At the airports, the rush is particularly high in the summer travel season.
(Photo: dpa)
Chaos reigns at many security checks at German airports. That is why the SPD is now calling for passenger and luggage controls to be nationalized again. This gives rise to two questions: What could the state do better as an entrepreneur? And if you think about it: Why hasn’t he intervened long ago?
Because the federal government already has influence, more precisely the Federal Ministry of the Interior in cooperation with the state authorities. They commission the private service providers who carry out the checks at many airports via the Federal Police.
In the tenders, politicians could therefore demand everything from the companies that they believe is necessary to guarantee good working conditions, smooth operational processes and a high quality level of controls.
Like apparently at Munich Airport, which is often cited as a positive example – and where the controls are in the hands of the state. The Verdi union’s argument as to why things are going well there is primarily aimed at salaries: the state’s own security company does not work for profit and therefore pays its employees according to public service tariffs. Bavaria’s Minister of Transport also lists “safe and permanent positions”.
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Although aviation security assistants, according to the official job description, are paid relatively well, especially compared to baggage handlers, the federal government could also set the tariff as a kind of minimum wage. Of course, the costs would increase. But no matter who is responsible for the controls, whether private companies or the state: in the end, the passengers have to pay for the tickets one way or another. And certain requirements for time limits would also be possible.
State air traffic control has not reduced staff
Even with the biggest problem, the lack of staff, the federal government could have taken countermeasures. During Corona, the service providers had cut many jobs, allegedly because they had to. Believe it or not, the federal government could have done more here.
For example, the state air traffic control did not cut any staff during the crisis and received an equity grant from the federal government. If security controls such as air traffic control are systemically relevant, why not help the service providers financially so that the employees can stay on board?
No question, with one or the other private service provider, margins always come before working conditions; not everything works as it should. But the federal government must first assert the influence it already has before it thinks about nationalization.
More: Debate about the nationalization of security controls is gaining momentum