Yahoo
I work at a band 5 unit (TC) - never hidden that fact and I have also never hidden the belief that although I think there should definitely be a differential in pay between some units, I think the banding system per se is unfair.
I think that all ATCOs are well paid, I don't believe £100k would be too much for a true Band 5 unit (in answer to
SteveBBH), however although fairly well paid, I believe some lower band units deserve more money. However that is subjective on my part and not an argument I am willing to get into - not because I am scared I will lose it, but because all units at lower banding feel they should be better paid - not neccesarily at band 5, but more than they are. I have my views as do others - we are all entitled to them - doesn't mean my views are correct.
Suffice to say - I believe a pay differential is fair within NATS, but I do not believe it is done fairly at the moment. Do I know how to fix it - (I don't mean a quick fix of paying lower bands more immediately) - the answer is no.
SteveBBH
I did notice the devil, as it happens, however you were right to pick up the use of sensationalist words such as obscene and grossly!!
However as I stated above - I don't think a £10k rise for Band 5 to £100k top of scale would be over the top. However I sympathise with your daughter - as I stated in previous post, you can compare with any number of different jobs/responsibilities to make it fit any argument. (I have a cousin who is a palliative care nurse for cancer patients.. gets paid mid £20k for a harrowing job I know I could not cope with - do I think that's enough - of course not)
AAVA per hour at a band 5 unit ranges from £78 to £61 per hour depending which shift you get called in for - thats approx £47 to £36 per hour after deductions.
AAVA's certainly at TC are not biddable - you get asked on a rota system - if you are eligible through SRATCOH then it's whoever holds the correct validation and is top of the list... cascading down until someone accepts.
If you are off sick,
I believe there is now a thing in force where you cannot get an AAVA for 2 weeks afterwards.
As for the amount of AAVA's maybe equating to 50/30 average ATCOs possibly true figure, however by using AAVA's you have enhanced flexibility - one ATCO might only be valid on a couple of sectors, whereas from within the pool of AAVA's you have validations for every sector.
To man the OPS room fully at all times would actually cost the company an awful lot more by using full time staff than it does by using AAVA's - because ATCOs are sector specific.
Night time manning is vastly reduced and the people who do not do nights 'spin' onto other watches, thus complementing numbers... this alleviates some of the problems but not all.
Have you never thought that NATS are being sneaky and the benefit of ATCO Towers is the production of future ATCOs'
?