What Civilair are saying is that if you are inconvenienced over this period, like you have been for 12 months, it won't be because of any industrial action on controllers part.
But that it will be because of the long term mismanagement of controller numbers. Controllers physically just can't keep working Emergency Duty to cover for the lack of staff.
We wish we had adequate numbers, like they do in the corporate headquarters i.e Alan Woods Building aka BS castle, but we don't.
I am attempting to fly over this period. Good luck to everyone, and Merry Xmas.
For those in BS castle (all 480+) the less than 800 controllers hope you have a restful and recuperative Xmas standdown period. Please let TFN know that 2/3 of his staff (Firies, Techs, Ausfic, controllers, FDCs, etc) don't get a break and his New Year message that he hopes we have come back refreshed and ready for a great 2009 is somewhat insulting.