In an effort to reduce turnover and strengthen airport security, the federal Transportation Security Administration plans to give passenger and baggage screeners more opportunities to move up the career ladder.
Since its inception in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the TSA, which employs 43,000 screeners nationwide and about 260 at Pittsburgh International Airport, has seen as many as one in five screeners leave their jobs because advancement opportunities were limited, agency spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said. For every screener who leaves, the agency has to spend an estimated $12,000 to recruit and train a new one, Kudwa said. Starting in August, one out of five screeners will be eligible for promotions.
"This is a retention incentive program that will also improve security" because it will encourage experienced screeners to stay on the job, Kudwa said.
Under a new policy unveiled by the TSA last week, screeners with no black marks on their work records will be promoted once they have two years of service under their belts.
Entry-level screeners currently earn between $23,600 and $35,400 a year, but with the promotion, they will be able to make up to $40,700. Also under the policy, starting in January, screeners with at least two years' experience will be able to compete for an expanded number of specialized positions that pay up to $56,400.
By the end of 2008, the TSA will train 500 new "behavior detection officers" to scout out high-risk people in airports and 300 new "bomb appraisal officers" to deal with explosives and bomb threats.
Kudwa would not say how many behavior detection officers the TSA currently has, citing security reasons, but said the agency has only 40 bomb appraisal officers, two of whom are based in Pittsburgh.
Copyright: The Beaver County Times -- 7/26/06
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