[ad_1]
The email from Martin Elam, deputy director of federal security responsible for five California airports, addressed to all TSA personnel at the Palm Springs International Airport, reveals for the first time that the government has proceeded to a partial closure, which now extends into a third week. – has an impact on the safety of aviation in at least one airport.
Among security warnings emanating from TSA's main pilot, flight attendant and agent unions.
The TSA asserted that "the effectiveness of safety will not be compromised and the performance standards will not change".
calls to Palm Springs have reached such a point that security operations may be affected and employees sanctioned for missed shifts – an additional constraint for people who are already without pay.
More than 2 million passengers passed through the airport last year, according to the website. the city of Palm Springs. In comparison, the Los Angeles International Airport handled more than 80 million passengers.
"The Palm Springs Airport is a small airport that requires full team work," said Jim Gregory, deputy assistant administrator of the TSA, in a statement.
"The assistant FSD mentioned in the CNN e-mail simply said that all screening workers must report for work during the current expiry of the credits, as required by the federal rules. filtering in Palm Springs and did not see any negative impact on operations. "
CNN announced for the first time that hundreds of TSA agents had shut down their operations at four major US airports.
The TSA stated that safety concerns were unfounded and control times were not changed. The agency spokesman, Michael Bilello, said Monday that 4.6% of TSA employees had missed a quarter on Monday, compared with 3.8% the same day in 2018. The agency Has not published any data dating from the beginning of the December 21 closing. [19659002] January is generally a slower month for air travel, but the agency warned that wait times could increase. He provided data on Tuesday indicating that almost all travelers in the country wait less than 30 minutes to be checked.
In the email, Elam, the deputy federal director of security overseeing Palm Springs, LAX and three other airports in the Los Angeles area, acknowledged the problems of security personnel and warned of "disciplinary action" taken at the airport of Palm Springs.
"Management is grateful and sensitive to the burden that the current government closure is placing on each of you," Elam wrote. "You are an essential employee and you must report to work to perform essential tasks."
"Due to the recent unforeseen absences recorded at PSP (Palm Springs International Airport) that affected security operations, if you have an unplanned absence, you will NOT be placed in an intermittent stay status. "added Elam. "Your absentee absentee absence will be coded by pay as Absence Absentee (AWOL) .At the conclusion of the Government Closure, an employee's AWOL status could result in progressive disciplinary action."
Elam sent questions back to the TSA press office.
Union officials warned TSA workers in a difficult situation because they do not receive pay checks to cover the costs of their work, such as commuting and childcare. Some are looking for a temporary job – with more reliable pay dates – to make ends meet, union officials said.
Hydrick Thomas, President of the National Union of TSA Employees, told CNN Friday that the calls "will definitely affect the flying public".
The consequences could be aggravated by the duration of the closure, said union officials. Those working at the security checkpoint may be demoralized by lack of pay, or exhausted and less skilled by extra shifts, according to union officials also employed by the TSA. With insufficient staff, managers can open fewer safety lanes, which lengthens and slows the lines. New recruits can not be hired or trained without funding.
"The loss of officers, although we are already in short supply, will create a huge risk to the safety of US travelers because we do not have enough trainees in training or the ability to deal with new recruits, "Thomas said in a statement. Monday.
It was not clear whether the email from Palm Springs had been stimulated by the discussion of this meeting or whether it was separate.
Thomas Nolan, executive director of Palm Springs Airport, states that he "did not notice any malfunction in the operation of the airport", but added that 39, he "would have no visibility on the problems of TSA personnel".
Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat who chairs the Homeland Security Committee, asked the TSA for additional information on the bans and whether it had an "emergency plan to deal with mass appeals or resignations ".
The Office of Personnel Management guidelines specify that employees required to work during a closure are considered absent without authorization if they do not show up, and the classification may subject an employee to disciplinary action. unspecified.
Source link
