Behindblooeyes
as we are forever being told that air traffic is now a commercial business like any other, I would like to think that specialist skills and work over and above the basics should be rewarded accordingly
I absolutely agree. Taking it from a NATS perspective, as that's the only one I have;
The Red Barron has been banging on about his order book flying overhead everyday and, I paraphrase from a recent open meeting,
"The only reason you run a business is to make money"
Air traffic controllers sell their skill to the company for the a salary (and a pretty decent one at that). However, we sell our skill (or lack of it?) as teachers to the company for very little extra. Also, in my opinion, the training we get in OJTI is woefully inadequate.
Maybe it's time to reduce the number of OJTIs. Make the course longer and more in depth. Highly specialised OJTIs, selected for their ability in this task and pay them more for it (ATCO1 at LACC?). It could be considered a 'skill' counting towards minimum unit requirement, so one could drop a sector or T/P.
However,
The plumber will not appear in court if his apprentice kills people through his ommisions, I might!
The plumber probably would. It's still negligence and people die.