APC225

COUNCIL 21 WASHINGTON, DC
July 20, 2013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

KCM:

The International Office has asked us to send out the following information. We are getting increasing reports of instances that Flight Attendants are violating rules regarding known crew member access. As your Local President I implore all of us to play by the rules, if we do not, we stand to loose one of the best TSA benefits we have. KCM, as noted in the letter is not a right, but rather a privilege. The Government entrusts us to do the right thing when using this system.

The government approved Known Crewmember (KCM) program allows Flight Attendants and Pilots at many airlines to enjoy the convenience of expedited security screening. AFA worked with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to ensure that Flight Attendants be included in the program, which allows participating crew members to access sterile areas of the airport through a separate crew portal. It is up to each air carrier to determine whether they will participate in KCM.

The success of the program is dependent upon crewmembers demonstrating that they can be trusted to comply with all related requirements. In recent weeks, however, the TSA has found egregious violations of the KCM requirements related to prohibited items. Such conduct flies in the face of all that our Flight Attendants do to ensure the safety and security of every person on every flight.

TSA has served notice that any crewmember who violates the KCM requirements may lose their right to participate in the program. It also has warned that such violations could jeopardize the entire Known Crewmember program.

To protect your ability to participate in the Known Crewmember program, you must abide by the following rules:

-Authorized flight crew members must travel in uniform.

-Crewmembers may not transit the KCM portal with any TSA prohibited items.

-Carriage of another individual’s property through the KCM portal to circumvent screening is prohibited.

-All crew members transiting a KCM portal are subject to random screening.

Expedited screening is an earned privilege - not a right. While a majority of our AFA airline employers have chosen to participate, a few have not yet done so. Any breaches of the KCM requirements could jeopardize our standing in the program and the ability to expand it.

In Solidarity,

Local President DCA

APC225

How about serving notice that clear abuses will result in the prohibition of the individual from going through airport security of any kind, at any airport, for life. If we all have to start schlepping through regular security again, cutting in front of elderly, infirm, children, and first class passengers, it will be a shame.

Monkeyfly

It will be a shame.

But, sadly, not surprising.

Senior Skipper

Not wanting to kick off the inevitable us vs. them debate, but I don't get it....they misbehave, and we get punished??

If they can't handle the responsibility, take it away. Better still, get rid of the bad apples that are spoiling the lot...

APC225

Beauracracies punish everyone, not just the offenders. It's just the way it works. Because of two pilots, we ALL have to verbally state "runway verified." Because of two pilots, starting 4 Jan we will ALL have to sign that we're not fatigued before a flight. If the abuses continue we will ALL be talking about KCM nostalgically because it will be nothing but a memory.

LCAL dude

The sign at KCM says ALPA, not AFA/IAM/etc. We all knew it was a matter of time before the Trolly Dollys messed it up, let them go back to waiting in line with the rampers.

DeadHead

ALPA basically was the one who got the program up and running from the get go. Did AFA/IAM/etc invest and time and resources to lobby, research, and implement the KCM program?

I didn't think they did, but I'm curious if anyone had any firsthand knowledge of any other group getting involved other than ALPA.

El10

Just to be clear ALPA put out the same warning last week. TSA sent the msg to all stakeholders. Pilots and FAs have both caused problems.

Also the AFA wanted to support this but at the time that A4A was battling with AFA in the Delta union drive.

Now the non union pilots that enjoy this benefit again ride the backs of union membership for advancement. No in house union at DL or UA would ever been able to create KCM.

Slats Extend

I bet if KCM goes away, the classes in Artesia will get much larger....

Eisbaer

The ramp agents, mechanics, or Chelsea "supervisors" don't go through security.

There is no telling what are they bringing to work these days.