by Your Humorously Concerned Comedian-Commentator
Oh joy! The Federal Minister of the Interior is gracing Cologne/Bonn Airport with her presence!
Ah, dear readers, it seems November 25, 2024, will be a day to remember—sort of like that time you accidentally walked into the wrong bathroom. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (of the SPD variety) is rolling up her sleeves to personally sign the contract handing over passenger control at Cologne/Bonn Airport. And if you’re wondering what that means, well, she’s basically saying, “Here you go, airport operator! You’re in charge now!”—which is a bit like handing your car keys to a raccoon because he said he’d drive your aunt Betty to bingo night.
It might sound impressive, but hold onto your boarding passes, folks—this means a shift from the Federal Police to the airport operator, starting January 1, 2025. That makes Cologne/Bonn the third airport in Germany to adopt this oh-so-exciting ‘Frankfurt Model – New World’ approach. And if that doesn’t ring alarm bells, I don’t know what will—except maybe a fire alarm at the airport. Spoiler: that’s not a good sign.
Patchwork quilt or patchwork nightmare?
Now, let’s dive into the delightful patchwork of chaos that is the current aviation security scenario in Germany. It’s like trying to knit a sweater with spaghetti—there are too many chefs in the kitchen! While the Münster district government is left scratching its head over passenger checks at Dortmund and Paderborn airports, the Düsseldorf district government is playing traffic cop at Weeze. Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of the Interior has its fingers in the pie at Düsseldorf, and soon Cologne/Bonn has joined this circus. Who’s in charge again? Your guess is as good as mine!
Yet behind this ‘progressive’ facade is not improvement, but rather a kaleidoscope of responsibility that rivals my grandma’s collection of ceramic ducks—confusing and ultimately redundant! Sure, the airport might see a restructuring of passenger checks, but the unsolved mystery of who really takes responsibility remains… not Sherlock, still no one!
New World? More like the Old World but with a funky twist!
We’re told that this magical ‘New World’ will lead to better organizations and structures. You know, like Santa promising fewer coal deliveries if we just believe harder. But the reality is that private security firms—basically just profit-driven entities wearing shiny badges—will continue to run the show. If you were hoping the airport operator would treat employees like actual human beings with stable jobs, well, keep dreaming. It’s still part-time contracts all around, folks! Direct employment? Hah, what’s that? An Easter egg hunt for unicorns?
Consequently, the charming atmosphere at the airport has transformed into a wacky fun house of job insecurity. Imagine working a high-stakes job where the only certainty is uncertainty. Sounds fun, right? If I had a dollar for every time an employee had to deal with anxiety-inducing job conditions, I’d have enough money to hire someone to deal with my own anxiety!
Let’s talk about ‘real responsibility’ here, shall we?
Listen up, Cologne/Bonn airport operator! If you’re really ready to throw the ‘responsibility’ party invitation around, how about actually employing the security staff yourself? I mean, wouldn’t it be a dream if those overseeing our safety were secure in their own jobs? It would be like asking toddlers to help fill the pinata—they might drop it, but at least everyone would be way more invested in the outcome of this wild ride!
Let’s stop the merry-go-round of service providers every few years, just for kicks. The employees, bless their hard-working little hearts, deserve better than this chaotic buffet of instability. They need consistent, respectful working conditions that aren’t just dictated by the whims of catering companies that think ‘profit’ is a valid life philosophy. It’s about time we give these fine folks the frameworks they need—without the profit motive lurking in the corner like a creepy uncle at a wedding.
Oh, and a quick note: remember that Düsseldorf was also warming up to the ‘Frankfurt model,’ but then decided against it? Apparently, trying to keep employees happy doesn’t fit into the budget. When money talks, it often says all the wrong things—like your drunk uncle after too many cocktails at Christmas!
So, dear readers, as we all prepare for the high-flying adventure that is air travel, let’s keep an eye on who’s really in charge of making sure we can all safely point to the ‘exit’ signs. Here’s hoping that the ‘New World’ leads to a cosmic upgrade instead of a cosmic joke!
by Özay Tarim ver.di Union Secretary
Upcoming Visit of Federal Interior Minister to Cologne/Bonn Airport
On November 25, 2024, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) is set to make a significant visit to Cologne, where she will formally sign a pivotal contract that transfers responsibility for passenger controls at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
This transition means that starting January 1, 2025, the airport’s operator will take on the control and organizational responsibilities for passenger checks in accordance with Section 5 of the Air Security Act (LuftSiG), a role previously held by the Federal Police. Notably, Cologne/Bonn will become the third airport in Germany to implement this change, following in the footsteps of Frankfurt am Main and Berlin Brandenburg. However, we believe that behind this modernized approach—dubbed the “Frankfurt Model – New World”—hides a troubling and undesirable trend in aviation security management.
The Confusing Landscape of Responsibilities in Aviation Security
A critical issue associated with this model is the increasingly perplexing patchwork of responsibilities scattered across various stakeholders. In Germany, responsibility for passenger checks is becoming increasingly divided among different authorities, leading to a fragmented approach to this essential sovereign task. For instance, the Münster district government oversees passenger controls at the Dortmund and Paderborn/Lippstadt airports, while the Düsseldorf district government is tasked with overseeing Weeze Airport. Meanwhile, Düsseldorf Airport continues to operate under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of the Interior in conjunction with the Federal Police. From January 1, 2025, that responsibility will shift to the Cologne/Bonn airport operator. This fragmented system not only leads to potential organizational inefficiencies but also fails to enhance the working conditions for aviation security personnel.
