NATS working together = BA guiding principles
At BA guiding principles was set up so that BALPA and BA mgmt could work closer together to achieve "win - win" outcomes. After a while the pilots felt that it was more like a one way street of concessions - a non return valve.
It's the same with NATS working together. At the end of the day so long as mgmt at NATS and BA are rewarded with bonuses for driving down costs (your pay and conditions) then there's only going to be one outcome. Remember it's their full time job to manage you and make you "more efficient"; whilst you have to do your job and if you have the strength at the end of the day you've got to fight to keep hold of what you signed up for. Bit by bit they'll keep taking from you and it turns into the death of a thousand cuts.
WRT what you wear at work then ATCOs only have themselves to blame. Quite right that as long as you're comfortable then what you wear doesn't effect how well you do you job BUT... what you wear will have an effect on how you percieve yourselves, your perception of the status of your work and how others in the workplace look at you. Thus it has an influence in the relationship you will have with your managers. So you go into a meeting with your boss wearing flip flops, shorts and looking like a teenager whilst your manager is wearing a suit - how do you think this will effect the game? Hint - google transactional analysis.
Laters
BB