How do we protect ourselves?

With everything that the TSA has, and will, throw at us the next question should be, how do I protect myself from a loss of employment?

The simple answer is to follow the SOP 100% of the time!

Not sure, or don’t remember what you have read way back when? Tell your supervisor that you need and want to refresh your memory about the SOP procedures. Document when you told your supervisor and where you were. (Such as Pier B, Pier C, etc.) Have a witness who will be able to verify that this actually took place and jot down the time.

Once again, do not let an unresolved alarm go. Do not release a person or their property until you are absolutely certain that the alarm has been resolved. Do not look at the length of the line or the number of bags waiting to be screened. Do what we have been hired to do. Our only function is to provide security according to the TSA SOP standards.

A PiP is not an Occurence!

We recently learned that CAS has been intimidating some of the newbie checkpoint screeners into signing an occurrence form for failing a certain procedure that they were unfamiliar with.

We will not, and cannot, go into details relating to the exact procedure that is causing a PiP to be issued. But, CAS needs to do the right thing by making sure that everyone becomes familiar with this procedure and they also need to educate the "newbies" as to their rights.

Intimidation is not the proper course of action! Let's not take advantage of those who are less informed.

She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain When She Comes

It's that time of the year folks. Yes, the PSEs are fast approaching. Just remember, the tests aren't designed to trick you and it's not as difficult as you think it is. Take a breath and relax the best you can.

But remember, you do get three times to get it right. It's best to get it right the first time, but hey, none of us are perfect. For those of you that don't pass the first time, there is hope. You will be re-tested by one of those masters of intellect from the training lab, i.e., the Assistant Training Managers. And if you fail the PSE a third time you will be saved by the "Retain and Retrain" program...oh crap! Wait, that's only at TSA airports. Ahh...never mind. Well, hopefully you won't be secretly selected by management to be given extra special treatment on your retests. Because at Covenant Aviation Security, their motto is, "As soon as we hire ya, we look for any way to fire ya!"

Covenant Aviation Security Seeks Qualified Baggage Instructor

If you remember, a couple weeks ago we posted about a baggage instructor position being opened to all baggage certified people. Well, the deadline has come and gone and they have reposted the position.

One wonders why this is. Is it because, unlike TSA, this position is for no additional money? Or is it because we already have two extremely qualified people that perform these duties, once again, for no additional money? Or perhaps they didn't get the right candidate to apply?

The other odd thing about this posting is that it is opened to supervisors. The word on the street is that supervisors are apparently too expensive. So why is it opened to them? Then again, Leads were apparently too expensive to be doing recruiting and that hasn't stopped them from continuing to use Leads in that function.

But hey, if the rumors are true, none of this should be an issue at the beginning of the year when supervisors may once again be denied a raise. Don't worry, the precious management team at Covenant Aviation Security will take one for the team with the denial of a raise if it does happen.

Several hundred TSOs to be hired

One of the unsubstantiated rumors supposedly coming from TSA is that there will be several hundred TSOs hired in the coming months. This is in anticipation of Terminal 2's opening on April 14, 2011. God knows, these new TSOs would be welcomed because of our constant under staffing.  However, we find it hard to believe that Covenant Aviation Security will be able to meet this demand and frankly, it's not really Ryan Yee's, the Director of Training, style. He tends to wait till the last minute to get anything done.

We shall see...