Transportation agency steps up campaign to recruit baggage screeners
In a major acceleration of its hiring campaign, the Transportation Security Administration has started recruiting federal baggage screeners at 30 airports across the country, agency officials announced Friday.
The hiring drive will place federal screeners at some of the nation's busiest airports, including Chicago's O'Hare International and Hartsfield International in Atlanta. Applicants who want to work as screeners on a full-time or part-time basis may apply online at TSA's website or by calling 877-631-JOBS. Applicants who make it past the initial round will be directed to an assessment center, where officials with the testing firm NCS Pearson Inc. will evaluate their language and motor skills.
Under the 2001 Aviation and Transportation Security Act, the TSA has until Nov. 19 to hire and train federal screeners at the nation's 429 airports. As of June 1, it had hired 1,248 screeners, Transportation Inspector General Kenneth Mead testified at a Thursday hearing of the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. In order to meet its deadline, TSA needs to hire 7,000 to 8,000 screeners every month from July through the end of October.
Screeners can earn from $23,600 to $35,400 a year and get locality pay adjustments. They also receive standard federal benefits, including membership in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan and the Federal Employee Retirement System. Screeners have limited whistleblower rights under an agreement between TSA and the Office of Special Counsel, the agency that investigates violations of the 1989 Whistleblower Protection Act. TSA has not decided if screeners will be allowed to join federal unions.
TSA is now taking screener applications at the following airports:
Athens/Ben Epps Airport, Athens, Ga.
Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport
Baltimore-Washington International Airport
Hanscom Field, Bedford, Mass.
Logan International Airport, Boston
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, N.C.
Chicago Midway Airport
O'Hare International Airport, Chicago
Westover Metropolitan Airport, Chicopee, Mass.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International
Port Columbus International, Columbus, Ohio
Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Bradley International Airport, Hartford, Conn.
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Muskego County Airport, Muskegon, Mich.
Newark International Airport, Newark, N.J.
Groton-New London Airport, New London, Conn.
Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, Newport News, Va.
John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
LaGuardia Airport, New York
Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, Va.
Orlando International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Raleigh, N.C.
Spokane International Airport, Spokane, Wash.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, St. Paul, Minn.
Tampa International Airport, Tampa, Fla.
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, Mass.