Nothing but the Best

When speaking in public, it is not uncommon for an executive to talk up his or her product, even when he or she knows that his or her product may not in fact be the superior product or trust the reliability of his or her product. So it's no surprise when someone like Gerry Berry or Jeff Pugh or whomever will say that we are the best and even if we're not, we're definitely better than our TSA counterparts.

So why is it that when issues or problems arise, we are always punished or forced to do more than what is required? Let us count the ways: When people failed hand wand tests, instead of addressing the issue or individuals head on, Ryan Yee's training department response was simply to make us do additional steps in the hand wand regardless if it was required. When people failed certain X-ray tests, we were forced to do across the board bag checks on bags that had certain item/s in the bag. Or not being allowed to do pat downs below the waist while at the walk-through, even though it is allowed by the SOP. Now the latest is TDC. Because individuals failed tests, we now have to do 100 additional steps (ok, I know, an exaggeration) that are not required by the SOP. And we're once again being punished by having our STOOLS taken away! The logic behind it is well, it makes for better security, right? Ehhh...who cares if it really does? Just as long as we can show TSA that we did something, everything's all good!

This is another perfect example of what a bureaucratic paper pusher that Yee is. He doesn't care about addressing real issues and finding real solutions. All that matters is that he does something to address it. And of course, local TSA is complicit in all of this as they don't really care either just as long as TSA HQ is satisfied. Naturally, the argument to all of these additional steps/punishments will always be, "It's going above and beyond. That is better security!" Sure, go above and beyond by doing additional steps that aren't proven to be better security while focusing our collective attentions on unnecessary procedures when we could be missing real potential threats. I guess we really didn't learn anything from Engage!

Anyone that has flown out of a TSA airport will regularly see their TDC Officers sitting at comfortable chairs with a FIXED light, while we have to stand and often use faulty/inferior hand held lights. Just how does that make for better security?

With all of these additional, unnecessary requirements at checkpoint, there really is no wonder why so many DFOs decided to jump ship and go baggage, regardless of what their seniority would be (yes, there were a number that went checkpoint, but mostly because of seniority).

And where is SEIU? They allowed the company get away with being in violation of the CBA fo how long, even though it explicitly requires the company have chairs for us at TDC.

5.3 Employee Seating

The employer shall supply chairs for X-Ray machine operators as consistent with all safety, health and other regulatory requirements. Chairs shall be supplied for exit monitors during non-operational hours, or when employees are required to be at exits for 30 minutes or more during operational hours and as consistent with all safety, health and other regulatory requirements. TDC personnel shall be supplied with access to chairs during non-peak hours, or when employees are required to be at TDC position for 30 minutes or more and as consistent with all safety, health and other regulatory requirements.

So now once again we suffer. SFO Airport commission gets their kickback. Local TSA doesn't have to deal with the day-to-day operations. SEIU continues to collect our dues, and Covenant Aviation Security laughs all the way to the bank while everyone else turns a blind eye.