply to become one of these representatives.

Thanks for the tip.

[dmclark]

Those Council slots are elected by the node/checkpoint. You should have a say and if you don't, get a concern form up the chain ASAP. DM

[mscottm]

Never heard of a "Screener Council", been with TSA for all most two years now. Is that done at just certain airports ???

[dmclark]

PM me and we'll discuss. DM

[3N16MAT1K]

MScott:

Not sure if it is only done at select airports. As for here in LAS, we have about 4 major checkpoints and various baggage "nodes." Each checkpoint (and node) for every shift, has at least one representative. These representatives meet with our FSD (and possibly others in management) to discuss any concerns, questions, and comments. In turn, the FSD does his best to address each issue as quickly as possible.

From the minutes that I have read, our FSD seems to be on top of everything. Unfortunately, red tape and other things tend to slow things down. But I gotta admit, with the number of issues and concerns (that I hear) that are brought to our FSD, it wouldn't surprise me if he had a breakdown! Although I 've never met him or seen him personally, I've heard and seen that he is doing his best and improvements are coming.

[mscottm]

Maybe it’s because I’m at such a small airport. Our FSD knows every screener by first name. I would guess you’d need much different avenues of communication when you talking about 60 screeners in comparison to 600 or more.

[3N16MAT1K]

MScott:

Last I heard, we had around 900+/- screeners. Apparently, that is not enough, and as a result, everyone has been put on mandatory overtime. Here each screener must work at least 8 extra hours (or one of their RDOs) every PP.

[dmclark]

That mandatory OT per pay period is happening all over the country at larger airports. It will continue until HQ releases hiring for additional slots, probably at the start of the new fiscal year. DM

[3N16MAT1K]

DM:

I, for one, enjoy the extra opportunity to work. More chances to refine the skills, and one can't be humble about the bigger checks :)

[furie]

LGA's in a hiring mode right now, so that shoots down th freeze rumor, as DM said.

[dmclark]

As far as those waiting, I can tell you that TSA HQ is releasing about 250 slots per week for hiring. It will remain that way until the new fiscal year.

The bigger airports will be hiring the soonest as they continue to have the greatest needs with expansion of lanes, new terminals, etc. DM