Atlantic City Airport Looking to Hire More Screeners

Atlantic City Airport Looking to Hire More Screeners
Newsday, NY
 
March 3, 2004, 5:34 AM EST


EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Federal officials say a
shortage of baggage screeners at Atlantic City
International Airport has not compromised safety
there, but they admit morale has suffered some as
staffers scramble to cover shifts at a time when
passenger traffic continues to grow rapidly. 

Officials have juggled workers' schedules and imposed
mandatory overtime shifts to help fill the staffing
gaps until more employees are hired. Vincent
Amoresano, the airport's federal security director,
said the overtime has not been excessive, but the
extra work has caused some griping among workers. 

"We do have a (staffing) shortage, but the shortage is
not critical," Amoresano told The Press of Atlantic
City. "I think morale could be better, but it's not an
option for them to work overtime if there is a need
for them to work ... it's part of the job." 

The airport now has 49 screeners, and about 13 more
are needed to bring the staff to full strength. In the
meantime, the Transportation Security Administration,
which oversees screeners at the nation's airports, has
tried to recruit part-time workers to help fill the
gaps. 

Eventually, the agency hopes to boost the airport's
work force to 75 screeners, using a combination of
full- and part-time employees. However, no timetable
has been set for reaching that goal. 

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