NY Daily News Not Naming Names of Nameless, Faceless Private Security

We missed this February 28 article because it does not name the "security firm" involved.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-28/news/31105829_1_taxiway-boom-truck-port-authority

The firm is not named, but still I must revise my previous post - it looks like there were no moving vans involved!

Money quote: "Moore also blamed ... the security firm for doing nothing when it spotted the truck".

Now that security firm is being sued!

New York Daily News doesn't need to name the firm, they're all pretty much the same. Except some might have higher insurance rates, and higher priced lawyers, and lobbyists, and legal settlement costs, and profit-sharing offers with local airport boards. And that motivates said employees of "security firm" to do what? Moore? Exactly!

Why Is The TSA Still Insisting....

that there is no danger from the airport body scanners?

The European Commission has ban the use of these machines and this decision affects every airport in Europe.

A recent PBS Newshour/ProPublica report, stated: "Research suggests that anywhere from six to 100 U.S. airline passengers each year could get cancer from the machines."

Maybe the TSA knows better than our overseas partners. What do you think?

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-11-29/news/fl-tsa-scanners-banned-20111129_1_airport-body-body-scanners-backscatter

We may all rest easy now!

The TSA Administrator, Mr. John Pistole, has recently stated that there is no need for any additional testing, by an outside laboratory, to allay the uneasiness of the flying public about the safety of the full body scanners. We guess, that includes all of us, who are exposed to this so called "safe radiation."

Somehow, we are not satisfied with his lack of concern or his assurances, are you?

http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-tsa-backscatter-study-20111117,0,3721876.story

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/11/tsa-says-no-new-study-of-scanner-health-impacts-needed.html

More Cancer Concerns at Portland and Puerto Rico!

The TSA workforce in Portland and Puerto Rico have also reported higher clusters of illnesses that they suspect are caused by the body scanners.

According to this article the TSA doesn't seem to care much either way. (Why are we not surprised?) As long as they can sit safely away from these machines why would they care about a health risk?

What safeguards would they have in place for themselves? Afford us the same peace of mind and safety precautions that they would want.

We think that the time is right for the TSA to issue dosimeter badges to all employees. It would show us that we are not expendable and that our concerns are your concerns.

Read the full article at : http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2011/07/airport_body_scanners_causing_cancer_portland_tsa.php

What do we hope to accomplish?

Body Scanners!

We have supplied you with information which we deem to be of high importance. A tremendous amount of time is spent gathering and reading this information before it is released to you.

Too many medical centers have cast more than a shade of a doubt about the information that has been released by the TSA. The government has a history of telling half truths, and, when it concerns us all, whom would you rather believe? The TSA or these professors and scientists?

The TSA statement that there is minimal risk is unacceptable, especially now when so many are speaking up about the safety of these body scanners.

Let your voice be heard! Send emails or letters to the TSA or to your elected officials demanding more complete and truthful information.

TSA, Is there something that you don't want us to know?

Many months ago, USA Today, requested information on the results of radiation testing of the Xray equipment used at airports. TSA has just recently announced that there may have been "record keeping errors" and has asked for a retest. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said the TSA found problems with more than one-quarter of the reports it reviewed, "including gross errors about radiation emissions.

Why has TSA waited so long to release this information? This information is of vital importance to those of us that are manning these machines, we are at risk! This behavior is totally unacceptable and inexcusable.

Wednesday the 16th, a House oversight subcommittee will hold hearings regarding the TSA oversight of the full body scanners.

Read the full story here at: http://bit.ly/e5efdU

TSA- The Best Choice of the available options

We all know that it's not perfect, but I would much rather expend energy trying to fix what is wrong at TSA versus trying to fix what is wrong at CAS. I would rather tackle the 800 pound gorilla and go straight to the source of all these security missteps and over reactions. Let's be instrumental pushing for procedural changes within TSA! Let's meet this challenge head on by offering sensible changes and solutions based on our own years of experience. Let's use our method of "Engage" to get things changed. Someone, somewhere should finally see that this is a valuable resource that should be used. We will keep searching until we find that someone!

