Butch,
I agree that more rigorous training, in particular, in customer service, is needed, but that will not prevent "corrupt", or dishonest people, from being hired. Police officers get arrested, for crimes you wouldn't think they would commit; yet they go through background checks, and training. Pilots get arrested for drinking, before flying, among other things, in recent news, yet they go through much training, and are well aware of the FARs, including rules about drinking. Nurses, and doctors are hit with charges for various things. Training will not prevent people from committing crimes, even on the job.
My question is, when you refer to a licensing program for gate, ticket, and ramp agents, exactly what type of training are you referring to? How rigorous should it be? Who will conduct the training? The airline? Will a separate school, before applying to the airline? How will licensing these people, and making them go through such training, effect the ability to hire, and staff these positions? As it is, airline employees have to go through 2+ weeks of training, at the majority of the airlines, for these positions. That, alone, effects the ability to hire, because many of the people working for the airlines, today, are students, and cannot afford to be away from school, etc., for such a time.
Also, we can’t ignore, because it is a reality, that the pay associated with these jobs, is already enough to deter some people from doing it. There is already high turnover, when people realize how little they make, working for an airline, and how much they have to do. If you add in some licensing program, yet pay rates stay as they are, you have to consider how that may affect the ability to staff effectively.
I agree with the concept, just don’t' know, overall, how well it will go over, or if it is something that may have a chance of becoming reality.
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