"Sea-Tac screeners frustrated with shorted paychecks"

Saturday, June 29, 2002

Airport screeners frustrated with shorted paychecks
The Bellevue (WA) Eastside Journal


SEATAC -- Some security screeners at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
are unhappy after being shorted on their paychecks, but they're hanging on
in hope of securing federal jobs with better pay and benefits.

Officials for Huntleigh USA Corp. say they issued 120 extra paychecks
earlier this week and are working to resolve the problem, which some
employees say has been occurring since March.

Huntleigh, which employs 500 screeners to staff security checkpoints at the
airport, says a computerized, automatic time clock failed to report all
data.

Robert Houser of Gig Harbor said he and other frustrated screeners called in
sick or walked off their jobs last weekend.

A Huntleigh manager said ``a few'' screeners walked off the job.

Houser said his check for about two weeks of work was nearly $400 short.

``A lot of people are unhappy, but we're hanging on,'' he said.

The manager said Huntleigh contracts with the federal government, providing
about 10,000 screeners at airports nationwide.

After Sept. 11, Congress created the federal Transportation Security
Administration, which will take over screening of passenger luggage at
airports by the end of the year.

The TSA anticipates hiring from the ranks of Huntleigh and other companies
and will pay higher wages -- $23,600 to $35,400 annually, depending on
experience. The TSA also will offer a benefits package including sick leave,
paid vacation, and health insurance.

Huntleigh offers no benefits, screeners said.

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