Really, Uncle Mike?

Uncle Mike just doesn't seem to grasp the gravity of the situation between the workforce and management. Doesn't the evidence speak for itself?  Why is he failing to acknowledge that his style of management just doesn't work?

Does he honestly think that the steps that management has taken will inspire the workforce to increase performance? Just what motivation does he think will be created by withholding the 3rd quarter "Courtesy and Helpfulness" bonus? Quite the contrary!  This step has only inflamed the workforce. It didn't work before, why would you expect it to work now?  

Covenant Aviation Security placing 26th out of 30 in Courtesy and Helpfulness should be a wake up call.  Let's just continue along the same path and see where it leads.  Let's just continue to stick it to the workforce as usual!

Uncle Mike, why don't you try something that might work? How about showing some respect and appreciation? How about treating the workforce in a way that acknowledges the reason that CAS has lasted over 11 years? Do you still think that all the backroom deals and cozy relationships will save this contract?  You even acknowledge this point in your own "Internal Company Confidential" letter, dated November 26, 2013.  To quote: "our expectation is that our TSA contract will run through July 31st, 2015."  The key words here are "our expectation" -- in other words, there is no guarantee!

Uncle Mike, you are right about one thing:  that the expectations of the stakeholders remain as high as ever.  Just what is your plan to create an atmosphere that will produce a service that meets these goals?

The workforce will once again follow the examples displayed by management.  Start showing that you value the contributions made by the workforce!

How and why?

Just how did a company like Covenant Aviation Security, who puts profit-before-product, get a contract renewal? What backroom deals were made to accomplish this?

As a reminder...

 SEIU, has been sending out letters demanding that employees once again start paying dues.  We feel that this is an attempt to persuade and intimidate the workforce into paying dues that are not required.

Has anyone seen a signed copy of the contract?

Has anyone seen a printed CBA handbook?

Information has been passed along to us regarding the status of the motion to disallow the results of the recent de-authorization vote. We have been informed that the National Labor Relations Board will be making a determination some time in October.

In the meantime, don't be intimidated into paying dues that are not legally required!

SEIU, produce a signed copy of the contract and a printed CBA handbook!

A pass along message!

If you received a second letter from SEIU,  use this form letter that was written by a attorney, and send back to the Union and send a copy to Covenant Payroll.


Sept. __, 2013



Secretary-Treasurer

United Service Workers West-SEIU

Northern California HQ

3411 East 12th St., Suite 200

Oakland, CA 94601



Dear Sir:



I am employed by Covenant Aviation Security at SFO, and I am in receipt of your “second notice” dated _______________, 2013. Your notice demands that I sign union membership and dues deduction authorization cards, and pay full membership dues to the union. However, your records should indicate that I am not a member of the union, and that I am already on record as being a Beck objector. If your records do not indicate this, then I will reiterate the following: I have no wish to be a member of the union, and I object to supporting any of the union’s political and nonrepresentational activities, as is my right under the National Labor Relations Act and CWA v. Beck. This objection is permanent and continuing in nature.

I request that you provide me with my procedural rights, including: reduction of my fees to an amount that includes only lawfully chargeable costs; notice of the calculation of that amount, verified by an independent certified public accountant; and notice of the procedure that you have adopted to hold my fees in an interest-bearing escrow account and give me an opportunity to challenge your calculation and have it reviewed by an impartial decision maker. Once you provide me with the appropriate reduced fee amount I will meet all lawful financial core requirements.



Sincerely,



______________________

Signature



_____________________

Name



_____________________

Address



Cc: Covenant Aviation Security HR/Payroll

We have been asked to post this bit of information

To all who received a letter from SEIU demanding that you start paying dues.

 Mr. Stephen Burke has filed a charge against the Union regarding a withholding of dues due to a lack of a contract. A "Hiatus" period was in effect since the beginning of 2012 which resulted in the temporary removal of our requirement to pay dues. A letter requesting  that the payroll department not take any dues from our paychecks was submitted. This letter also stated that if and when a new contract became effective that we would only resume our membership at a reduced payment rate according to the 'Beck" clause. That "Beck" membership rate would be at a reduced rate of  (1.8% ) not the full amount of 2.3%.

