BTW.....

you do realize that this gets worse, right?

Add to the 50,000 dollars that was used as an example in the previous post, the 936 dollar raise that was mentioned. Now, multiply 50,936 dollars by 2.3 percent. The union now gets 1,172 dollars in dues money!

50,936 by the agency membership rate of 1.74 percent translates to 886 dollars. Your actual raise for the year is 50 dollars.  But only if you are paying the agency rate fee.

Are you mad as hell yet?

Let's keep this going while we have your attention.

Take the gross income amount from your 2015 W2 and multiply that by 2.3 percent.

The union just loves it when you do overtime. The more you make, the more they make. 

Now tell us once again just how great SEIU is! Can you understand why they don't want to be pushed out as the union that represents the workforce?  They are laughing all the way to the bank!

SEIU-the union that gave back.....

our parking and shoe allowances and much, much more wants to use the dues money received from the workforce to fund their favorite political candidates in the upcoming elections!
Threatening letters have been sent out to those workforce members who have not been paying dues.  With those letters comes a dues authorization form that they want you to sign and return to them. Failure to become a dues-paying member will result in termination of employment with Covenant Aviation.

So, what is wrong with all of this? SEIU has not told you that you have the option to become a union member at a reduced membership rate of 1.74 percent instead of the full rate of 2.3 percent.  This is a blatant violation of the Beck Rights law. And, if you read the fine print on the full membership form, you acknowledge that your dues payment begins 31 days after you become a Covenant employee. If you have not been paying dues at all and sign this form, you could be liable for payment of back dues.

But, you do have some recourse!
You can file a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, (NLRB) against SEIU for not offering you the option to become an "agency" fee member.

You can also file a complaint against Covenant Aviation for threatening loss of employment for your failure to become a member of the union.

These complaints fall under the National Labor Relations Act, sections 7 and 8. How far you are willing to go with this is purely up to you!

So, who is getting the shaft once again?

A reader submitted these numbers as an example:

Certain members of the workforce received a 45 cents per hour increase in salary for 2016.  Now, multiply that 45 cents per hour raise by 2080 hours worked during the year. That translates into a increase of 936 dollars per year.

Now, for the sake of argument, let us use an annual average salary of 50,000 dollars a year. Multiply that 50,000 dollars by the full membership dues rate of 2.3 percent. That results in the union collecting a dollar amount of 1,150 dollars a year. If you use the same annual salary number multiplied by the agency dues rate of 1.74 percent, the dollar amount paid in dues is now 870 dollars per year. Are you getting the picture yet?

Now on top of that, multiply the annual rate of inflation as of the end of February 2016, which was 1.02 percent.  That results in a loss of buying power of 510 dollars a year. Are you feeling the love?

Folks, no matter how you slice it we are all getting the shaft big time!

The only ones who are coming out ahead are SEIU and Covenant Aviation.  Where's the integrity here to do the right thing?

The mission of Covenant Aviation is to make as much money as possible at the expense of the workforce!
Once again, should a for-profit company, whose main objective is to make as much money as possible, be responsible for providing "world class customer service and safety"?

U.D voting update!

The Counting of the Mailed in Ballots has been cancelled by The NLRB

On Monday the 19th at 3:00 PM the NLRB cancelled the counting of the mailed in UD ballots for the next day, Tuesday the 21st at 10:00 AM. It was cancelled due to the fact that only 393 ballots (mostly ‘Yes’ votes) were mailed back, 703 employees did not vote. The measure needed 549 votes to pass (50% plus one), half the CAS workforce. Unfortunately, we are still a closed shop as of now; you must pay dues (2.3% of your gross earnings) or get fired. The workers want an open shop! We will try again with a new walk-in election at the Airport!

The Committee of Covenant Screeners will be filing an “Objection to the Election” as soon as possible at the Regional office and also in the main board in Washington D.C. We have asked for a walk in election at the airport before this vote to get a high turnout. In addition, many workers did not get ballots. The harassing methods used by SEIU to intimidate and spread falsehoods are against Federal law. SEIU actions have severely compromised the laboratory conditions for a free, fair, and honest election!


The Good news is SEIU will disappear now for years, will not return phone call or e-mails and will not help you!
All they cared about was your money!

Don't fall for Union Scare Tactics. TAKE BACK YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE!

The (TSA) letter used to frighten screeners says nothing about taking away our pay and benefits (In fact, the author is content with the current contract, but would like to consider the SCA [McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act] being used in future contracts, which guaranties screeners earn the same or better of their TSA counterparts. The only people who would not benefit from the SCA would just be upper management).

Voting YES in the election lets YOU determine whether to contribute your HARD-EARNED money towards SEIU.

Voting YES gives YOU the power to show what you think of SEIU and how you expect them to EARN their dues in the future.

SEIU currently collects over $60,000 per MONTH for their "Protection". They won't just up and leave if you vote for Open Shop. They actually might start doing what they are paid to do.  ;-)

Submitted by a reader.

What is the truth? Where does the dues money go? (Submitted by a reader)

SEIU right now compels all Covenant workers to pay Full dues (2.3%) or agency Fee- Becks rights of (1.8%). We are the only airport in the U.S.A. that has to pay to keep this Job! How Insane! This is fundamentally wrong.

SEIU is telling all of us that they need all of our due's money. This is a lie!

The Facts are very little stays in the unit (chapter). The bulk of the money first goes to the San Francisco Labor council under Tim Paulson and then to the San Mateo County Labor council under Shelley Kessler and each take a “CUT” of it and do nothing for us! The rest of the money goes to the main International SEIU in Washington D.C. This helps pay SEIU President Mary Kay Henry a ludicrous salary of $350,000 (Not including benefits, perks, expenses and bonuses) and they also do nothing for us!

