Well, by now most of you have heard about who has been promoted to CTX STSO. And we must say that we're pleasantly shocked by Covenant Aviation Security's decision. This was very un-CAS like. Hopefully the three people will serve themselves and the responsibility of their new position well now and in the future.
For those that missed out and were passed up, keep your chins up! There will be more opportunities. And just remember that we're still in this together. In the mean time, we're still waiting to hear about the PAX STSO promotions. Yes, there have been some names mentioned, but nothing definitive just yet.
A blog dedicated to the TSOs, LTSOs, and BDOs at San Francisco International Airport that work for Covenant Aviation Security, LLC (CAS).
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Dan Lundgren, Career Politician
It's important to have information in our democracy, or so I'm told. Here's some information that I found that is so crazy - nah, it's about politics as usual, but the kind of stuff the Tea Partiers get fired up about:
He used to be Attorney General in California. He's Dan Lundgren, Republican. He's a Congressman now (or, again, it's his second time). He sits on an Aviation Subcommittee. He gets things done. Also, he gets campaign contributions from FirstLine Transportation Security's political action committee, and from Covenant Aviation Security LLC's CEO Gerry Berry.
Remember that name, Dan Lundgren. What party? Republican. Status? Incumbent, career politician. Contributors? Screening Partnership Program contractors. Politics? As usual. Tea Partiers? Time will tell, time will tell..
He used to be Attorney General in California. He's Dan Lundgren, Republican. He's a Congressman now (or, again, it's his second time). He sits on an Aviation Subcommittee. He gets things done. Also, he gets campaign contributions from FirstLine Transportation Security's political action committee, and from Covenant Aviation Security LLC's CEO Gerry Berry.
Remember that name, Dan Lundgren. What party? Republican. Status? Incumbent, career politician. Contributors? Screening Partnership Program contractors. Politics? As usual. Tea Partiers? Time will tell, time will tell..
Monday, September 13, 2010
Copy and Post
The following information was presented to Carly Fiorina and the Republican National Committee Chairman. Feel free to copy and post this information to any and all TSA related blog-sites that you wish.
There appears to be a political connection between SEIU and the Democratic state and local politicians.
There is a private company responsible for the security of the American public at SFO. This is part of the TSA "Screening Partnership Program" , or better known as "SPP." This contract between TSA and this private company is rather interesting. In the middle of all this is SEIU who represents the employees of this private company. (This began as a "pilot" program with a life expectancy of 3 years and is now completing 8 years.) One of the biggest questions one has to ask is, "how is the security for the sixth largest airport in the country controlled by a private company?" SFO has International flights and is one of the busiest airports in the country. Why is TSA allowing an airport of this size to be privatized? There is no other airport in the country the size of SFO under the control of a SPP contractor. We believe that SEIU and its political connections are behind all this.
A recent news article in the San Francisco Chronicle mentioned that in 2008 SEIU contributed 30 million dollars to California State and local Democratic officials. Just wait until the numbers for 2010 are revealed!
There appears to be a political connection between SEIU and the Democratic state and local politicians.
There is a private company responsible for the security of the American public at SFO. This is part of the TSA "Screening Partnership Program" , or better known as "SPP." This contract between TSA and this private company is rather interesting. In the middle of all this is SEIU who represents the employees of this private company. (This began as a "pilot" program with a life expectancy of 3 years and is now completing 8 years.) One of the biggest questions one has to ask is, "how is the security for the sixth largest airport in the country controlled by a private company?" SFO has International flights and is one of the busiest airports in the country. Why is TSA allowing an airport of this size to be privatized? There is no other airport in the country the size of SFO under the control of a SPP contractor. We believe that SEIU and its political connections are behind all this.
A recent news article in the San Francisco Chronicle mentioned that in 2008 SEIU contributed 30 million dollars to California State and local Democratic officials. Just wait until the numbers for 2010 are revealed!
Money on a String
As reported on this blog, the private contractors in the Pilot Program, now within the Screening Partnership Program, once were found to be a mere 17% more expensive than their federal counterparts. If this were the end of the story, probably the Screening Partnership Program would be done and buried since the TSA is required to keep costs similar between fed and private operations.
At least one contractor pushed back on this report, wanting to avoid a Career Decision Day. This contractor argued that the taxes paid by the contractor is money that comes back to the government, so this amount is not an actual expense to the government.
But folks, that would be a rebate. The difference is taxes are made to be avoided. One year you might be taxed, it might tick you off, and you might find a way to lower your tax obligation the next year. There is no guarantee the taxes will be paid consistently.
