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"?

We have a question!

Why was the copy of the latest signed CBA, that was sent to the TSA, so heavily redacted?

Just what doesn't CAS want the TSA to know?

We will supply an non-redacted copy to the TSA if we are contacted.

Let's get to the bottom of this subterfuge!

What a surprise....another backroom deal between Covenant Aviation and SEIU.

Covenant and SEIU have joined forces once again to stick it to the employees!

Information that we have received, that was dated 9/17/15, disclosed a cozy and convenient arrangement.  SEIU wants to guarantee that they are the union that will represent the workforce, whether Covenant retains the contract or not. So, what does Covenant get in return? How about the political clout of SEIU?

And why has the union asked for -- and been granted by Covenant -- access to the last four digits of our social security numbers? This information is "personally identifiable information." Is this even legal? What gives Covenant the right to make that decision?

We have submitted this information to the appropriate parties for review.

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.

.

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!

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.

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

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!

It has been filed!

On Monday May 13th, on behalf of those employees who are fed up with our do-nothing-but-take-our dues union, SEIU, a motion was filed with the NLRB to have SEIU de-certified as the union that represents the CAS workforce.

The plan that we have heard being discussed is to have a committee made up of three members of the workforce, both from the checkpoint and baggage communities.  This new committee will form the basis of a new bargaining group that will be responsible for negotiating a new CBA with CAS, or whichever entity assumes control of the TSA SPP contract.

We will keep you posted with any new developments that we are made aware of.

May this be the start of our new beginning.

http://nlrb.gov/rights-we-protect/employee-rights

2012-The Year in Review

Let us rate the performance of our management team, SEIU, and the changes that were made to our compensation packages.

The performance of management should be split into two halves:  the first six months and the second six months.

Using a grading scale from A through F we will generously assign a grade of D- to the first half.

Now, for the second half, we will assign an F-.  The new incoming president, Stormin Mike Boles, is totally and completely responsible for all the changes that were made. This management team with Boles at the helm is the worst that we have had by far.

SEIU receives a grade of F-.  They have more than stuck it to the very ones whom they were suppose to represent.  In some circles they are known as, "The union of concessions."  We wholeheartedly agree.
Changes to the compensation packages -- Grade F-

Add all of the above together and we arrive at where we are right now.  We have changed a workforce that was motivated, dedicated, and professional into a workforce that is now dispirited, unmotivated, and just going through the motions.  This company and its new policies have created a workforce that will not and cannot deliver "world class customer service." 

When a company treats their employees in a way that shows that they are unappreciated and disrespected, in a way that shows how little they care about our families and our concerns, how could they expect anything else?

Your union at work!

Many of us are wondering just how this latest contract offer from CAS was able to pass.  With so many of us voting "no", how could this happen?  Well, it seems that if one was able to vote, but didn't, their missing vote was counted as a "yes."  What's that you say?  Huh?  WTF?  There's more than something shady going on here!  

Add that to the fact that the union was counting the votes themselves, unmonitored, and we all know that they wanted us to vote yes.  Imagine this:  all the "no" votes go into the pile on the left, and the "yes" votes we will keep right here.  Hey, wait a minute, did anyone see where that pile on the left went?  Gee, they must have been counted already! 

We expect and deserve more from a union that is supposed to look out for us.  They have been nothing other than self-serving.


BTW, we hear that the dues will be going up in January.  Why are we not surprised!

CAS giving us the bird once again!

On December 5th, CAS will once again be giving us the "bird"  for our combination Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.  Rumor has it that CAS will not be handing out the year-end bonuses at this time.  It seems that they are planning to hand them out after the rank-and-file vote on their latest CBA offering.  This is a blatant attempt to influence the outcome of the vote!  Where's their Christmas spirit?

And as for the "surprise" visitor,  if it isn't the TSA Administrator, John Pistole, announcing a federal takeover of SFO -- please have him or her stay at home. 

And, speaking about the vote, we urge all of you to vote a resounding "no" on this insult.  

We all know that the union is pushing for passage on this offer saying, "this is the best that we can do."  How so?  Has anyone heard of our union submitting any kind of alternative offer to CAS?  They have only "accepted " this slightly better offer thinking, in their "small" minds, that they have actually won the battle.  They were, and still are, totally unqualified to bargain and represent us. 

And, will there be an outside unaffiliated monitor present during the counting of the votes?  We certainly hope so!

Uniform Allowance? Huh?

The TSA workforce has a uniform allowance that has just been raised to 446 dollars a year.

