"Pittsburgh screeners on TSA radar"

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Local screeners on TSA radar
By Jim Ritchie
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review


Local airport officials say the U.S. Transportation Security Administration
wants to cut Pittsburgh International Airport's staff of 348 security
screeners even though the number of local passengers is soaring. 

Kent George, executive director of the Allegheny County Airport Authority,
said TSA officials conducted an on-site inspection of Pittsburgh
International last week to review staffing needs. George said federal
officials told him that Pittsburgh International would lose screeners. 

"I have not been told their results, but the indication is there will
probably be a reduction here at Pittsburgh," George said. "Once we find out
what the facts are, we will then address them." 

The union representing about 800 TSA employees nationwide said employees at
Pittsburgh International have been warned that as many as 100 jobs will be
cut at Pittsburgh, according to Peter Winch, spokesman for the American
Federation of Government Employees. 

The TSA has operated the security checkpoint at Pittsburgh International and
most other U.S. commercial airports since shortly after 9/11. Most times, a
passenger waits no longer than 10 minutes to pass through the checkpoint
before boarding a plane. 

George and local TSA officials fear a reduction in screeners would lengthen
the wait for passengers. 

Jeanne Cooper, an international humanitarian from Friendship, travels
frequently and uses Pittsburgh International. She says it's among the nicest
airports she's encountered. 

"I've never experienced a significant wait compared to other airports," she
said. "Getting through the actual security clearance is a very efficient and
quick procedure. But if they're going to cut by up to a third -- wow -- then
it really could be a problem." 

Congress set a cap of no more than 45,000 TSA employees nationwide. The
agency reviews staff annually to stay within the cap and reviewed Pittsburgh
International's checkpoint a week ago to analyze the airport's staffing
needs. 

The TSA took over screening operations at Pittsburgh in summer 2002 and once
employed as many as 635 screeners. In 2003, the TSA made significant cuts
nationally in its work force, dropping the number of screeners in Pittsburgh
to its current level. 

Ann Davis, a TSA spokesman, wouldn't say whether Pittsburgh International
would lose or gain screeners in the latest review. 

"I don't think any decisions have been made," she said. 

If cuts are ordered, the agency would not lay off employees, she said.
Rather, the TSA would not refill positions as employees retire or resign.
Some airports could gain staff. 

Local TSA and airport officials say a cut would come at the wrong time,
especially with the number of local "origination and destination" travelers
on the rise. Those passengers, referred to as O&D traffic, fly to or from
Pittsburgh, as opposed to travelers who connect flights in Pittsburgh. 

The number of local passengers reached an all-time high in 2004 -- 3.8
million -- and is expected to be higher this year because of the addition of
discount airlines, such as Southwest Airlines. Local passengers accounted
for 3.4 million fliers in 2002. 

Southwest began flying to Chicago, Philadelphia, Orlando and Las Vegas
earlier this month. Hooters Air started flights in February to Myrtle Beach,
S.C. 

"With our O&D growing, I am not happy there would be a reduction" at the
checkpoint, George said. 

Authority and local TSA officials even have proposed building a second
checkpoint in the airport's vacant "E" Commuter Terminal that passengers
would access directly from the third-floor ticketing area. TSA's director in
Pittsburgh, Bob Blose, said during a recent news conference it is crucial to
not lose screeners because of projections for increased local passengers and
the proposed opening of a second checkpoint. 

Pittsburgh's connecting traffic has plummeted because of US Airways'
financial problems and the closing of its hub at Pittsburgh International.
The airport's connecting traffic has dropped 48 percent since 2002, from 5.5
million in 2002 to 2.9 million in 2004.


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