Hundreds of airport screeners being recruited

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

•	To apply for the job For more information, go online at tsa.gov and click on employment, or tsacareers.recruitsoft.com Information can also be obtained by phone from national TSA recruitment services at (800) 887-1895.

The positions, the equivalent of about 80 full-time positions, will be used to help meet security needs during peak hours at Honolulu International Airport, said federal security director Sidney Hayakawa.

When it started operating in 2002, the agency filled more than 600 full-time positions. Because of budget cutbacks, attrition and shifting needs, the TSA is now operating with the equivalent of 530 full-time workers, Hayakawa said.

"It seems like a lot, but because of the unusual schedule and other things, we've had to make a lot of changes," he said.

The biggest need is for more part-time workers to handle Honolulu's unusual flight schedules, which often have several planes arriving or leaving about the same time in the early morning or evening.

"We've been covering it with lots of overtime during the peak hours, but it's eating up the budget," Hayakawa said. "We decided to follow the lead of the air carriers, which use a lot of part-time employees, instead."

The part-time jobs pay between $11.30 and $16.96 per hour, depending on experience and hours. Part-time screeners are eligible for federal benefits including heath and life insurance, retirement, vacation and sick leave. They are required to work 16 to 32 hours in every two-week period, Hayakawa said.

Two TSA job fairs in Honolulu last month drew scores of applicants, who are now going through an initial assessment to see if they qualify, he said. Those who meet the basic requirements will be screened by an independent contractor who is doing the hiring.

"Up to now, we've been seeing about five to 20 new screeners coming on board every week, but we still need more," Hayakawa said.

He said the shortage of workers has not created unusually long lines or security problems in Honolulu. In other places, however, federal security directors have said the process "hindered the ability of some to adequately staff passenger and baggage screening check points," said Cathleen Berrick, homeland security and justice director at the federal General Accounting Office.

A new checkpoint at Honolulu's international terminal should help reduce some backlogs during peak hours, Hayakawa said.

Minimum requirements for the part-time positions include being a U.S. citizen or national; a high school diploma, GED equivalent or one year of security or aviation screening experience; English proficiency; and the ability to pass a background check.

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.