The award recognizes Port Jobs’ and its partners’ success in training, educating, and supporting hundreds of security screeners who stood to lose their jobs when the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) took over security operations at Sea-Tac Airport.

With nearly 1,000 security screeners facing layoffs, Port Jobs put together a team of partners to help. South Seattle Community College (SSCC) developed a screener-specific vocational English-as-a-
Second-Language curriculum and taught classes on site at Sea-Tac. 

Volunteer lawyers helped screeners with citizenship applications. The Airport Jobs Office and SSCC offered workshops six days per week, attracting 650 participants to courses including computer skills, test-taking, interviewing strategies, and more.

The project also focused on serving dislocated screeners. The King County Dislocated Worker Program contracted with SSCC and Port Jobs to assist in providing intensive services, including access to retraining and employment. 

“We are proud that this collaboration helped 400 people (50 percent of the incumbent screeners assessed by TSA) to retain their jobs. That is a significant figure, especially in light of the 10 to 15 percent retention rate in similar airports nationwide,” says Susan Crane, Port Jobs Executive Director. She adds, “This award belongs to everyone who was a part of this effort.”