Do not send back the two cards to the Union. The National Labor Relations Board is now conducting an investigation and we feel very confident that the previous ballot results will be tossed out. We are requesting that a new vote take place on-site, not as a mail in ballot.

We will pass along any information as it becomes available to us.

Once again, has anyone seen a signed copy of the new contract?

What do we have?

The TSA has something called, "Workforce Engagement." Its stated purpose is to, "ensure that all employees at all levels are informed, inspired and supported so they can effectively contribute their expertise and enthusiasm to the success and performance of the TSA."  Do we have anything like that at Covenant?  Absolutely not!

What we do have is a management team that does everything it can to keep us uninformed. What we do have is a management team that does nothing to keep us inspired and motivated. This management team has shown its utter contempt for the workforce by sticking it to us as often, and as hard, as they can. 

We have all had a recent sampling of the value that Covenant places on the contributions of the workforce. We have just received a quarterly bonus of 100 dollars which, after taxes, nets out somewhere around 60 dollars.  Or, as we like to look at it, less than a net total of a dollar a day.

This profit-before-product company takes away several thousand of dollars in givebacks and take-away and in return they proudly announce this embarrassing quarterly bonus!  Does any employee not see how little they think of us?

Once again, we are stating, for the record, that there is absolutely and undeniably no cost advantage between a for profit-at-any-cost_private contractor and the TSA.  The budget would be the same, the only difference is that a for profit company, such as Covenant Aviation, is purely motivated by greed versus the TSA which is totally focused on providing the highest level of security possible.

We hope that Covenant is seen for what they are and that their days at SFO will soon come to an end.

SEIU is at it once again!

In their haste to re-establish their undeserved flow of cash in the form of dues, SEIU conveniently overlooked that they are suppose to inform the workforce that we do, in fact, have an option.

SEIU wants to collect dues at a full membership rate, when the employees have the option of paying an agency-only reduced rate. Gee, we wonder how they could have overlooked making that information available?  Go figure! Has anyone actually seen the new collective bargaining agreement?

BTW....a motion has been filed to have the recent vote-by-mail ballots tossed out.  A workforce this size should have had a walk-in ballot.  You will be made aware of any news concerning this issue as it becomes available to us.

Are you as stunned as we are?

In a letter from JLP, he attempts to address the rumors that he was made aware of through Facebook.

According to Mr. J.Pee, the likelihood of a TSA takeover of the screening operations at SFO will never happen. According to Mr. J.Pee, CAS does the best job of performing screening operations at a CAT X airport.  Perhaps he should share that information with Uncle Mike.

Yes, the same Uncle Mike who has decided to loosen the purse strings and dole out a $100 quarterly bonus to all of us.

Let's see, that breaks down to a dollar and a penny per day.  Gee, Uncle Mike, are you for real?  Is that how little you think of the contributions made by the workforce?  Is that how little you think of our performance, which has allowed you to keep your job with your lofty salary?  Isn't it nice to have a management team that recognizes the true value of the workforce?

Once again, this "profit-before-product" company known as CAS has shown that the only things that they really appreciate are the almighty dollars that line their collective pockets, courtesy of the workforce.




Now, why is it that they deserve to have this contract any longer?

The votes have been counted!

The votes have been counted, and the totals are: 498 "yes" votes to 121 "no" votes. Too many of us did not vote, and the measure missed passing by 72 votes.

We will be filing an "objection to the election" as soon as possible.  The illegal and harassing methods used by SEIU to intimidate and spread falsehoods was completely against all rules.

And so it starts!

On Monday the counting of the ballots will begin at 1 p.m, and we hope that you let your voice be heard. Thanks to all those who have helped to make all of this possible.  We will post the results of the voting as soon as they are made available to us.

