(July 29) -- The next step in tightening security at this nation's airports is to hire and train baggage screeners as federal employees. All the security screeners currently working at McCarran International Airport and at the nation's other commercial airports need to be replaced by screeners hired by the federal government. The deadline to do this is Nov. 19.
We've grown used to the security checks at airports. Sometimes bags are searched; sometimes they're not. It's the same when it comes to passengers being patted down.
"I've been traveling for the last year, and I've noticed the checks aren't that great here. They let a lot of people go right through," said passenger Kelly Payne.
The federal government wants consistency, so it's hiring its own airport security screeners. At McCarran, 845 federal screeners will be hired to replace the current screeners. So far, more than 4,000 people have applied for the job.
To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen; be able to speak and understand English; and have a high school diploma or one year of security or aviation screener experience. The starting salary runs from around $23,000 a year to $35,000 plus benefits.
Some passengers have mixed feelings over those qualifications and the salary.
"I would pay my employees on the high end, because I know from experience you get what you pay for," said passenger Bob Jones.
"It would work if they really scrutinize the applications and if the base salary started at 40," said passenger Lorraine Canny.
"Education is important. I think we feel with people who are educated than those that aren't," said Geoff Keddy, another traveler.
But even with stricter standards, some passengers say there is no guarantee that federal employees will do better than private companies, they wonder if weapons might still slip through. The Transportation Security Administration insists it is receiving qualified candidates, and standards will be high.
"They will get five times the level of training that screeners in the past have received, which includes 40 hours of classroom training and 60 hours of on-the-job training," said Heather Rosenker, a spokesperson for TSA.
So far, no federal airport security screeners have been hired at McCarran. But federal officials say they're confident they will have screeners in place by the Nov. 19 deadline.
To apply for a job, call toll-free: 1-877-631-JOBS (5627) or apply on-line at www.tsa.gov
For further information call the customer assistance toll-free line at 1-888-328-6172, or TTY: 1-877-343-9287.
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