I've just managed to catch up with this debate after a nasty virus attack. So .....
As an ex BEC member and one who has maintained a healthy interest in what my succesors are doing I would like to comment.
I know Danny does not like names mentioned here but I'm sure he will not be accused of spreading slandererous statements.
Robin Morris has been the BEC and a general Union pensions expert for over 15 years. What he does not know about pensions is not worth knowing. He and the other BEC members did a superb job in guaranteeing our pension fund status in the legislation which eventually passed the bitter debate to complete the privatisation of NATS. Robin and the other BEC negotiators examined in detail all the advice and figures on offer and have taken the view that this is a deal worth taking AND there is NO significant risk to the long term health of our pension fund which they fought so hard to retain.
Contrary to previous posts the BEC have always been involved at the very highest levels of policy discussions and the involvement of a new management is not of any significance. For many years the serious decisions have been made way above the heads of NATS Executive but seldom above the Union sphere of involvement.
One question to all those who sudenly have an opinion on the intracacies of our pension fund. What would the opinion have been if it had been announced that there was a £350m surplus and all of it was being directed towards members benefits ???? Would we have seen all these comments about suspicious changes to the scheme ?
Bottom line has to be that we are employed to work as ATCOs. Those who dedicate a huge amount of their personal time to the greater good of us all deserve a bit of respect for the experience they gain. I am not one who leaves policy or actions unchallenged but on this issue the BEC have my 100% support.
[ 02 December 2001: Message edited by: 2 six 4 ]