The rumor mill has been abuzz this past week with talk of a major announcement from the TSA which was expected to be released on Friday, July 26th, but was put off until this week. Let's cross our fingers that this announcement is just what the doctor ordered and is not a continuation of "business-as-usual" with the "profit-before-product" Covenant Aviation at the helm.

Good luck to us all, and thanks again for supplying the information needed in order to keep this blog-site your source of timely news.

Is this not a form of slave labor?

How can it be legal for Covenant Aviation to severely restrict the ability of the members of the workforce to take a day off?  Just how does this company -- who, in some circles, is known to be a company that puts profit-before-product -- get away with this?  

The workforce can bid to take a full week off for a vacation, but just try to bid for one day off!  This inept company keeps staffing levels so low that they cannot afford to have employees take just one day off.  Why is this such an issue?  Do they not have sufficient managerial skill to balance the staffing levels, and adjust for employees' requests for time off?  We have already seen the level of incompetence demonstrated by this stellar management team! 

If an employee is regularly scheduled two sequential days off, it is common to request time off for the subsequent two days when planning a vacation or time with family -- this allows the employee to have four days off, while only using two vacation days.  But Covenant Aviation makes this process nearly impossible and continues to stick it to their employees non-stop.

We have been told by members of the workforce that requests to have a single day off, made to their respective managers, have gone unanswered. These unanswered requests are a standard practice of upper management. Just when will this unfair treatment end?  We hope real soon, with a not-so-fond farewell to this "profit-before-product" company known as Covenant Aviation LLC.

Do you really want SEIU to represent you?

Is it not obvious to you that the money you would be paying to SEIU, in the form of dues, would not be money well spent?

SEIU is a union of concessions and give-backs. SEIU is a union with a long and sad history of corruption. SEIU leadership across the country has shown itself to be far less than trustworthy.

Do you want more proof?

Follow this link and read and learn for yourselves what we here already know:

 

 

 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-union5-2008dec05,0,418393.story

Isn't it time to open your eyes and to make the right choice?

Vote "yes" to rescind the ability of this corrupt union to force you to pay dues in order to keep your job!

 

 

 

Among the many lies that the union has told ...

one of the biggest is that they will leave if they don't get paid, that they don't work for nothing. That when they leave, we will lose our jobs or that our salaries will be reduced. That we need them now more than ever!  Yeah, right!

Just why is this union so focused on getting more money for doing nothing?

Could it be because union officials have been found guilty of misappropriating funds, which must now be repaid?  

Let us tell you about an SEIU official by the name of Tyrone Freeman:  Mr. Freeman is facing a maximum sentence of 180 years for his crime!

But don't take our word for it, read the story for yourselves:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tyrone-freeman-20130129,0,3528628.story

You have your ballots, now it's time to vote!

 

 

Just to remove any confusion that you might have about what we are voting on, we will give you the particulars.

A "yes" vote will, if passed, rescind SEIU's ability to force you to pay dues to keep your job.

A "no" vote will, if passed, continue to allow SEIU to force you to pay dues in order to keep your job.

We, of course, urge a "yes" vote.

Over the many years that SEIU has represented the workforce, the only accomplishments that they have achieved have resulted in "givebacks."  Small wonder that CAS is so silent right now!  It appears that CAS and the union have agreed upon another back-room deal to further screw the workforce. Don't be surprised when it happens.

Figure out for yourselves how much those givebacks have actually cost you.

No parking allowance, reduced vacation accrual rate and holiday pay, no shoe allowance, and to top it all off we now have a higher medical co-pay!

The choice should be clear and obvious:  vote "yes."

We have been asked to help!

SEIU: The lying liars and the lies they tell!

What's The Truth? Part II

Lie # One: " In an open shop, if less than 50% of the workers are paying dues, Covenant does not have to recognize SEIU anymore"

THAT IS FALSE.  IF THE UNION IS THE CERTIFIED REPRESENTATIVE, EVEN IF 100% OF THE EMPLOYEES STOPPED PAYING, COVENANT WOULD STILL HAVE TO RECOGNIZE AND DEAL WITH THEM.

Lie # TWO: " If we become an open shop, SEIU will leave!"