From our perspective in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the promised “New World” in aviation security, which purports to improve organizational structure and efficiency, appears to be misleading. Despite shifts in organizational and supervisory duties, the reality remains that passenger checks will still be conducted by profit-driven private security companies, just as they have been in the past. The Cologne airport operator will not absorb responsibility for the personnel employed. Consequently, employment conditions will remain dictated by these private security firms, which predominantly hire workers on part-time and fixed-term contracts without justifiable cause. This precarious employment arrangement breeds uncertainty for workers who are already navigating a high-stakes environment filled with responsibility and stress. The resulting insecurity is particularly detrimental in the context of security screenings, where precision and reliability are crucial. Employees face challenges related to predictability in their work schedules and often experience financial strain as a result. Thus, there is scant evidence to suggest that working conditions for employees at Cologne/Bonn Airport will see any tangible improvement.
The True Meaning of Accepting Responsibility in Airport Operations
A genuine assumption of responsibility by the airport operator in Cologne would necessitate not only taking control of passenger checks but also directly managing the workforce involved. In essence, this would require that employees be transitioned away from private security firms and employed directly by the Cologne/Bonn airport operator. By doing so, employees would benefit from the enhanced working conditions characteristic of public service, offering them superior stability and job security.
Over recent years, Cologne/Bonn Airport has experienced a shift in private security providers approximately every four years due to public tenders. This practice not only breeds organizational instability but significantly impacts employee working conditions, leading to diminished job satisfaction and quality of service.
It is imperative to end the cycle of constantly changing service providers that perpetuate insecurity among employees. The fundamental task of passenger security screening requires a stable, sustainable strategy that ensures employees have predictable work environments and fosters improved working conditions. Those who dedicate themselves to maintaining passenger safety deserve fair and respectful treatment concerning their working conditions. Genuine improvements can only materialize when passenger checks are recognized as a sovereign responsibility, taken without a profit-driven motive.
Interestingly, the Düsseldorf airport operator had shown interest in adopting the so-called “Frankfurt model” last year but ultimately opted out, citing economic considerations among other factors. This decision underscores a concerning trend: economic interests frequently overshadow the intrinsic obligation to safeguard the well-being of employees.
What are the implications of the ‘Frankfurt Model – New World’ for employees at Cologne/Bonn Airport?
**Interview with Özay Tarim, ver.di Union Secretary, about Recent Changes at Cologne/Bonn Airport**
*Host: Welcome, Özay! It’s great to have you here today. Let’s dive right in! What’s the buzz around the upcoming contract signing by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser at Cologne/Bonn Airport?*
**Özay Tarim:** Thanks for having me! Well, on November 25, we’ll witness Minister Faeser signing off a significant change—literally handing the keys for passenger controls over to the airport operator, effective January 1, 2025. It’s a bit like putting a squirrel in charge of a sunflower garden. What could possibly go wrong?
*Host: That’s a vivid image! So, what does this ‘Frankfurt Model – New World’ really mean for air travel?*
**Özay Tarim:** Ah, the “New World!” Sounds enticing, right? But behind the shiny label, it’s more of a hot mess. The airport operator will take on responsibilities previously held by the Federal Police, which sounds great on paper, but the reality is that private security firms will still be doing the actual screening. It’s a game of musical chairs where the only constant is the musical chaos!
*Host: Musical chaos at an airport—sounds like a hit show! What about the security personnel?*
**Özay Tarim:** Right? They’re the unsung heroes of this comedy! Sadly, their employment conditions remain bleak. We’re still looking at part-time contracts and job insecurity, which is a huge concern when precision is key in security checks. Talk about having high stakes without solid footing!
*Host: So you’re saying that instead of improvements, we might see more confusion?*
**Özay Tarim:** Exactly! It’s like trying to decipher your cat’s meows—each time you think you understand, it’s just another sound! The fragmented system means multiple authorities overlapping, and no real clarity on who’s responsible. It might as well be “pass the responsibility” but with no one willing to catch the ball.
*Host: Hilarious, yet troubling! What do you think is the real answer here?*
**Özay Tarim:** Real responsibility means actually employing the security staff yourself. Treating them like valued employees rather than pawns in a game. If airport operators truly want to be responsible, they should offer stable, secure jobs. Imagine having staff that are invested in safety because they know their jobs aren’t on the line every few months!
*Host: That would indeed be a dream scenario! Any final thoughts for our listeners?*
**Özay Tarim:** Just remember, as we gear up for air travel, let’s not just trust who’s at the controls. Keep an eye on who’s really making decisions about our safety. Here’s hoping for a genuine New World, not just a cosmic joke!
*Host: Thank you, Özay! Your insights have been both enlightening and entertaining. We hope for real change at Cologne/Bonn Airport!*
**Özay Tarim:** My pleasure! Now let’s board that optimism flight—hopefully without turbulence!
