Tuesday, October 15, Sonoma County SEIU 1021 members successfully pushed the Board of Supervisors to increase the number of airport operation specialists (frontline staff in charge of airport safety) from 8 to 10 at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.

The Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport has seen a record-breaking 700,000 passengers this year, a testament to its growing importance in the region. However, with this growth comes the pressing need for increased staff and safety measures, a responsibility that county leadership had continued to ignore.

Despite recent assurances from Sonoma County Board Chair David Rabbit, Public Infrastructure Director Johannes Hoevertsz, and Airport Manager Jon Stout, the reality on the ground at the airport told a different story. For example, Board Chair Rabbit boldly dismissed the existence of a runway sinkhole — a blunder that, had it gone unchecked, could have had lethal consequences. What would have happened were it not for the reporting on this issue by the Press Democrat?

Airport staff represented by SEIU 1021 have voiced their safety concerns to airport and county management for years about numerous issues, including:

• The deteriorating condition of the primary runway;
• The outdated airport fire station built with unreinforced masonry, which won’t withstand a major earthquake;
• Fire engines that need repairs & updated equipment to meet current FAA standards;
• Inadequate aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF) staffing levels and training;
• Approved construction of a fuel farm located at the base of the FAA air traffic control tower, alongside the new airport terminal, in the middle of a congested airside ramp.

During a June board meeting, Board Chair Rabbitt retorted: “[T]he FAA is the ultimate arbitrator at the airport of what is safe and not safe, not labor groups and not the newspaper.”

Failing to listen to staff and local reporting resulted in the FAA launching an investigation of the airport in July. This ongoing investigation has already validated staff concerns about violations of federal safety regulations.

“We applaud our Airport Operations Specialist staff for speaking up and standing up to their management on major safety issues that could have led to a tragedy at our local airport,” said SEIU 1021 Sonoma County Chapter President Travis Balzarini. “I’d like to thank our steward, Mark Fajardin Sr, for courageously testifying before our Board of Supervisors on October 15 about these staffing and safety issues as well as the toxic management culture our airport staff have endured. Mark’s testimony helped sway the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to approve two new positions, which will provide better coverage for their aircraft rescue firefighting duties and bring our airport closer to meeting the FAA’s required staffing levels. 

“Our chapter leadership will continue to push airport management and the Board of Supervisors for two additional airport operations specialist positions to allow time for proper training, maintenance of equipment, and to provide adequate coverage while staff are out sick or on vacation.”