Industry: TWIC will cost thousands of jobs
The implementation of new ID cards has some worried that illegal immigrants and individuals with criminal convictions who now hold transportation positions may lose their job
Cargo industry officials are concerned that a federal ID system aimed at boosting security could cost many port workers their jobs. According to industry officials who have discussed the issue with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Coast Guard, illegal immigrants and people convicted of certain crimes might be barred from the positions they now hold. The decision, however, could mean thousands of people will be out of jobs, including dockworkers and truck drivers. Steve Stallone, spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said a conviction should not automatically preclude someone from working.”
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program is a post-9/11 security measure that seeks to offer better control of access to harbors, rail yards, airports, and other cargo transit areas terrorists might target. TSA and Coast Guard officials have refused to discuss details of the plan before it is unveiled, which could be as early as next week.
