Translations and comments: 1. "The rightsizing effort..." We estimated way too high. Hey, what do you expect when you just blurt out the first number you think of? 2. "Going forward..." This is an overused phrase that doesn't mean diddly squat 3. "A representative sampling of airports by TSA found average passenger wait times " It's amazing how short the lines are between 0300 and 0600 on Sunday mornings 4. "Whenever possible, normal attrition, including resignations and retirements..." Retiremens? From an agency that less than 2 years old? 5. "Beyond that, the actual reductions in force are based on job performance" For each old lady you let by without stopping, you get a demerit. If you let too many old ladies go by, your fired. Same thing if you let children get by without stopping them. You will also get demerits for each you stop that looks like a 9/11 terrorist. 6. "Staffing levels for individual airports were based on an initial assessment of how many full- and part-time screeners were needed " see number 1 David R > No Impact on Security, Passenger Wait Times as TSA Reduces Screener Jobs by > 3,000 > U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY > Transportation Security Administration > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 30, 2003 > TSA Contact: (571) 227-2829 > > > Security continues at the same high level and passenger wait times remain > low even as the Transportation Security Administration implements its plan > for rightsizing the screener work force publicly announced by TSA > Administrator Adm. James M. Loy on April 30. The rightsizing effort, which > started in March, has reduced 3,000 positions from the TSA rolls, reaching > the half-way mark in the effort to trim 6,000 positions by Sept. 30. The > plan, driven in part by budget constraints, called for eliminating 3,000 > positions by May 31 and another 3,000 by Sept. 30. > > "By ensuring that security checkpoints are fully staffed during peak times > we have been able to make staffing adjustments that largely have gone > unnoticed by travelers," Admiral Loy said. "Going forward, greater use of > part-time screeners will be important in providing the efficient and > effective service that air travelers have come to expect, as evidenced by > smooth screening operations over the busy Memorial Day holiday." > > A representative sampling of airports by TSA found average passenger wait > times in April and May remained well below the goal of 10 minutes, at the > same time cuts were being made. Reduction of the screener work force began > April 1. Also, the number of prohibited items intercepted by TSA screeners > totaled nearly 460,000 in April, the fourth-highest month since TSA assumed > responsibility for airport security in February 2002. "We are staying > sharply focused on security as we make these changes," Admiral Loy said. > "When we are done, the public will have a leaner, more effective screener > work force, comprised of the best people for the jobs." > > Whenever possible, normal attrition, including resignations and > retirements, is being used for rightsizing at individual airports. > Employees may be terminated for cause, including criminal background, > failure to pass drug and alcohol tests, and falsification of employment > documents. Beyond that, the actual reductions in force are based on job > performance. Qualified screeners at airports with too large a work force > may seek transfers to airports needing screeners. A partial relocation > stipend is available for screeners who transfer to certain airports. > Screeners also have the opportunity to transfer from working full-time to > working part-time, and TSA will soon start making such transfers. > > Staffing levels for individual airports were based on an initial assessment > of how many full- and part-time screeners were needed. Those assessments > are being adjusted as the assessment model is refined and as federal > security directors at the airports justify changes in assigned staffing > levels. That process is expected to continue through the summer as TSA > determines how best to deploy screener resources. As a result, airports > that have reached preferred levels remain subject to changes in full- or > part-time staffing. > > > *************************************************** > The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com > Roj (Roger James) > > escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx > Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com > Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ > Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ > Mas Site: www.tntisland.com/tntrecords/mas2003/ > Site of the Week: http://www.natalielaughlin.com/ > TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt > *********************************************************