This is
this thread part 2.
I agree there is certainly no surplus now but do you want that to be the case? Over the past 20 years or so ATCO salaries at most units have increased by much more than the rate of inflation, solely due to market forces in retaining and recruiting staff. The one sure way to enable managers to drive down wages and cut benefits is to have a pool of qualified guys down the local job centre.
I'm not saying it is desireable for a unit to be seriously undermanned, but it is a double edged sword.