THAT COULD BE TRUE. SOMETIMES UNIONS "DISCLAIM" REPRESENTATION AND LEAVE WHEN THEY CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE TO PAY. THE NLRB SAYS THEY CAN DO THAT, THOUGH I DOUBT THAT SEIU WOULD EVER WALK AWAY FROM A HIGH PROFILE UNIT LIKE THIS, EVEN IF ONLY A TINY PERCENTAGE OF THE EMPLOYEES PAID DUES.

The two questions above were submitted to a Labor Attorney with 30 years of experience.


LIE # THREE: " We need the money; we do not work for free! "

This is the biggest lie of them all! The Union does not use all  of the dues money, the facts are; Very little stays in the unit ( chapter ) after the San Francisco and the San Mateo Labor Councils take a " Cut of the money," the bulk of it goes to the main international branch of SEIU in Washington, D.C., and they have millions of dollars!

SEIU is a big tent and if the unit needs money they can get it anytime, if they need it. SEIU ( Lying Liars ) will never go broke!

Remember:  SEIU never has and never will represent us the way a union should.

Vote Yes!

Vote yourself a Raise!

Updated info on the upcoming union decertification vote

We have been asked to pass this info along to you.

The NLRB will start mailing the voting packets on July 12th and 13th. These packets will include a self addressed stamped envelope for you to mail in your ballot. You will have two weeks in which to mail in your yes vote.  The ballots will be sent to, and counted by, the NLRB.  The votes will be counted on July 29th.

A yes vote will remove the requirement of having to pay dues to keep your job.

To be clear, this is not a vote to remove SEIU, it is only a vote to remove their ability to force you to pay dues.  Dues can still be paid to SEIU on a voluntary basis if you still want to pay dues.

To what degree will the managerial shortcomings of CAS become obvious his week?

The combination of the BART strike and the staffing shortages should completely overwhelm the capabilities of our stellar management team. One of these two difficulties is beyond our control. The other is self-induced. With staffing levels being what they are, one can only hope that everyone reports for duty.

CAS has found it fit to block out any and all requests for personal time off in order to maximize their profit. How else can they make this style of management work?

Once again it shows a total disregard for the wants and needs of the workforce. Once again it shows that their only motivation is to generate the maximum amount of profit, at the expense of the workforce and their families.

One can infer that this would result in an inferior level of service, which would once again negatively impact the stakeholders. When will the stakeholders get the type of service that they deserve?

It's hard to believe..

that 3 years ago today at 1:35 a.m., our first posting -- titled "Enough is Enough" -- marked the beginning of our attempt to keep you all informed about the comings and goings-on of our "Profit At Any Cost" company, Covenant Aviation.  

Our mission then, as it is now, was to keep you as informed as possible.  The constant swirl of rumors that were never affirmed, nor dispelled, by management could not continue.  We hope that the information that we have provided to you has helped to fill in the blanks.  We will continue our self-appointed mission of being your eyes and ears, and promise to pass along as much as possible.

Thanks to all of those who have contributed articles and bits of information to help our efforts.

By the way, we cannot end this posting without commenting on "Survey Monkey."  Covenant is, by their own admission, trying to understand the workforce better.  They are trying to pass the blame for the hostile relationship that exist onto the supervisors. They want to know if there is any favoritism taking place, and if we are being mistreated. There has always been favoritism, and CAS management has been the biggest offender.

The supervisors are not the problem.  CAS management created this monster and, as usual, they will not accept any responsibility. Do they really need a survey to learn something that they should already know? Just where have their collective heads been all these years?  Anyone want to take a guess?

And now, it is time for a bit of good news!

Enough signatures have been collected, submitted, and accepted by the National Labor Relations Board to have the motion -- to rescind SEIU's ability to collect dues from the workforce -- put up for a vote.  

Expect to hear from SEIU on how removing them would be a big mistake. Expect to hear from them that they are our best option.  Expect to hear how only they can fight for our best interest.  We have seen firsthand the results of their sellouts and concessions.