What uniform allowance do we get?  We can't even get them to buy us the shoes which are part of our uniform.



Greed at its finest! Just lies, lies, and more lies from our management and our union.


Under the labor agreement, TSA employees will see their uniform allowances nearly double to $446 per year.
http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1749

Weather Forecast For Tomorrow--Snow Job Heading Our Way!

SEIU will try to convince the workforce that the latest offer presented by CAS is fair and the best that they could do.  They will tell you that they recommend workforce approval.  

 

What they won't tell you is why they think that we cannot get a better deal.  They won't tell you that they want to start collecting dues again ASAP.  They won't tell you that this is a sellout on their part. 

 

Just what have they tried to do that benefits us?  This latest proposal benefits only CAS.

The question that should be asked is, "why have they given up? "  We expect more from this do-nothing-but-take-our-dues union.  Demand that they go back to the bargaining table, and this time really work for us.  Show the workforce what you have not shown us since day one.  SEIU, do the job as it is supposed to be done.  Earn your keep!

Vote "No" On This Lastest Offer From CAS!

This offer is full of take away items and give backs.

The company wants you to focus on the raise that they want to give you.  They want you to focus on the number of sick hours we will receive.  They want you to focus on the fact that they will pay 85% of any hospitalization costs if you are admitted for care.  They want you to focus on your PTO carryover and new accrual table.  It's a classic case of misdirection!

Focus on this instead:

Under this latest plan, you would lose your parking allowance.  Your PTO accrual rate would be lower than it was under the old plan.  Your up-front and out-of-pocket expenses for your medical coverage would skyrocket.  

The raise that they plan to give us would be funded by the givebacks and takeaway items.  Do the math!  Multiply the monthly parking allowance by twelve.  Compare the number of PTO days that we should have to what they are offering, and then multiply that by your hourly wage.  Your co-pay per medical visit would double.  Your hospitalization cost would go from zero to 15% of the total cost, to a maximum of $3,000 per year.  And that is just for someone with no dependents!  That number jumps to $6,000 for someone with a family.  

Now, total up these differences (along with some that we have not listed), and subtract from that total the amount of the raise that they plan to award us.  As you can see, they would be giving us a raise with the money that they are planning to take away from us.  Imagine this:  you take $2000 from me, then later tell me, "You're such a good friend, I'm going to give you $500 as a gift."  Can we see how they don't want us to focus on where the money is coming from?  Is it truly a benefit to us?

Now why would SEIU tell us to vote "yes" on an offer like this?  

Let's see!  CAS declared that negotiations were at an impasse.  An impasse means that we are now an "Open Shop."  An "Open Shop" means that no one has to pay any dues -- which means that the union is working for free.  Yikes! They can't have that!

So, what's a union to do?  How about accepting and endorsing an offer like this to get the dues money flowing again.  Never mind that it is a very bad deal for the employees; they want their dues.

We heard through the rumor mill that the union plans to put this offer up for vote early next week.  Spend some time reviewing for yourself the information that we have just presented. 

We strongly urge a "No" vote on this latest insult!

An Interesting Article About Union Dollars

This may come as an eye opener to some!

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/hot-dogs-slick-ads-unions-spent-4-4-151032009.html

It Would Be A Big Mistake For CAS...

to believe that they can submit and get ratified this drastic cut in employee benefits.  This is a pipe dream of theirs that will never pass.  

 

Who amongst the dues-paying membership would even consider casting a "yes" vote for this load of horse manure?  We urge a "no" vote on this -- if and when it ever comes up for a vote. (If the union tells us that this is the best that they can do, let's de-certify them.)

If CAS thinks that we lack resolve and solidarity, they are badly mistaken.  As a workforce, we will all stand united.  We don't need to rally behind our do-nothing union in order to show that we are unified.

 

There is a big difference between the workforce and this management team:  the workforce knows right from wrong!  

We are willing to help CAS reduce their drain on cash reserves.  In fact we can offer some suggestions of our own.

1.  Reduce management salaries and benefits by 50%

2. Close all satellite offices and move the management team to the Bay Area.

3. Move to Fresno where there is plenty of cheap, affordable housing and start a carpool.

4. Start parking at See's Candy and walk to the long-term parking garage to catch the shuttle bus.  (If you schedule it right, you can plan on catching it every 5 minutes.)

5. No paid holidays for management. 

6. Give up golf and start carrying a deck of cards.

7. Fire the lobbyist.