The problems at TSA are numerous, too numerous to list. But, if we care at all about what we are doing, or what we are suppose to be doing let's fight to make things better. TSA needs to start listening to those in the trenches who want to make things better. Don't let our years of experience count for nothing! We are here to help, use us.

Radiation Exposure Levels at Checkpoints and Baggage

There is an article in USA Today concerning radiation exposure levels and the ability to test and detect machine malfunctions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that TSA take steps to protect against excessive exposures.

USA Today requested, in November, to review the current inspection reports for the 4080 x-ray machines, and the 221 new full body scanners currently in use. So far, TSA has not released that information. Why? There have been reports about cancer clusters amongst TSA colleagues at airports in Boston and San Juan.

The article points to the millimeter wave machines as being much safer than the ionizing radiation machines.

Read the full stories at:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-12-06-tsa-xray-inside_N.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-12-06-tsa-xray-inspection-records_N.htm

Will they get it right this time?

Bid lines are scheduled to be previewed next week; will our wonderful management team fall flat on their faces once again?

It should not be that hard to figure out a schedule, just look at how many people are shifted around each and every day and to where.

That part may be beyond the capabilities of our mental midgets. We seem to have collected all the available village idiots and made them an offer that they could not refuse. At some point, after so many failed attempts to get it right, the axe should fall. But, as we all know, that rarely happens to the chosen ones.

Let's try something new! How about using a suggestion box in the EAC for our opinions and helpful suggestions? Let's ask the boots on the ground for some help, after all, we are the ones who have to live through the shortcomings and shortsightedness. This way you could shift the blame on us, because you will never give us any credit for anything good that happens around here.

As usual, we will be judging your efforts and voicing our opinions. Prove to us that our criticism is unwarranted and that you can learn from your mistakes.

This madness has to end now!

This madness has to end! The treatment that CAS has deemed fit to bestow on the employees proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that they are not concerned for our well being. We will leave no stone unturned as we continue our campaign to be treated as respected, appreciated, professional employees under the TSA umbrella.

The working conditions have been steadily getting worse with no end in sight.

Management keeps turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to our concerns and suggestions. We will not stand by and watch our fellow employees being mistreated and abused without attempting to bring these injustices to light. How long will TSA just stand by and do nothing?

Can I have a pair of diamond ear rings with that bracelet?

What's a manager to do with too much time on their hands? Some would go to the SCC and randomly pick checkpoints to see if they can find anyone doing anything they shouldn't be doing. Others may choose to play Hearts or Spades or surf the net. Perhaps they would just make a run to the Tanforan mall to pick up a new pair of shoes.

Well, that's the dilemma that faces Dena Crawford on a daily basis. Since she has so little to do, after all, there are only four managers in the training department, she has decided to start a home business. Oh wait, not a home business, but a home business ran at work.

Crawford openly solicits people whenever they go to the training lab to buy jewelry. If that isn't enough she's using trainers in the lab to help her. How, you might ask? She is having trainers run down to the checkpoint to tap people out specifically so they can go to the lab to complete a transaction.

How is it that Ryan Yee has been allowing this to happen all this time? Why does he continue to protect the ineptitude of this manager? Mindy Pengel might be wise to have IT pull Crawford's email records to see if she's using company email to help run the business as well. Hell, if Crawford has the cojones to send trainers to do her work, then it wouldn't be any surprise that she's using company email. After all, her buddy Yee will protect her to the death.

Must we state the obvious? Ok, we will! This manager is making anywhere from $75K to 90K a year. She gets parking privileges at Terminal 3, just like all the other managers. She has a cushy job that rarely does she ever have to work past 6PM. Yet she can't find enough in her day to fill the hours? How about creating some adequate training initiatives for the work force? Let us not forget as well, that indirectly, she is being paid by all of our tax dollars! We're PAYING her to run her own business while she's on the public dollar. If she is that incapable of finding 8 or 9 hours of productive work to do in a day, then we think it's time that she be terminated. Because, it's obvious that her position is not needed.