According to the figures for 2000 and that is the latest that is available, their average earnings are $17,570 in a year. In this business the contracts are given to the one who quotes the least and this makes the security companies oppose any government rules which will increase their costs. The businesses which employ them also do not want increased charges. This has resulted in criminals becoming security guards, and even those that are checked, go through the checking of records in only one state. Stories keep coming about beating, raping and robbing the people they are expected to protect. Even according to New York Daily News, there have been employment of criminals for the protection of Statue of Liberty and some of the guards were even convicts. At the same time, the labor department expects that demand of security guards will grow up very fast till 2010, and they are now concerned about the effect it will have on terrorism. (Private security guards are Homeland's weak link)
The airports in the country also do not have a trained or closely monitored force of security guards working in an environment which is efficient and standardized. The situation after 9/11 also exposed this and the security measures taken were not standardized. The methods in other countries had been studied by U.S. For a long time, but till the events happened there was never any intention to set up similar measures in this country. The logic has been that terrorism was never though to be a threat to this country and the regulatory process was felt to be very difficult for implementation. Even the airlines argued that they could not set up a system similar to Europe. The security workers used in U.S. And Canada are from security companies and they handle baggage and passenger screening. (Looking Abroad for Answers on Airport Security; Attacks Add Urgency to Long U.S. Effort)
The workers also do not stay in the job for more than six months, and the turnover in a year varies from 150% to even 400%. The requirement really is for an airport worker to train as a security guard and then take up aviation related training. The basic training itself takes more than 120 hours. This is more than double the training that is given to these workers in U.S.. The airport workers in other countries are provided health care benefits but this is not given in U.S.. The salaries paid are also very low. There are also machines that can take care of a part of the checking, but these...
(Looking Abroad for Answers on Airport Security; Attacks Add Urgency to Long U.S. Effort) it is for Americans to decide whether they are willing to pay for required safety.
Requirements for being a guard
State
Background check type
Hours of training required
Ala. None
Alaska None 48
Ariz. Federal 8
Ark. Federal 6
Calif. Federal 40
Colo. None
Conn. Federal None
Del. Federal None
D.C. Federal None
Fla. Federal 40
Ga. Federal 8
Hawaii None
Idaho None
Ill. Federal 20
Ind. None
Iowa Federal None
Kan. None
Ky. None
La. State 16
Maine State None
Md. State None
Mass. None
Mich. State None
Minn. Federal 12
Miss. None
Mo. None
Mont. Federal None
Neb. None
Nev. Federal 4
N.H. State None
N.J. Federal None
N.M. State None
N.Y. State 24
N.C. Federal 4
N.D. Federal 32
Ohio State None
Okla. Federal 40
Ore. Federal 12
Pa. State None
R.I. None
S.C. State 4
S.D. None
Tenn. Federal 4
Texas Federal 1
Utah Federal 8
Vt. Federal None
Va. State 16
Wash. State 4
W.Va. None
Wis. Federal None
Wyo. None
References
Hall, Mimi. Private security guards are Homeland's weak link. USA Today. 23 January, 2003. Retrieved at http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-01-22-security-cover_x.htm. Accessed on 15 June, 2005
Schneider, Greg. Looking Abroad for Answers on Airport Security; Attacks Add Urgency to Long U.S. Effort. The Washington Post. 09 October, 2001. Retrieved at http://www.house.gov/transportation/aviation/issues/washpost.html. Accessed on 15 June, 2005
Security Guards and Gaming Surveillance Officers. Retrieved at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos159.htm. Accessed on 15 June, 2005
