UAW Backs Federalizing Airport Security Screeners

Story by Sam Stark

Should airport security be left in the hands of private business or turned over to the federal government?

Appalled by the poor record of the private companies that today manage airport security, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to make all 28,000 airport baggage and passenger screeners federal employees.

But House Republican leaders put their narrow anti-government, anti-union political agenda ahead of public safety when they won a narrow 218-214 vote to keep private companies at the center of airport check-in security.

The UAW strongly believes baggage screeners must be federalized in order to ensure adequate security.

First, this is the only way to make sure uniform security procedures and standards are applied at all airports.

Second, this will help to provide adequate pay and benefits to baggage screeners, making it possible to attract and retain qualified workers for this key security position. On Sept. 11, when terrorist suicide squads hijacked four commercial airplanes at three different airports, baggage screeners hired by private contractors were receiving starting wages of $6 per hour or less at 14 of the nation’s 18 largest airports.

While the Federal Aviation Administration is responsible for setting guidelines, airline companies ultimately have responsibility for airport security. Screener jobs are given to the lowest bidder among private security firms.

Five times between 1988 and 2001, the General Accounting Office, Congress’ investigative arm, warned of large gaps in airport security. The GAO focused in on low wages, inadequate training and rapid turnover of screening personnel.

Conservatives argue against federalizing airport security, calling it a big government solution. They say making baggage screeners federal employees will create another unresponsive government bureaucracy.

Paul Light, director of Government Studies at the Brookings Institution, counters by saying, “Given a choice between the two work forces (private or public), federal employees should get the job. No matter how stringent the oversight, airport security is too important to consign to the lowest bidder. That is how the security function fell into disrepair in the first place.”