A "yes” vote – will release your obligation to pay union dues, and you can Continue to work at Covenant without paying S.E.I.U. The Collective Bargaining agreement will be unchanged except S.E.I.U. and their Shop Stewards will actually have to earn your money.

.

The choice is yours; it is time to vote!

Whether you vote yes or no is completely up to you. If you don't vote at all, it will be counted as a "no" vote. A "yes" vote will rescind the practice of forcing payment of union dues to keep your job..If you are undecided as to how to vote, just examine SEIU's past performance. Look at their track record regarding what they have done for, and to, the workforce.

Do you honestly feel that they have worked for what was in the best interest of the workforce?

This union has shown that the "only" thing that they care about is the collection of dues which they have failed to earn.

Have they ever negotiated or submitted an alternative counter offer to anything that Covenant has wanted?

Who can they blame for all the take-backs and give aways that Covenant has asked for and received?

Now they are asking the workforce to tell them what issues are important to us. Shouldn't they know the answer to those questions already? How about everything that that they gave away for starters?

A "yes" vote only removes SEIU's ability to force us to pay dues -- it doesn't relieve them of their responsibility to represent the workforce. Why should we, and why would we, want to pay dues to a union that has done absolutely nothing for us?

Think Long and Hard!

This article refers to SEIU as a powerful union. Where does that power lie, and how do they use it?

Their " power " comes from using union dues to fund reelection campaigns. Their " power " comes from backing politicians who are willing to stick it to the very people whose lives they should be working to improve.  Ask yourself if you want to continue to be victimized just like these union members who were forced to join and pay dues!

There are those of you who, as of yet, remain undecided on which way to vote on our Union De-certification motion. Read the article and then ask yourself, "Is this the type of union that I can trust? Is this the type of union that I want representing my interest?"

Once again their actions and level of greed speak volumes.

It is time to stand up for yourselves and say, "  Enough is Enough! " 



http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/09/26/michigan-seiu-branch-allowed-to-keep-millions-in-dues-skimmed-from-stealth/#

The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled last week that the SEIU Healthcare Michigan does not have to pay back more than $34 million in dues collected from over 40,000 home health care workers. Many were forced into the union under state requirements that they join because they were taking care of sick family members at home.

( The full article can be read by opening the link.)

Updated UD information!

Committee of Covenant Screeners for Deauthorization

Mail in Ballot for the Deauthorization (UD) Election, Vote Yes!

Fellow Covenant Employees:

The lying liars of SEIU and Covenant have a contract governing our employment. This contract contains a “union security clause” which requires each employee to pay dues to SEIU as a condition of employment. This is insane! Vote Yes!

However, under the National Labor Relations Act of 1951 (NLRB), employees have the right to call for a special, secret ballot election to have this forced-security cause deleted from the contract. This is called a “Deauthorization election”, (UD), because employees “deauthorize” the forced-security clause and remove it from the contract.

If 50% or more of the eligible employees vote in favor of the UD, the clause is struck out of the contract, and no employee will be forced to pay dues or fees to the SEIU. In short, a UD election has only one purpose: to remove the forced-dues clause from the contract, and require SEIU to earn its dues through voluntary contributions, instead of forced collections and threats to terminate you if you don’t pay up!

Our UD election is a mail in ballot from the NLRB.
The ballots will be mailed after 10-2 and will come to
your home address, we have till 10-16, Thursday to send
back the filled in ballots to the NLRB, the votes
will be counted on Tuesday the 21st at 11:00 AM.

It is Critical that each employee vote during the voting period! In order to win this election, we need a majority of all employees who are eligible to vote. An employee who fails to vote is, in effect, “Voting” for forced dues, and is voting to have no choice except to continue paying outrageous dues and fees to SEIU!

A strong union is not predicated on how much money you pay in dues! The Union is weak because of a POOR CONTRACT, POOR LEADERSHIP, and NO ADVOCACY!

Vote yourself a Raise! Vote Yes!

For your reading pleasure!

Please post the flyer below. Thank You!
Committee of Covenant Screeners for Deauthorization

UD petition for 2014

What is a De-authorization (UD) petition? In 1951 Congress granted us, the workers, the right to hold a secret ballot election to nullify the compulsory unionism clause (Closed Shop-the requirement to join the union and pay dues as a condition of employment). A successful election will give CAS workers the ability to de-authorize the security requirement. (Open Shop-employees cannot be fired for refusal to pay any dues!) CAS workers can use their own best judgment when deciding to financially support SEIU.

If a majority of employees at Covenant vote to remove the authority of SEIU-USWW to collect dues will the Collective Bargaining Agreement become unenforceable?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! The new contract remains in effect; the sole effect of the election is the removal of the security clause (Closed Shop). All other provisions and terms of the contract remain in full force and effect. Unfortunately the Lying Lairs of SEIU will crawl out of the rocks they live under and again attack the UD petition and upcoming vote! They will spend tens of thousands of (Dues) dollars! Why can’t they fight Covenant instead? Remember! It is in SEIU’s (The purple dues machine) best interest to lie and confuse you. They just want your Money!

If you haven’t signed the de-authorization (UD) petition yet, please give it your utmost consideration. Remember we are the only airport in the United States that has to pay to keep this Job! This is insane! Let’s keep our money! (Open Shop)


SEIU: The Union that sold us out!

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?

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.

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.

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!