Disgust with Mangement

I worked in the insurance industry (as an underwriter) for a few years prior to becoming a CFI.
The requirements (6mo employment) in a group life insurance policy are negotiated in advance. You can think of it as buying a car and being able to select different options. The option of having life benefits start on day 1 was available to TSA but this may have increased the premiums slightly. Or you could think of it the opposite way, in many policies it is the default where benefits start on day 1 but TSA selected an option to have them begin 6mos after in order to get a discount.
 
SpiraMirabilis said:
I worked in the insurance industry (as an underwriter) for a few years prior to becoming a CFI.
The requirements (6mo employment) in a group life insurance policy are negotiated in advance. You can think of it as buying a car and being able to select different options. The option of having life benefits start on day 1 was available to TSA but this may have increased the premiums slightly. Or you could think of it the opposite way, in many policies it is the default where benefits start on day 1 but TSA selected an option to have them begin 6mos after in order to get a discount.
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That was my thought. CIGNA and others make it the default to start accepting premium early - that is what they like. That said, TSA had reasons for selecting this option. None of this will matter to the Walsh family or ease their pain of course - but for you TSA ALPA guys and IAM (I assume) guys - make sure this is addressed with the company when you have an opportunity. It would be a lasting tribute to Mr. Walsh to have this changed so that the tragedy would not befall another - which is a meaningful tribute indeed.
 
Mr. Walsh,
This is the first I have heard about this. For what its worth I am sorry for your loss and the way you have been treated.

I have no idea what is going through people's mind at this time. Anyone standing up for how the management is acting is ridiculous. Actions speak louder than words. People here have made it clear that CIGNA won't be helping due to the contract. Thats life... I've been in similar shoes. But in terms of how TSA is deciding to treat its employees is on the brink of inhumane. Not even an acknowledgement? Not willing to go to bat? Can't organize a fund raiser?

In this day and age it seems that pilots are the only ones that will take care of pilots... I hope this story reaches main line media and hits home to management everywhere. Treat others the way you want to be treated. If there is anyway I can help get this message out, please let me know.
 
DavCo said:
Mr. Walsh,
This is the first I have heard about this. For what its worth I am sorry for your loss and the way you have been treated.

I have no idea what is going through people's mind at this time. Anyone standing up for how the management is acting is ridiculous. Actions speak louder than words. People here have made it clear that CIGNA won't be helping due to the contract. Thats life... I've been in similar shoes. But in terms of how TSA is deciding to treat its employees is on the brink of inhumane. Not even an acknowledgement? Not willing to go to bat? Can't organize a fund raiser?

In this day and age it seems that pilots are the only ones that will take care of pilots... I hope this story reaches main line media and hits home to management everywhere. Treat others the way you want to be treated. If there is anyway I can help get this message out, please let me know.
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CIGNA wont go to bat - just wont. TSA's attitude and lack of even the simplest of courtesy is incredibly troubling though. It is actually shocking.
 
Thank you to those of you who have posted.

For clarification – Matthew’s co-workers took up a collection and sent it along with a sympathy card soon after Matthew died. Three months later, some employees of Trans States also held a fund raiser and sent gifts along with money raised to Jamie and Scarlet for Christmas. We greatly appreciated all that the employees did for the family. This was pointed out in the article.

I appreciate that the article about Matthew was in a journal for pilots. From the time he was a child, Matthew wanted to fly and be around airplanes. We gave him his first flying lesson for his 16th birthday. The kid flew like he’d been doing it his whole life.

When I asked him why he decided to become a mechanic first, he replied, “Dad, have you ever noticed that the pilot or the first officer walks around and inspects their aircraft before takeoff? I want to know everything about the plane I’m flying.”

Matthew chose to work the flight line on the nightshift. The reason: One of the jobs the mechanics would occasionally get to do was to taxi the jet to/from the hanger. Anything that would get him closer to the cockpit, that is where he wanted to be.

Thank you again for allowing me to share.

Tom Walsh
 
tw4sure said:
Thank you to those of you who have posted.

For clarification – Matthew’s co-workers took up a collection and sent it along with a sympathy card soon after Matthew died. Three months later, some employees of Trans States also held a fund raiser and sent gifts along with money raised to Jamie and Scarlet for Christmas. We greatly appreciated all that the employees did for the family. This was pointed out in the article.

I appreciate that the article about Matthew was in a journal for pilots. From the time he was a child, Matthew wanted to fly and be around airplanes. We gave him his first flying lesson for his 16th birthday. The kid flew like he’d been doing it his whole life.

When I asked him why he decided to become a mechanic first, he replied, “Dad, have you ever noticed that the pilot or the first officer walks around and inspects their aircraft before takeoff? I want to know everything about the plane I’m flying.”

Matthew chose to work the flight line on the nightshift. The reason: One of the jobs the mechanics would occasionally get to do was to taxi the jet to/from the hanger. Anything that would get him closer to the cockpit, that is where he wanted to be.

Thank you again for allowing me to share.

Tom Walsh
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Thank you for coming here.
 
Just an update.


Finally got back from the trip from hell today and got my ALPA mag and saw the letter Mr. Walsh wrote to the editor. I've been trying to get our union to push the company to at least write a letter of condolence so that Matt's daughter, Scarlet, will have it when she gets older.

If the company can't take the time to write a letter to the family of a murdered employee, hopefully our MEC chairman can write the letter expressing our condolences, etc. No surprise, we've heard nothing from the company a month after asking them to do this.
 
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