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Kelley Asks TSA to Suspend Practical Skills Exercise

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In response to widespread reports of a seriously-flawed system for testing screening skills of TSA employees, NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley has called on the TSA administrator to suspend the annual test and invalidate the test results.

In a letter sent recently to TSA’s Acting Administrator Gail D. Rossides, the NTEU leader also urges TSA to immediately correct the numerous flaws in the Practical Skills Exercise (PSE), many of which are detailed in responses to an online NTEU survey posted last week.
TSA Officers (TSOs) surveyed questioned the objectivity of current testing protocol, with more than 75 percent of respondents rating the test as “Unfair” or “Very Unfair.” Other problems cited include insufficient training of those administering tests; unfair testing methods; an inability to verify or question test results; and a lack of meaningful remediation.

“These testing problems are so serious and so prevalent that they undermine the Agency’s credibility with employees,” President Kelley wrote. "NTEU believes that the current round of PSE tests should be suspended. All negative impacts associated with failure of these flawed tests should be eradicated.”

Anecdotal reports from TSOs surveyed placed failure rates at several airports between 75 and 90 percent, with TSOs citing everything from test administration, to insufficient training opportunities, to poor communication by TSA management.

“The main problem is that our testing is not recorded in any way,” said an unidentified New York TSO. “If there is a disagreement with a (PSE) grade, it is impossible to argue it.”

President Kelley said that the test results do not reflect the overall knowledge, expertise and screening skills of the TSA workforce. “These dedicated and professional homeland security employees, our nation’s first line of defense at airports across the country, are committed to their mission of protecting our nation’s skies,” she said. “They want to do the best possible job and deserve a test that is administered fairly and credibly and that accurately assesses their airport security knowledge, as well as their overall job performance.”

More Headlines
• NTEU Seeks Whistleblower Protections for TSA Employees
• Kelley Reiterates Support for Whistleblower Measure
• Rep. Nita Lowey Meets With LaGuardia TSA Employees
• NTEU Seeks Support for Bill to Provide Civil Service Protections

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