We, the people, have had enough of this do-nothing-but-take-our dues union. Let your voice be heard loud and clear!

Details as to when, how, and where the voting will take place will be posted here as they become available.

Thanks to all of those who have decided to take a stand!

And, as for you, Covenant Aviation:

We sincerely hope that your day of reckoning is fast approaching. We sincerely hope that your days of threats and intimidation will soon come to an end, at least at this airport.

Through the power of the internet, your reputation and style of management will precede you wherever you go.

Your complete and utter disregard for the well being of your employees and their families is well documented.  Your inability to effectively manage and supply a quality product will be your downfall.  Your pursuit of "Profit, at any cost, before Product" is deplorable.

At the very least, you should have been able to supply the stakeholders with what they so richly deserved -- an efficient and professional workforce that is second to none. You should have been able to inspire and motivate the workforce with your leadership and professionalism; sadly, you have not.

Let the chips fall where they may!

Where were they...

When we were bidding for our vacation days off, and the company only offered 10 hours per day?  Where were they when CAS had the bidding start at 0200 hours, with no advanced bidding and without being based on seniority?  Where were they when they should have been there, objecting to those conditions on our behalf?  How could they just stand idly by and allow CAS to only permit one person per day to have a day off?

Now, our do-nothing-but-take-our-dues union has the gall to schedule meetings with the workforce to update us on shop steward training, labor/management meeting outcomes, and their new CBA negotiations plan.

Did the filing of a motion to start the proceedings to have them removed as our union have anything to do with this?  You betcha!

Well, SEIU, it is too late! Nothing that you could say at these meetings will stop what has to be done.  SEIU, your time has come.

It has been filed!

On Monday May 13th, on behalf of those employees who are fed up with our do-nothing-but-take-our dues union, SEIU, a motion was filed with the NLRB to have SEIU de-certified as the union that represents the CAS workforce.

The plan that we have heard being discussed is to have a committee made up of three members of the workforce, both from the checkpoint and baggage communities.  This new committee will form the basis of a new bargaining group that will be responsible for negotiating a new CBA with CAS, or whichever entity assumes control of the TSA SPP contract.

We will keep you posted with any new developments that we are made aware of.

May this be the start of our new beginning.

http://nlrb.gov/rights-we-protect/employee-rights

More of the same

One full week into our new schedules, we find that it is still "business as usual."

Once again, the scheduling deficiencies of our stellar management team tell a sad tale.

For over ten years, every attempt at crafting a schedule that closely matches flight loads and airline departure timetables has resulted in the same pathetic outcome.

Once again, we are stuck with staffing levels and work assignments that don't match the needs of our stakeholders.

Just how many years does it take to figure this out?

Would you like a day off?

Forget it! The minimum time off is for a week at a time.  There will be no day-at-a-time bidding.

Here we are in the month of May, and they have never had enough hours available for a day off at a time this year.

How much more do they really want to tick off the workforce?

So, who should be awarded the contract at SFO?

Should it be the company that submits the lowest bid?  Should it be a company that is well known?  Just what should this decision be based upon?

How about this?  How about awarding this contract to a company that will not put "profit before product "!  How about awarding this contract to a company that has a proven track record and a thorough understanding of what security is all about?

How about awarding this contract to a company that will respect and appreciate the contributions of the workforce?

How about a company that can motivate and inspire the workforce with their leadership skills and professional example?

We want a company that will respect and listen to our concerns and respond to them in a positive way.

CAS found out the hard way that threats and intimidation will not work.  The working relationship that CAS has with the workforce is deplorable.  CAS has had over ten years to get it right, and they have failed to do so.

CAS should not be allowed to have an opportunity to once again put profit before product.  They should not be allowed to further damage the remnants of the morale and team spirit that once existed at SFO.

Could it be that the TSA is the best option for SFO?

As you were bidding for your new work schedule....

did you feel the love? 

Most of us were not able to get the shifts and terminals that we wanted to work at -- blame our stellar management team and our do-nothing-but-take-our-dues union, SEIU!

