The Transportation Security Administration’s disciplinary
review board has ordered the reinstatement of an airport
screener after finding that the agency did not give the
employee sufficient notice of an alleged offense prior to
his termination, the American Federation of Government
Employees has announced.
The union, which argued before the board on behalf of the
employee, said the employee was awarded back pay and the
option to return to duty at the Baltimore-Washington
International Airport.
Agency policy requires screeners to be able to prove they
have payment arrangements set up for debts greater than
$5,000, and TSA had asked the screener to show proof that
he was in compliance with the policy regarding an alleged
debt of $20,812, the union said.
It said the agency then gave him 10 days to show proof of
a repayment arrangement, but fired him less than 10 days
later for failure to provide an explanation of the alleged
indebtedness.
The union said it argued on appeal that the agency failed to
provide meaningful notice, that the employee was not given
enough time to respond, that he was not progressively
disciplined, and that the employee did not in fact owe a
debt greater than $5,000 and consequently had not been on
notice that he needed to correct any financial wrong.