When will the Idiocy Stop?

We hope that the TSA, behind the scenes, is taking steps to insure that something like this never happens again. Officially, they are defending what was done. But, what are they really doing?

Actions like this are impossible to justify. The TSA is just heading down the wrong path and a change is inevitable.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/26/florida.tsa.incident/index.html

Another Piece Added to the TSA Empire!

One has to look closely at the press release, from the TSA, concerning the investigation and firings that took place at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) to notice a new entity. (You can read about the causes and the outcome by following this link.)

http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2011/0610.shtm

Tucked away in this press release from the TSA is an announcement about a "newly established Office of Professional Responsibility."

We are puzzled, what exactly does the Office of Personnel Management do? Should this not be part of their responsibility? Let's just create redundancies and a bigger empire. Let's just make sure that all of those in our bloated staffing pool have something to do.

(By the way, the unions vying for the right to represent the TSA workforce claim that there was too much pressure caused by an unbearable workload. So, that condition cause a security breach that was sanctioned by the FSD at HNL.)

Can you read between the lines?

Messrs. Gerry L. and Uncle Mike, just how many emails do you think will go out from us? You have to be kidding! What does the posting of your letters on the very same day that they came out tell you? There is more to this movement than meets the eye. Management has ticked off too many people. We plan to do all that we can to put an end to this private contractor gravy train.

Management had their chance, over the preceding years, to do the right thing and you have failed badly! Think about how this never would have happened if you had shown us some respect, appreciation and concern for the issues that are important to us. You never thought for a moment about our families or loved ones. You have shown that you could not care less about us, it was a take it or leave it attitude.

Even a dog knows the difference between being bumped into and being kicked. We have been kicked for the last time.

Let's give a standing ovation to Sen.Jim DeMint!

We are not the only ones who see through this push by AFGE and NTEU for unionization. It's about time someone put their foot down and said that enough is enough.

Sen. Jim DeMint states, " the decision would benefit "union bosses and Democratic Party coffers" at the expense of American security." This is just a way for the Democratic Party to increase the size of their campaign re-election contributions. Unions are the biggest contributors to the Democratic Party, can you see why? Deals like this are all too common.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/05/unions-head-showdown-senate-tsa-representation/#ixzz1DBqZv5Sw

Because we have been quiet.....

Doesn't mean that we have not been active. It doesn't mean that we have stopped trying to accomplish our goals. We have been working hard behind the scenes. We have not stopped and are continuing to press forward.

For the most part, we had been trying to post something everyday to share our opinions and what you share with us. We will continue to share and update you on our progress.

Thanks once again to all of you who have helped us with your support and input, it is very much appreciated.

There You Go Again, Gerry!

Mr. Gerald Berry of Winter Springs, Florida, has been quoted in the St.Petersburg Times, saying that the employees of CAS are very, very close in pay to our TSA counterparts. What he failed to say is what his definition of close means. Are we 1 dollar an hour away? 2,3,4 dollars an hour away? Please tell us just how close you want us to think we are? Unfortunately, we know the truth.

And while we are at it, let's talk about the shift differential we are not getting. Mr.Berry, we know about that also. You neglected to mention that juicy tidbit in your interview. It must have been an oversight, right?

We also suspect that, since Mr.Berry and Mr. Mica are in the same congressional district, they are drinking out of the same punch bowl. Is this an acid flashback from the 60's? We can't wait to hear more from this traveling road show. Look out, folks, the circus is in town!

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/airlines/tsa-shuts-door-on-moves-to-private-airport-security/1148775

Just one more post!

I can't pass up an opportunity to put in a piece about Mr.Mica's good buddy Mr. Gerry Berry.

Gerry Berry points out that an advantage a private contractor has is he can fire an undesirable employee much quicker. Well, if the hiring process was improved so that so-called undesirable employee was never part of the workforce that would not be an issue. So, Mr.Berry, what other benefits does having a private contractor add? Oh, yes, that's right! Reduced workers compensation, revenue sharing with the Airport Commissions and Re-election campaign contributions.

If we have left anything out, please inform us.

What drugs are John Mica taking?

The announcement from TSA that they will not be adding any additional airports to the SPP head count has Rep. John Mica angry. According to him, "nearly every positive security innovation since the beginning of TSA has come from the contractor screening program." Err, Mr. Mica, name one!

This has Mr.Mica saying that he will call for an investigation. Will his investigation gloss over the fact that it costs 9 to 10% more to have private contractors perform the same services? Will he also conveniently overlook the re-election campaign contributions and revenue sharing with the Airport Commissions?

Mr.Mica states that the TSA was never meant to become this giant 62,000 plus workforce. His solution? Just have TSA manage the private contractor screening processes. So, it will be 20,000 TSA oversight managers watching over the 42,000 private contractor employees. Is this not still a 62,000 member workforce? The only difference is the 42,000 private contractor workforce will cost you 9 to 10% more. Why would the Obama Administration want to increase expenditures when they don't have to?

Let's call for an investigation of Mr.John Mica and his backroom deals! Let's expose the real reasons for this call for opting out. What say you, my Brothers and Sisters!

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/29/tsa-expand-private-screening-program-airports/#ixzz1CX8VsNtz

Union Representation For TSA Screeners

The cost, for letting the TSA rank and file become unionized, is expected to be in the neighborhood of 30 millions dollars. That 30 Million dollars will go to the union that gets to represent the workforce.

They estimate that the union dues will be around $50 a month. 50 bucks a month times 50,000 workers works out to be 2,500,000 per month. Not bad for a union that does nothing for their members.

National Opt Out Day

As most should know by now, today is the day. Will there be even more massively long lines than usual? We should know in a couple of hours. TSA/CAS will be attempting to have two lines at those checkpoints with the AIT. One for those that want to go through the naked body scanner, and one for those that are opting out.

We will say this for those that want to know. We know of no TSO/LTSO/STSO that actually enjoys looking at the images or of any Officer that enjoys performing the new pat downs. Most either just suck it up and do it or begrudgingly do it. It's not a pleasurable thing for Officers either way. It's just our job.

As generally the case with a hierarchical structure such as the TSA, the orders come from the top and work their way down to the men and women on the front lines. If we refuse to do it, we could lose our job, since it is considered part of our job. So if you're a member of the flying public, keep that in mind before you decide to tear in to an Officer for doing their job. What we do recommend is that you write a formal letter of complaint to TSA, DHS, the Whitehouse, and your congressman or congresswoman.

I can only speak for myself on this issue, and I know that I am in the minority with most of my co-workers in saying that I think the AIT as well as these new pat down procedures to be ludicrous. If, as Janet Napolitano and John Pistole are saying that it's necessary for security, then why did it take TSA 10 months to implement the new pat down procedures? Why did TSA react to the Yemen threat by banning printer cartridges of a certain size when any number of things that come through a check point could contain an IED?

These are the types of questions that the media should be asking of Napolitano and Pistole. Congress should be demanding answers to these questions. TSA spent $45 million dollars over two year ago attempting to implement Checkpoint Evolution in which one of the stated things was to become more proactive and not reactive. Once again, why have all of TSA's latest actions not only been reactive, but downright overreactive?

TSA has become a bloated behemoth of a monster. I know that I differ with some of my fellow contributors to this blog when I state that replacing Covenant Aviation Security with TSA at SFO is simply not the panacea that many think it will be. To replace one incompetent bureaucracy (CAS) with an even larger incompetent bureaucracy (TSA) hardly seems worthwhile. And just who is TSA accountable to when they screw up?