TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — One month after Tampa International Airport announced it was moving forward with plans to staff its security checkpoints with private workers, the airport said Monday that passenger screening will continue to be performed by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers.<\/p>\n
Airport officials completed their review of the public-private partnership program TSA Gold+, which would have allowed TSA to oversee security operations carried out by non-government workers.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Person bitten by shark near Key West, Coast Guard says\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Proponents of the program said using a private workforce would minimize disruptions during government shutdowns or lapses in funding.<\/p>\n The president of the local American Federation of Government Employees union said the change would impact nearly 800 TSA employees at TPA, who would be given the choice to join the private company, be reassigned to another airport, take a job with another federal agency, or to retire if eligible. Joining the private company would mean a pay cut and loss of federal benefits, Chris Finlay told 8 On Your Side last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n “On behalf of the TSA officers we represent and the flying public they protect every day, AFGE thanks the Tampa International Airport for listening to concerns raised by employees, members of the community, and elected leaders over this privatization program and making the wise decision to stay with TSA,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a statement Monday.<\/p>\n The airport “conducted an extensive review and evaluation over several months,” but ultimately declined to adopt the Gold+ model.<\/p>\n “We approached Gold+ carefully and deliberately, with a focus on our passengers, employees, airline partners, and long-term operational excellence,” TPA CEO Michael Stephens said in a statement Monday. “We are thankful to the TSA for bringing us the opportunity to learn more about a program with the potential to enhance operational resiliency and innovation, and to reach an informed decision.”\u00a0<\/p>\n