Orlando Sanford International Airport trying to boot TSA in favor of private security company

[Baitball Blogger]

Note: This County is so ethically challenged, that it's a mistake to allow them to take over anything of this magnitude. IMHO.

The federal government Monday gave Orlando Sanford International Airport permission to seek bids from private security companies that would screen passengers before they boarded a flight.

Relying on a new aviation law, managers of the small airport west of Sanford have been pushing since February to start the process that could result in the federal Transportation Security Administration being replaced with a private force.

Months likely will pass before a final decision is made, but airport president Larry Dale said he is confident he can find a company that will provide the same services as – if not better than – TSA and at a cheaper price.

The key to going private, TSA spokeswoman Sari Koshetz said in an email, is to "not compromise security or detrimentally affect the cost-efficiency or the effectiveness of the screening of passengers or property at the airport."

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-12/business/os-sanford-tsa-private-20120611_1_tsa-spokeswoman-sari-koshetz-private-security-airports

[russspeakeasy]

1. In this once "good" state, everything and

I mean everything is for sale.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. This county is run by plutocracies.

Expect people to get preferential treatment.

I read who was pushing for this and the one thing that popped up in my mind was: Boar's Nest Hunt Club.

[HockeyMom]

2. $9/hour private security

and all part timers with no benefits, or experience, or degrees. My daughter was going to apply at one airport, until she heard about the low pay, part time with no benefits, and low requirements. Guess who will be their employees?

[russspeakeasy]

5. The employees will be those that couldn't

get on at the private prisons.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. Let's just hope they don't hire this guy for the job:

[russspeakeasy]

6. He would be hired on a management/training level.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. Or worse....he'll annoint himself a "self-proclaimed TSA agent," fully armed.

[Mr Dixon]

7. SMH

Now we see why they were bad mouthing the TSA folks, this was the plan all along, Airport Security will now be just like Wal-Mart employees, 39.8 hours a week to avoid paying medical, miss one day your fired, welcome to indentured servitude people.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. I suspect there's more than that involved.

This county has been promoting international trade with various countries. Ireland, Scotland and Spain to name a few. It also has a very strong Scottish presence that live here, as witnessed by the annual Scottish Highlander games. I don't think it was just an accident one of our representatives came under Federal scrutiny over a trip to an exclusive golfcourse in Scotland (along with much more prominent Congressmen). There is a strong core here that wants to put government regulation aside to promote business interest. But when you base your decisions on social relationships instead of regulatory research and procedure, it's not unheard of that you find government involved in fraud and conspiracy.

I'm just say'n. (Translation, that's my opinion.)

So, I would shudder in my shoes wondering how they would apply this loosey goosey philosophy to something as serious as passenger inspections.

[M0rpheus]

10. This would be going back to what it was like before the TSA.

Airport security used to be contracted out prior to the TSA. I used to work for one of those contractors way back when.
Pay was low and benefits were few, unless you were management.

It ends up being, same as it ever was.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. I think it's more about Sanford local good ole boys wanting to take control

of an entry point in the U.S.

[M0rpheus]

12. Fair point...

As the contracted company would be beholden to them for the business, among other things.

I'm just noting that with the current state of affairs, the TSA is a (small) step up from what an airport security job used to be.

Going back to the way things used to be will be costly for the workers involved. Those TSA workers who don't have another option will end up going with the new company, despite the lower pay and benefits.

More of the same.

[guardian]

13. Probably a good move -- TSA sucks!

San Francisco airport and other airports have had private screening (i.e., not TSA) for years. SFO security is better than TSA, faster with shorter lines, and treat passengers more decently than other airports. As usual, San Francisco is leading the country with the right way to do things.

The TSA treats people like prisoners, wastes taxpayer money and generally do a bad job. They'd rather squeeze some senior citizen's colostomy bag or search for the every deadly eye lash curlers in someone's toiletry bag.