Yes, the same management team that wants us to deliver "world class customer service" in order to help them keep this contract.  The same management team that took away our parking allowance, shoe allowance, laundry service, reduced our vacation accural rate, increased our out-of-pocket medical costs, and makes it near impossible to get any time off.  Yes, the same management team that doesn't give a moment's thought to the issues that are important to us and to our families.  The same management team that hopes that we all have "short" memories. 

Isn't it ironic that they now need us!  Isn't it ironic that they want us to feel "team" spirit?  Where was that team spirit when they decided to take all these things away from us?

Management's overwhelming concern is how to "generate" a profit at any cost!  Don't be duped into believing that we are now "one" team.  Don't be duped into believing that we will be better off if CAS keeps this contract. 

The actions of management speak louder than words!  To management, we are just a vehicle to earn them more profit than they already have.

May their end be in sight!

The Interested Contract Bidders Walk-Throughs Have Started!

Did you happen to see the tour that was given last Friday?  We were told not to speak to them and to not answer any questions.  (Any questions that they may have had should have been answered by reading the blog-site.)

BTW, our union of concessions, SEIU, was part of the tour group.  Were they trying to the plant seeds for their retention? Were they trying to show that they are still representing us to the best of their limited ability?


Do we not have a signup sheet to have SEIU  removed?  How is that coming along?  It is way past the time for a change.  Stand up and be counted! 

Take the first step towards a better tomorrow, remove SEIU. 

In case you are wondering what our life would be like without SEIU, go to the NLRB.Gov website and click on " employee rights."

Are You Wondering Like We Are About.....

why February was a record month for promotions?  Are you wondering like we are about when the slots for these were created?  What are the real motives behind all of these promotions?

Did these promotional slots just appear out of nowhere?  Has the need for these promotions been there since last year, and have they been left vacant?

Let's see if we can make some sense out of all this.

What better way to diminish the impact of workforce hostility toward management than to have more than a few promotions?  What better way to attempt to change the focal point away from the give backs and take a ways?  What better way to, at the same time, have more overseers and policy enforcers?  What better way to identify and correct the conditions that prevent "world class customer service"?  What better way to soften the blow of the SEIU union dues increase to 2.3%?

This is a classic case of misdirection.  Let's throw the workforce a few bones! Let's try to increase our very slim chance of keeping this gravy train contract!

Let's show the workforce that we are not all bad.  Let's show them more than we have shown them before!

Well, Stormin Mike, it will not work.  There are still too many members of the workforce who are feeling real pain.  There are still too many members of the workforce who are trying to make ends meet.  There are still too many members of the workforce who have seen their monthly expenses skyrocket. And, most importantly, there are still too many members of the workforce who will not fall for this deception!

The biggest slap in the face, and we do mean the biggest, is that all of these promotions are being funded by our give backs and take a ways!

These promotions are being financed by the workforce, and not by CAS.  Covenant is hoping that we do not connect the dots and follow the money trail.  CAS does not want the workforce to see how these steps mainly benefit management and their pursuit of "Profit before Product."

The first step for a better tomorrow starts with getting SEIU removed.  How are we doing with that?  When do we sign on the dotted line?

Where should we begin?

How about right here?

Seiu, the union of concessions, has decided to give themselves a raise and to stick it to the rank and file even more.

Union dues are going up to a whopping 2.3%.

What's that you say?  Their raise is bigger than yours?

It seems that they contributed way too much during the last election and want to get ready for the next round.

That, plus the misappropriation of funds by union officials, has left them a little short.

Not to worry, part timers will pay a flat rate of 20 dollars per paycheck.


So, as you greet passengers with a smile at the checkpoint make sure that you focus only on the bottom line.

Focus on how much this affects you and your family!

How about removing this union once again?

What say you?

A response to Stormin Mike from a reader

Well, our bonuses will be based on a statistical sample of the flying public. I believe that CAS management has skipped a step or two. 

It appears that the CAS process is to define a symptom, then punish the screener. I believe someone missed an important step. Someone failed to define the root cause.

