Screeners Say Agency Discriminates, Targets Complainers

We know this isn't a popular position... but for a moment, put yourself in the shoes of an airport screener.

You don't make a lot of money, and have watched as management promotes others over you for reasons you suspect have more to do with nepotism than any actual qualifications. Oh, and each working day you're faced with a general public that resents your existence, questions your effectiveness, and may even be trying to smuggle dangerous devices past you.

With that in mind, it should surprise no one that morale among Transportation Security Administration screeners is at an all-time low. But don't take our word for it -- that's the finding of a controversial 29-page report released this week by Homeland Security Department Inspector General Richard Skinner.

USA Today reports Skinner interviewed screeners at eight airports across the nation, who had previously filed complaints against the agency. Among his findings -- a full 50 percent of those interviewed are unhappy with their working environment. Some accused TSA of nepotism and discrimination, while others said overall workforce malaise contributes to high turnover rates, and a spate of injuries at checkpoints.

They also fear retribution if they take their concerns to senior officials... even the agency's ombudsmans, who are supposed to be impartial third-party arbitrators.

Those findings aren't really anything new; other studies have indicated the same thing. But Skinner's report is the first to link disgruntled screeners to a possible drop in security.

"Given their frustration, employees may be distracted and less focused on their security and screening responsibilities," the report states. Skinner also accuses TSA of "not successfully addressing ... longstanding workplace issues."

The report's findings riled TSA Chief Kip Hawley, who says Skinner focused only on disgruntled screeners... and not those who are generally content with their jobs. "This results in flawed conclusions," Hawley pointedly said.

Boston screener AJ Castilla, spokesman for a screener's union, said conflicts between screeners and their managers have had a negative impact on effectiveness. "With low morale, you can definitely lose your focus," Castilla said.

That doesn't jibe with the official TSA position, however, espoused by deputy administrator Gale Rossides. She claims morale is "very good" and screeners "are very much turned on" and focused on security.

"We have areas to improve upon, but we also have made great strides," she added.

A DHS survey released earlier this year paints a somewhat different picture, though. In that survey, 94 percent of screeners said their work was important... but only 20 percent said promotions are based on merit, not connections.

Hawley is also battling his own past statements. Two years ago, he infamously characterized screening as "a dead-end job."

FMI: www.dhs.gov, www.tsa.gov