Too Bad Serco didn't get it

[atccontractor]

Well, I guess lining up behind the Airlines bid was not a great idea. Serco still has the money the airlines lied and said they had and you guys get NO improvements and they are going to fire a bunch more controllers than they said they would to save money <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> . Maybe the gov can bail them out. Doesn't seem the way to be a REAL ATC system to me.

Well, you guys got what you deserve. Maybe next time you will look at all the facts not just the rumors before you jump on the WRONG wagon, but I doubt it.

[Great Unmanaged]

I take it that means you are still looking for a job!

The TAG may need time but Serco they thankfully are not. What would Serco have done to NATS on September the 12th?

Serco should stick to puddle jumpers and hospital gardens where they belong (at a push).

:)

[dme4]

Difficult to comprehend the phrase real ATC system and serco in the same sentence. . . . <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[BEXIL160]

[quote]Fire more controllers than they said <hr></blockquote>

Ummmm No. TAG NEVER said they would fire any controllers. They have not fired any, and nor do they intend to.

Of more immediate concern is NATS' lack of operational staff, rather than any surplus.

BEX

[Foot in Mouth]

If SERCO USA ATCO's are talking to us again does that mean we can log on to their US website again(you know the one they moved pre PPP because they thought that if they told us anything they may not get the contract and the SERCO boy,s and girls would lurve to work over here <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> )Methinks atcocontractor you are talking b*ll*cks(a limey term for te$te$) :) :) :) <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Fire state controllers over here? Mister, you cannot be serious!! We're desperately short of them... the College of ATC is taking on retired ATCOs as instructors and I've just been offered the chance to put back my retirement date for almost as long as I like!! Wanna job??

[ 04 February 2002: Message edited by: HEATHROW DIRECTOR ]</p>

[torpids]

Heathrow Control, was this an official. .offer to delay your retirement, if so. .from who?

[2 sheds]

.....from WHOM.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Nobody asked me to extend my retirement date. I planned to leave last December under the ATCO early retirement scheme but, with only 30 years service, there was obviously going to be a substantial drop in income. Having got past the doc and my LCE I offered to extend my retirement date for about 6 months if I could work part-time (ie no more nights). This was agreed, at least until the end of the financial year (ie March). As that time is approaching I recently enquired about the position and management confirmed that I could stay on, which I've agreed to do at least until June. End of story really. (BTW I'm 57).

[Scott Voigt]

Heathrow Director;

Shoot over here, you would have already been booted out as to old to stay &lt;G&gt;. We can only work until 56 for those hired after the early 70's...

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I realise that, Scott. We're going through the process of having our retirement age reduced to 55 BUT those taking advantage of that facility will still have their pensions reduced if they haven't got the right number of years worked. Over here if you want the full whack you have to work 40 years (although I think someone said 38 and two thirds would hack it). Mind you... I think some of your guys are just a teeny weeny bit busier than us and probably deserve an early go!!!

[Oliver James]

I worked for Serco once, out of necessity. It was a pleasure to be able to give my notice after 2 years of... well... abuse, frankly.

Yes things are not perfect. The TAG paid too much for NATS and a combination of that and other things is having an impact. But things will come back. At Heathrow we are already close to pre Sept 11 traffic and there can be no question of letting ATCO's go here. On one occasion this week we would have exeeded legal hours but for some volountary help and we cannot guarantee to fully man the TC sectors generally.

You sound bitter or jealous or something. Let it go man, it won't do you any good.

Point 4

[Scott Voigt]

Director;

Yup, 20 years on the boards and age 50 or 25 years on the boards ANY AGE and we can punch out. The older generation don't think so much about going early, but the younger generation is thinking just that... I expect that it is going to get pretty ugly here in the next three to five years. There are going to be a LOT of folks leaving and the folks who want to stick around or are on the fence may get forced out due to having to work 10 hour days and 6 day weeks when we are short staffed...

regards

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

RogerOut.. God knows! Seriously, previously didn't we have to have at least 40 years in service AND retire at 60 to get the full whack? The early retirement bit still means a reduced pension.. but I believe there's also some arrangment where we can now go before 60 with full pension a long as a certain number of years have been worked. 38 and 2/3rds was mentioned somewhere but the finer details are beyond me. My brain seems to be telling me it's approaching time to go so I'm going... but I won't know exactly what I'll get until the pay chit arrives.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I think my post was misleading. Until recently our retirement age was 60 and you needed 40 years service to get a full pension. If you went early you dipped out. Now a retirement age of 55 is being introduced for ATCOs but it's being introduced by increments and this year I think you need at least 38 years service to get the maximum available pension. I'm probably quite wrong because pensions are amazingly complex - to me anyway.

Incidentally, anyone notice the originator of this thread has been very quiet.... and any of the youngsters over here who enjoy moaning about conditions ought to carefully read Scotts bit about 10 hour days and 6 day weeks..

[BEXIL160]

Hello, LL Dir et al...

There's an easy way round all the mental gymnastics and that is to (free)phone those terribly nice people at CAAPS and they'll provide you with a "quotes" on what you can expect at each age.

Go on, try it. They are really helpful and the quotes are specific to your pension.

Phone: 0800 515776/778

rgds BEX

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Done it, Bex, lots of times (pity it takes them so l-o-n-g though). I've got all the figures - it's how they arrive at them that I don't understand... and my aged brain couldn't take it all in anyway!

[Iron City]

Roger, just start working when you are 15. Line boy, ATC Assistant "shine your shrimp boat mister?"

[WetFeet]

Scott. .I would live to shoot over there. Trouble is, US Government won't let non-US citizens into ATC, not even with the private contractors. Green cards don't cut it either. Full citizenship required. Likely even harder since Sep 11. Unless you know different!!!!!!

[Scott Voigt]

Wetfeet;

Nope no different, and as you thought, things will be tougher since 9-11.

Guess you just need to come on over and get your citizenship &lt;G&gt;. We are going to be needing folks BADLY in a few years. We already need them at quite a few facilities, we just aren't doing much in the way of hiring...

regards

[ferris]

Scott,. .exactly what is the position of the controllers over there? Are they in favor/oppose us international types being admitted. Are they happy to go with the 'national interest' argument? Eurocontrol recently relaxed citizenship requirements (I guess it depends on level of desperation) then reinstated them. Thoughts?

[Scott Voigt]

Ferris;

I haven't taken a pole, but I would expect that we don't care WHERE folks come from as long as the agency will hire you, you can separate more than the cheeks of your butt with both hands &lt;G&gt; and you can speak english... (understandable english &lt;BG) Ok BEXIL watch that comment about english... I know that we speak TEXAN around here. &lt;G&gt;....

regards

[ferris]

But there is still the citizenship hurdle, correct?

[Scott Voigt]

Yup, you would have to get your citizenship... You might be able to go to work for a contractor while waiting for that to happen though...

regards

[WetFeet]

Unfortunately the private contractors, like RVA inc apply the same rules. They say it is to do with working under contract to the FAA.

:confused:

[FREQSEPARATOR]

I can confirm what wetfeet has said. I have been trying to get out
there for years. I spent last christmas on the east coast and went to visit several units. Spoke to the person in charge of hiring
of one the contracting companies, who said the citizenship issue is the problem.