Sadly, though, it looks like the government bought the argument to some degree. And this bought the contractors time until TSA could raise wages enough for the contractor at SFO, Covenant Aviation Security, to undercut TSA's wages for experienced personnel in comparison. The next time they run the numbers private might come out even. Well played, ladies and gentlemen. You're "innovative" private sectors ideas haven't benefitted the public but you didn't lose the deal.
During this period, Covenant can be identified in one very public way. They've hired lobbyists to speak to Congresspersons and to speak to the General Accounting Office (source: OpenSecrets.org, listed as 'Covenant'). By law the lobbyists are required to file reports. They've been paying $15,000 a quarter for the past several years. They are using the same lobbyists (Smith Dawson Andrews) as San Francisco International Airport, maybe to save on cab fair or something.
It looks like hokey accounting must be in the mix when you talk about the Screening Partnership Program. First, note that Covenant Aviation Security has hired lobbyists. Next, note that experienced TSO's are better off federal. Finally, note that if someone is being paid to counter-balance this, why is that group doing nothing?
At least one contractor pushed back on this report, wanting to avoid a Career Decision Day. This contractor argued that the taxes paid by the contractor is money that comes back to the government, so this amount is not an actual expense to the government.
But folks, that would be a rebate. The difference is taxes are made to be avoided. One year you might be taxed, it might tick you off, and you might find a way to lower your tax obligation the next year. There is no guarantee the taxes will be paid consistently.
Sadly, though, it looks like the government bought the argument to some degree. And this bought the contractors time until TSA could raise wages enough for the contractor at SFO, Covenant Aviation Security, to undercut TSA's wages for experienced personnel in comparison. The next time they run the numbers private might come out even. Well played, ladies and gentlemen. You're "innovative" private sectors ideas haven't benefitted the public but you didn't lose the deal.
During this period, Covenant can be identified in one very public way. They've hired lobbyists to speak to Congresspersons and to speak to the General Accounting Office (source: OpenSecrets.org, listed as 'Covenant'). By law the lobbyists are required to file reports. They've been paying $15,000 a quarter for the past several years. They are using the same lobbyists (Smith Dawson Andrews) as San Francisco International Airport, maybe to save on cab fair or something.
It looks like hokey accounting must be in the mix when you talk about the Screening Partnership Program. First, note that Covenant Aviation Security has hired lobbyists. Next, note that experienced TSO's are better off federal. Finally, note that if someone is being paid to counter-balance this, why is that group doing nothing?
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Where should we be in pay?
We know there has been some confusion lately on some of our posts in terms of pay bands, TSA, money, etc. Let's try to clear some of this up.
TSA has a system called PASS (Performance Accountability and Standards System). This system is basically an incentive system. TSOs, LTSOs, and STSOs are graded on various metrics. Some of those include how well you scored on PSEs, IMAs, OMAs, OLC completion rate, quarterly reviews (yeah, when was the last time we had one of those?), et. al. How you score and are graded on those things determine your bonus and raise.
You can also get bigger raises by taking on additional duties, called collateral duties. Those duties can include being an OJT monitor, an instructor, being responsible for calibrating and general maintenance of various equipment.
There is some controversy within the TSA work force over PASS. People feel it can be unfair to have your raise determined by how well you do on a PSE. How many of us have had brain farts on it and failed? If you have a brain fart at that crucial moment, your raise can be lower. Hence, the reason many within TSA are arguing to become unionized. Many feel that the PASS system is an unfair system.
Keep in mind, TSA at the minimum, receives their COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) regardless. Most of the time that COLA is 3.9%. What has our raises been???
Ok, so let's get into numbers. A TSO starts at Pay Band D. The minimum that a starting TSO will make is $25,518 plus 35.15% locality rate for the Bay Area. That comes out to $34,487.58 as a minimum. A TSO at the D Band will max out at $38,277 with the locality pay of $51,731.37. These are the base rates. They do not include the various incentives one can receive within TSA.
The above rates work out to approximately $16.58 per hour up to $24.87 an hour. These are for TSOs at the D band. LTSOs will generally start out at F band and STSOs will start out at G band. If you want to check out these numbers, go to TSA's page listing all the pay rates for the various pay bands. And remember when you are factoring the hourly rates for the various bands, to add the 35.15% locality pay.
Now there are some caveats. TSA rarely hires full time employees off the street. You will generally have to put in some time, as much as two years before you can even go full time.
Speaking of two years, their probation period lasts for two years. Unlike our four month probation period, they have a much longer time on probation. However, they don't enforce their attendance policies with the same vengeance that Covenant Aviation Security does. To be fair, the Federal Government gives Covenant Aviation Security more money if attendance is high. So it's in Covenant Aviation Security's financial interest to ensure we all show up to work.
