"Lawmakers seek investigation of alleged TSA labor abuses"

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

Lawmakers seek investigation of alleged TSA labor abuses 
By Chris Strohm
govexec.com 


Twelve Democratic lawmakers from Massachusetts are calling for an
investigation into alleged labor abuses by Transportation Security
Administration managers at Logan International Airport in Boston. 

The Massachusetts delegation has asked the Homeland Security Department's
inspector general to look into claims of abuse from more than 200 TSA
screeners at the airport. 

"[The screeners] allege, with great specificity, a number of unfair labor
practices, including discrimination, favoritism, conflicts of interest,
inconsistencies in discipline and other incidents not conducive to good
morale or performance," the lawmakers wrote in a Sept. 9 letter to the DHS
inspector general. "In addition, they cite a turnover rate at Logan that is
significantly higher than the national average." 

The alleged abuses "could have a serious adverse effect on job performance
and the safety of passengers, employees and others at Logan International
Airport," the lawmakers added. 

Another group of screeners--the Metropolitan Airport Workers Association,
based in New York City--has also asked for an investigation into problems
screeners have been experiencing in receiving workers' compensation for
injuries. The association sent an Oct. 2 letter to TSA Director Edmund "Kip"
Hawley and DHS Inspector General Richard Skinner requesting an
investigation. 

Skinner's office was unable to confirm by press time whether it will conduct
an investigation into alleged abuses at Logan. The office said it had not
received any letter from the Metropolitan Airport Workers Association. 

TSA said in a brief statement in response to the complaints that it "is
committed to fostering a safe, professional workplace where all employees
are treated respectfully." 

The agency has a number of programs aimed at helping employees who feel
"these high standards are not being met," the statement continued. They
include the Integrated Conflict Management System, focus group sessions and
town hall meetings that give workers the opportunity to air their
grievances. 

"TSA will continue to listen to the concerns of its workforce and take
appropriate action when necessary," the agency stated. 

TSA spokesman Darrin Kayser said the attrition rate for screeners at Logan
is about 22 percent, down from 25 percent to 28 percent several months ago.
The average annual attrition rate for screeners nationwide is 25 percent, he
said.

The agency realizes that screener injury rates have been too high, Kayser
added, and lowering those rates is one of Hawley's top priorities. 

According to USA Today, TSA awarded Managed Care Advisors of Maryland and
Innovations Group of Arizona a $17 million contract to review the medical
records of injured airport baggage screeners and recommend ways to help them
return to work. 

TSA employees had an injury rate last year four times higher than that of
construction workers and seven times higher than that of miners, resulting
in nearly a quarter-million lost workdays, the paper reported. Kayser
confirmed those statistics. 

Screeners at Logan airport sent a letter to the Massachusetts lawmakers
detailing their complaints, said Allison Mills, press secretary for Rep.
Michael Capuano, D-Mass. 

Bill Lyons, a national organizer with the American Federation of Government
Employees, said Logan airport ranks among the top five airports for labor
complaints the union has received from screeners. "They need to do an
investigation there...as fast and quick as possible," Lyons said. 

Lyons and Mills both declined to give specific examples of abuses, saying
screeners requested confidentiality out of fear of retribution from
management. 

Lyons noted that screeners at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in
Washington state and Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania have
filed similar complaints. 

More than 200 TSA employees at Seattle-Tacoma last year called for an
investigation into alleged mismanagement, which they said had led to high
turnover and weakened security. TSA eventually removed four managers,
including the federal security director, from their positions at the
airport. 

The federal security director at Pittsburgh International Airport and two of
his top aides resigned in May after they were hit with allegations of fraud,
intimidation and sexual harassment.

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