B-L, and GW,
good points, well made.
Speaking not as experienced as the 20 yr veteran quoted at the start of this post, but merely as someone 60% of the way, I have to agree with most of your views.
I feel that I was "deceived" at a union briefing about the T&D scale when it was first floated, when I was assured, that once someone validated, they would become an ATCO, and therefore no longer be under training and development. Whether through ignorance or deception we have the present mess, and ALL ATCOs should deal with it. These people are colleagues who have worked hard to achieve validation. (I accept that us OJTIs had a large part to play in that success, but we'd all be p**sed off with trainees dragging their heels until it was financially convenient to accept responsibility.)
Ditch the us and them attitude and look after the people who are providing our breaks, leave relief etc, whilst being paid to "train".
Concrete, I suggest you talk to colleagues north of the border within the next fortnight.
FJ