I believe that the screeners are just a reflection of CAS managers' customer service skills. After all, the screeners are customers of CAS management. 

I'll give you an example of our general managers skills -- to quote from a memo dated December 12, 2012:  "Those of you who use Facebook to gloat, and encourage this despicable behavior are actually short-sighted." I don't know what he is talking about, but this is a bad start to my day. 

I would call this tantrum aggressive and rude.

In an effort to move towards problem resolution, I'll offer a suggestion. 

Let's take a statistically significant sample of the screening work force. Let them provide relevant feedback concerning management's customer service skills. This report might show the root problem.

For a company that professes to provide "world class customer service" and allegedly places "their highest priority on the well being of their employees", CAS falls woefully short. This type of report might change the attitude of management.  Maybe then they could EARN their exorbitant salaries. 

However, I won't hold my breath. As Mike says, "not everybody likes change." I guess it will be more of the same "do as I say, not as I do" attitude coming from the top.

Is this the final standing 8 count?

More embarrassment for our stellar management team led by Stormin Mike...

 http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/headline-9-investigates-contractor-blunder-our-orl/nWBGZ/

An Open Letter To Any And All Airport Commissions...

who may be considering opting out of the TSA screening process for a private contractor.  Don't Do It!  You will not get the quality that is promised, and there are absolutely no cost saving benefits. 

The quality of the only product -- checkpoint and checked baggage screening -- depends entirely upon the morale and professionalism of the workforce.  A for-profit, private contractor's sole focus is to generate a profit.  That profit is not generated from economies of scale, but rather by reducing staffing levels, not giving shift differential, lower pay scales, eliminating uniform and parking allowances, and decreasing paid family medical coverage benefits.  Now, the tricky part for a private contractor is to reduce wages and benefits, without sparking a workforce revolt. 

Well, with their over zealous greed and total disregard for the workforce, Covenant has crossed the line!  

The workforce has responded in a way far more severe than this company anticipated.  The workforce has shown their displeasure by becoming unmotivated, dispirited, discourteous and downright hostile towards management.  The San Francisco International Airport Commission and the TSA have had enough of Covenant and their policies.  The 10-plus year honeymoon is over!

This contract is now open to all interested parties who qualify.  This contractor and any other contractor that puts profit margins before product will suffer the same fate if they follow the same path. We have families that depend upon us, and we also have wants and needs.  Covenant management has gone way too far!

Now, we are not saying that the TSA is perfect. We know, and so do you, that they have their own unique problems.  As difficult as those TSA problems are, they can and will be solved.  

The TSA is not trying to generate a profit. The TSA is not trying to stick it to their employees. The TSA problems are not insurmountable.  The TSA is the better choice!

Feel free to read our blog postings that go back several years.  None of what we wrote about is fabricated; it is all true.  Read it and then decide for yourselves.

BTW...Is Rand Paul the new John Mica?  Is he also on the private contractor payroll?  Or has he too been duped?

This proves our point!

Never let it be said that Stormin Mike doesn't "feel" for us.  Never let it be said that Stormin Mike really cares about us as individuals and/or our families.

How shall we respond to this latest from his "heart" message?  Let's give it a go, shall we?

He is completely glossing over the root cause of all that is happening right now!  The resulting "lack of world class customer service" is in direct response to the policies that he and his stellar management team have handed us (along with the complicity of SEIU).

For him to say that he "appreciates" our effort is completely and totally insincere!  We are not the ones who have failed to remember that the product that we deliver, "world class customer service", depends solely upon the morale and professional attitude of the workforce.  Yet, Stormin Mike wants us to believe that he is not the problem.  WE ARE THE PROBLEM! 

When has this company ever shown us any appreciation?  We must have missed it!  Was it during the annual hot dog, chips and soda day, otherwise known as, Employee Appreciation Day?  Or was it during the annual combined Thanksgiving and Christmas day luncheon?  Was it during the Perfect Attendance Award handshake?  Or was it when they stopped buying us the shoes which are part of our uniform?  Try as we might, we just cannot remember a time when we have been sincerely and totally appreciated!  

