Just to add a few thoughts.... all we at Manchester have ever wanted is for management to take seriously the REAL difficulties that a move to prestwick will have on a number of controllers lives, if we were all single and had no ties then i dont believe the move would hold as many worries for us. I know we all signed on the dotted line to be a mobile grade (otherwise we wouldn't have made it passed the initial interview!!) well if we are truely mobile why wont management even consider any moves to other units within nats for controllers who have a genuine and compeling case not to go to npc?? I can totally understand the advantages of a two centre strategy but the folk up here would be much happier if it appeared that the company were showing the slightest sympathy and made us feel that we are part of the future vision or destinations of NATS. These are all thoughts that must have been felt by many controllers who have faced a forced posting but i really dont see how our plight compares equally with a move from west drayton to swanwick. If you remember the relocation map that was up by the canteen then draw the same semi circle around Prestwick. I know there is some absolutely beautiful countryside in Ayreshire and for some here at Manchester that is a big attraction, but the options for houses, schools, social attractions and job options for partners are severely restricted compared to either Manchester, West Drayton or Swanwick. The overall picture for many is that this move will result in a standard of living considerably less than we have now.(i can just see DC10realman's response in my head already- what with the housing in Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Cheshire in general being soooo cheap)
to pick up on a few points, the fact that Northerners/Scots have felt victimised down south doesnt mean that it is just deserts if i or my family have to put up with it in the future, racial abuse is completely out of order no matter who is on the receiving end. Also people have questioned why people who dont want to move to prestwick think its ok to go to canada, and the simple answer is that for most area valid controllers this is the only other option available to them and if they have to move why not take a chance a lifetime to move Canada, and who knows the prospect of gaining permission to move on to the usa in a few years. Of those to have already made the move non have so far expressed any regrets, although only one has been through a winter out there!!
At the end of day we are very aware that there is hardly any sympathy (thanks DC10realman-nice to feel part of the same team) throughout nats for us and most here are just getting on with trying to sort their own futures out. Rant over