TSA also has to pay for a certain percentage of their health and dental coverage. Unlike us, where we get free Kaiser (and a damn good Kaiser plan) for ourselves and a partner, they have to pay. This is not unlike most companies. We admittedly do have it good in terms of our benefits. Except for the fact that TSA has their Federal pension plans. When is ours kicking in?
Now you all have a general idea of what is what. The GAO (Government Accounting Office) concluded that SPP airports such as SFO cost 17.4% more than their federal counterparts. That GAO report is very interesting and worth giving a read.
Under our CBA, the workers that benefit the most from it are new people. They would make less under TSA. For those of us that have put in three, four, five, or more years, we're losing out. Plain and simple. So why is this? Who exactly does this CBA benefit? SEIU, Covenant Aviation Security, TSA, or us?
According to the ATSA (Aviation Transportation Security Act), we're supposed to be paid the same or more than our federal counterparts. So why aren't we? Well, it could very well be because of our CBA. A legal loophole for Covenant Aviation Security not to pay us the equivalent.
It's time to decide guys. Which way are you going to vote in terms of our representation? What exactly do we get for the $500,000 approximately a year that goes to SEIU?
TSA has a system called PASS (Performance Accountability and Standards System). This system is basically an incentive system. TSOs, LTSOs, and STSOs are graded on various metrics. Some of those include how well you scored on PSEs, IMAs, OMAs, OLC completion rate, quarterly reviews (yeah, when was the last time we had one of those?), et. al. How you score and are graded on those things determine your bonus and raise.
You can also get bigger raises by taking on additional duties, called collateral duties. Those duties can include being an OJT monitor, an instructor, being responsible for calibrating and general maintenance of various equipment.
There is some controversy within the TSA work force over PASS. People feel it can be unfair to have your raise determined by how well you do on a PSE. How many of us have had brain farts on it and failed? If you have a brain fart at that crucial moment, your raise can be lower. Hence, the reason many within TSA are arguing to become unionized. Many feel that the PASS system is an unfair system.
Keep in mind, TSA at the minimum, receives their COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) regardless. Most of the time that COLA is 3.9%. What has our raises been???
Ok, so let's get into numbers. A TSO starts at Pay Band D. The minimum that a starting TSO will make is $25,518 plus 35.15% locality rate for the Bay Area. That comes out to $34,487.58 as a minimum. A TSO at the D Band will max out at $38,277 with the locality pay of $51,731.37. These are the base rates. They do not include the various incentives one can receive within TSA.
The above rates work out to approximately $16.58 per hour up to $24.87 an hour. These are for TSOs at the D band. LTSOs will generally start out at F band and STSOs will start out at G band. If you want to check out these numbers, go to TSA's page listing all the pay rates for the various pay bands. And remember when you are factoring the hourly rates for the various bands, to add the 35.15% locality pay.
Now there are some caveats. TSA rarely hires full time employees off the street. You will generally have to put in some time, as much as two years before you can even go full time.
Speaking of two years, their probation period lasts for two years. Unlike our four month probation period, they have a much longer time on probation. However, they don't enforce their attendance policies with the same vengeance that Covenant Aviation Security does. To be fair, the Federal Government gives Covenant Aviation Security more money if attendance is high. So it's in Covenant Aviation Security's financial interest to ensure we all show up to work.
TSA also has to pay for a certain percentage of their health and dental coverage. Unlike us, where we get free Kaiser (and a damn good Kaiser plan) for ourselves and a partner, they have to pay. This is not unlike most companies. We admittedly do have it good in terms of our benefits. Except for the fact that TSA has their Federal pension plans. When is ours kicking in?
Now you all have a general idea of what is what. The GAO (Government Accounting Office) concluded that SPP airports such as SFO cost 17.4% more than their federal counterparts. That GAO report is very interesting and worth giving a read.
Under our CBA, the workers that benefit the most from it are new people. They would make less under TSA. For those of us that have put in three, four, five, or more years, we're losing out. Plain and simple. So why is this? Who exactly does this CBA benefit? SEIU, Covenant Aviation Security, TSA, or us?
According to the ATSA (Aviation Transportation Security Act), we're supposed to be paid the same or more than our federal counterparts. So why aren't we? Well, it could very well be because of our CBA. A legal loophole for Covenant Aviation Security not to pay us the equivalent.
It's time to decide guys. Which way are you going to vote in terms of our representation? What exactly do we get for the $500,000 approximately a year that goes to SEIU?
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