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American Morning

Now that the Airport Security Bill is Law, Where Does a Person Apply For One of the Positions?

Aired November 29, 2001 - 07:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Rob from Wytheville, Virginia asks: Now that the Airport Security Bill is law, where does a person apply for one of the positions?

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Information on becoming a federal air marshal can be found at the Federal Aviation Administration's Web site at jobs.faa.gov.

As for those 28,000 jobs as baggage screeners, they will be hired through the Department of Transportation, most likely through the individual airports, although they have not started taking applications yet.

When they do, there will be some restrictions. Baggage screeners need to be American citizens. They will need to speak, write and read English proficiently, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, and also pass hearing and vision tests.

There will also be training requirements. Baggage screeners need to go through 40 hours of classroom instruction, and another 60 hours of on-the-job training. And once hired, baggage screeners will not enjoy many of the civil service protections enjoyed by most federal employees.

They will be allowed to join labor unions, but they will not be permitted to strike. And the Department of Transportation would be able to fire baggage screeners on the spot without appeal.

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