TSA staff shortages cause long checkpoint lines as air travel rebounds
Washington DC June 28 2021
As the volume of air travel approaches pre-pandemic levels, airport passengers across the country are facing long lines at security checkpoints due to the staff shortages that plague the Transportation Security Administration.
The TSA’s deputy director warned that 131 of the country’s largest airports were understaffed, according to an internal memo sent to employees.
According to The Washington Post, Darby LaJoye, TSA’s deputy administrator, also asked office workers to volunteer at airport checkpoints for up to 45 days to fill the gap, Post reports.
If your air travel continues to rise in altitude, you will be warned. TSA report We screened more than 2 million travelers on June 11, recording the highest number since March 2020, reaching 74% of the same day’s travel two years ago.
At the same time, when the TSA dismissed part of its workforce and was forced to save even more time in the dramatic decline in tourists, it backfilled many of the positions lost during the pandemic.
The problem is that Security screeners have the highest turnover rate of any civil servant.
As a result of low wages and lack of workplace rights, according to the American Federation of Civil Service (AFGE), a union representing TSA employees. Starting annually for TSA screeners ranges from $ 35,000 to $ 39,000, with a maximum of $ 43,000.
AFGE has long advocated better wages, more interests and collective bargaining rights for its members.The union did not respond to NBC’s request for comment, but an AFGE spokesman said Told the Associated Press In an interview earlier this month, he said: We are not looking for something different. ”
The Biden administration announced on June 3 that it would raise wages and union rights for examiners nationwide.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas Said when announcing the plan Government agencies provide “fair compensation” to improve retention rates. They are granted new access to grievance proceedings, but collective bargaining rights only “exactly reflect” what is provided to other federal officials under the law.
“TSA employees are excellent civil servants who work at the forefront, including the entire pandemic, to keep the American people safe while traveling,” Mallorcus said in a press release. “They deserve a reward structure that is empowered to bargain collectively and recognizes and rewards our contributions to safety and security.”
Meanwhile, as vaccination levels rise, the state is reopening.
Recently, pandemic-related restrictions have been lifted in numerous states as they have reached 70% immunization rates. The country is unlikely to reach that threshold by July 4, but the White House is using Independence Day to informally launch a new phase of pandemic response. Vaccination also increases consumer confidence in air travel, and vaccinated people feel safer about causing waves back in the sky. “Vaxication” reservation.
TSA spokeswoman Sarah Rodriguez told NBC in an email statement that the agency was “in the right place” for the increase in summer travel.
“As it was a few years ago, agencies have begun collaborative recruitment activities this winter in anticipation of volume growth, keeping pace with established benchmarks to reach their recruitment goals,” Rodriguez said. I told NBC.
March, TSA Announcement Efforts to recruit 6,000 security guards nationwide. Also, according to TSA, we’ve taken some steps in the last few weeks to increase recruitment ahead of our annual spring summer trip. According to Rodriguez, these initiatives include providing new employees with a $ 1,000 “recruitment incentive,” shifting part-time employees to full-time positions, and increasing overtime.
According to Rodriguez, TSA has hired more than 3,000 new executives in recent months. However, according to the Washington Post, about 2,090 workers have left since the beginning of the year.
The Transportation Security Administration said travelers must wear face masks at airports, buses, trains and commercial flights until September 13.
Meanwhile, TSA Recommended Travelers should arrive at the airport early and “please allow sufficient time to check baggage, complete security screening and arrive at the departure gate.”
Fewer police officers mean slower checkpoints, and travelers use social media to escape long wait times.
Raj Manoharan, who travels weekly for work throughout the pandemic, said the NBC line has grown much longer these days as more Americans are traveling again.
According to Manohara, waiting times depend on the size of the facility as they fly out of large and small airports in the United States, and programs such as TSAPreCheck are facilitating the process. He attributed some of the problems to staff shortages, but the self-proclaimed “Frequent Flyer” pointed out the complex problem of a flyer that forgot the protocol. Manohara said more reminders from TSA would help move the line.
“I feel an agent because they also feel overwhelmed, but I think TSA needs to remind everyone, whatever the rules,” Manohara said. “It should be of great help. Now there is a shortage of staff, it is out of the control of the passengers. But if people play their individual roles, their flight experience can reduce stress. ”