Now this one statement of his really made us stop and think.  We could not help but laugh.  He said that, "we would no longer be represented by SEIU!"  That point alone seals the deal.  That, Uncle Mike, would be a wonderful thing!  If we were to go Federal, we would be represented by the American Federation Of Government Employees (AFGE).  You remember them, don't you Uncle Mike?

So now let us get into the meat and potatoes of his brash and bold internal and confidential memo.

He said, " I will do my part to fight for your jobs at SFO."  The only job that he will be fighting to keep is his own!  There is no "Team SFO."  There is only "Team Mike."  There are only the self-serving issues that are important to a "FOR PROFIT COMPANY" with a Federal contract.  

Let us not forget, it is "Profit and the pursuit of Profit" that drives this company. It is Profit before Product!  It is, and it always will be, the number one issue for a private contractor with a Federal contract.

Rumor mill...

The SEIU sellout contract which was ratified unethically in December has, as of now, not yet been signed.  Supposedly they are still working out some of the details. Our question is:  what is there to work out?  No changes should be made at all!  One month later, no one has seen a hardcopy or employee handbook.  In the meantime, CAS is holding town hall meetings, where scare tactics are being spread. 

CAS is very concerned, and rightly so, about losing this contract.  Now they want us to let bygones be bygones.  They need us to help them hold onto this gravy train.  Just how stupid do they think we are?  Any new private contractor will have to follow the ATSA guidelines outlining salary and benefits.  These guidelines are set in stone.  CAS would have you believe that we would be worse off if they were replaced.  NO -- CAS management would not be missed!

They never saw this coming!

CAS management erroneously believed that the workforce would fall in line with the SEIU "sellout" contract. They erroneously believed that we would take it in stride and go back to "business as usual."

The agreement that our wonderful union of concessions, SEIU, made with CAS was and is appalling! Just because you can, doesn't mean that you should!

An agreement as atrocious as this should never have been approved by SEIU.

The damage that has resulted from this outrage is beyond repair.

Let the chips fall where they may!

Were you surprised by what you saw in your last paycheck?

Were you expecting more, especially since this last paycheck included two holidays?  Well, not to worry -- it will only get worse! 

Your paycheck will be reduced by nearly 60 dollars per month, due to the increase in Social Security tax. Add to that the monthly parking allowance that we are no longer receiving.  Add these numbers to the medical premiums which we are now paying for family medical coverage; then factor in the reduced Holiday pay rate for which SEIU "negotiated".  This number alone is approximately 800 dollars per year. Let's not forget our potential out-of-pocket expense for the family plan hospitalization.  

Do we have your attention yet?  Are you feeling all warm and fuzzy right now?  Are you feeling respected and appreciated?    Can you smile and offer world class customer service?

More Fuel For The SEIU Fire!

This link was sent to us by one of our readers. Is there a doubt in your mind after reading this info?

 http://sternburgerwithfries.blogspot.com/

2012-The Year in Review

Let us rate the performance of our management team, SEIU, and the changes that were made to our compensation packages.

The performance of management should be split into two halves:  the first six months and the second six months.

Using a grading scale from A through F we will generously assign a grade of D- to the first half.

Now, for the second half, we will assign an F-.  The new incoming president, Stormin Mike Boles, is totally and completely responsible for all the changes that were made. This management team with Boles at the helm is the worst that we have had by far.

SEIU receives a grade of F-.  They have more than stuck it to the very ones whom they were suppose to represent.  In some circles they are known as, "The union of concessions."  We wholeheartedly agree.
Changes to the compensation packages -- Grade F-

Add all of the above together and we arrive at where we are right now.  We have changed a workforce that was motivated, dedicated, and professional into a workforce that is now dispirited, unmotivated, and just going through the motions.  This company and its new policies have created a workforce that will not and cannot deliver "world class customer service." 

When a company treats their employees in a way that shows that they are unappreciated and disrespected, in a way that shows how little they care about our families and our concerns, how could they expect anything else?