To Be or Not to Be?

Well, that is the pressing question for DFOs right now. Herr Filbert sent out a memo stating that they will be inquiring as to whether or not DFOs would like to go back to single function. Apparently they're looking for a certain number to go one way or the other. But the more pressing question is why the change of heart?

For years it was all you ever heard from Jeff Pugh, our dear leader from the former regime: Dual Function this, dual function that. I swear the guy had dreamt sweet nothings whenever the topic of dual function came about. In fact, Pugh stated that as long as he was working at CAS, there would never be another CTX person hired.

Well, as we know by now, about a year and half after Pugh's forced departure, Filbert has a different opinion. I always theorized that the reason Pugh got such an erection about dual functions was because CAS somehow got TSA to pay more for dual functions. When you look at coverage and bodies, it never made any sense to have that many dual functions. So if that theory was correct, why would they have a change of heart all of a sudden? That's anyone's guess. I have my theories, but we can save that for another time.

So now that they're going to finally follow the SOP and require all baggage certified persons to be OSARP trained there is something that our 9000 Specialists need to be concerned about, and that is being out of a job. Well, they won't terminate you, but the need for your specialized position must certainly be in play.

Once they accomplish the training of all baggage certified persons, there will be approximately 200+ that will be OSARP certified. That is in addition to the 50 or so 9000 specialists SFO currently has. If I were a 9000 specialist, I would be looking for another job (hey, shouldn't we all be doing that anyway?) or see if you can somehow manage with an $8 an hour pay cut. And don't look for the union to protect you either. CAS is well within their rights to eliminate a classification. Also, don't forget that this is the last year of our current CBA and negotiations for the next contract will be starting again sometime this year.

Back to the original question of this post. If you're a DFO and considering going single function you do have to weigh some things. Keep in mind that most of the CTX TSOs are plank owners. So unless you're a plank owner yourself, you will be near the bottom of the seniority of the CTX classification. If you opt to go checkpoint, your seniority will certainly increase over time due to the inevitable attrition at checkpoint. Then again, would you really want to stay checkpoint every day where you're treated like children or stay in the bag room where you're treated as an adult? There is a reason why the churn over rate is so much higher at checkpoint than it is in the bag room.

I can't answer the question for you. In all honesty, you're probably better off not going single function for the time being and see how all of this plays out. If CAS gets to a point where they force you to choose, then you will have to weigh your options.

It's too bad that CAS is putting the DFOs through the same chaos that they put the CTX community in for the last couple of years. Keep your chin up, they're liable to change their minds again in another couple of years.

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.

Qantas Leaving SFO

Well, International A will soon be losing at least one of its airlines. Qantas is calling it quits at SFO citing that they get more business travelers out of LAX and Dallas/Ft. Worth is going to be the better option.

Hopefully this will alleviate some of the checkpoint congestion at International A. I'm sure the airport commission will find some other airline to fill that void. God knows International A has the room to expand!

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/qantas-dumps-sfo-heads-to-texas/story-e6frf7ko-1225987943183

TSA vs. Us?

As most of you know, there has been a lot of talk in the media about airports choosing to opt out of TSA and go with a private contractor, ala SFO. And if you're a regular reader you know that we regularly rail against Covenant, TSA, and SEIU. Well, there was a puff piece that hit the wires a couple weeks ago by Washington Post journalist Derek Kravitz. Here's the link if you care to read the piece:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/30/AR2010123004986.html

Mr. Kravitz actually contacted us. We reached out to him, but he ultimately didn't care to get a response from us in the end as he never followed up to anything we said to him. Such is life.

In the piece he did manage to track down Gerry Berry and got a few choice quotes from him. Notably this morsel: "We have to be good - equal or better than the feds. So we work at it, and we incentivize."

This was in response to the March Madness competition that is held every year. What is not mentioned is that we all know that the March Madness competition has only happened twice so far. Nor is it mentioned that it's not really opened to all TSOs, LTSOs, or STSOs. Yes, since it is a competition, they have every right to limit the contestants to people with no levels. But don't try to fool us or anyone else for that matter that it's the best of the best.

The incentivize part is the most interesting bit. What incentives are there working for CAS? Do the hard workers get bigger raises or bonuses than the poor or lazy workers? What about promotions? Yeah, yeah, we all know the answer to that.

Mr. Kravitz does manage to mention that private contractors cost 9 to 17 percent more than TSA. That's not hard to imagine when we see all the managerial redundancy between CAS and TSA.

The airport director at Kansas City, Mark VanLoh, like our own Mike Bolles, is under the impression that it's easy to get rid of poor workers at airports without TSA. Yeah right! When was the last time you heard of someone getting fired for being lazy? In fact, you're statistically more likely to get fired by being a hard worker than if you are lazy. The more bag checks and pat downs you do, the more likely you're going to make a mistake.

The problem with the current system is within TSA. Going private does not guarantee better security or service since we're required to follow the same procedures and mandates. Have we forgotten about the "extra security" that we had to do with hand wands? What about those forced ratios of pat downs required at the Walk Through? Or remember that experiment at Pier C when we forced passengers to take ALL of their electronics out of their bags? I bet the passengers were just tickled pink about all of that!

TSA needs to be fixed. And going private is not necessarily the solution. Better training and more investment in the work force so that that collective experience can be taken advantage of. Quick turn over of workers doesn't fix that. Not that poor or incompetent workers should be kept around.

So, Mr. Kravitz, when you're ready to talk and get a no-nonsense discussion about Covenant, TSA, and the whole SPP, you know how to get a hold of us.

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!"