"Two of those locations are closing and Hurn is up for discussion"
When you say closing, you infere that those units are surplus to requirements...........The fact is they are being moved......with very little reduction in staff requirement....alot of the staff including ATSA's will opt for the generous relocation package. Hurn is very likely to be moved closer to Swanwick in the next few years....but again the staff will still be required!!
"I work on the future systems of NATS centres, and the role of ATSA within the ATC centres will disappear forever in the next few years"
How long have we been hearing this?.....a very long time......first it was "as soon as we get swanwick running we won't need assistants etc" The fact is assistants are likely to always be required.......maybe eventually in reduced numbers in centres.....there are still alot of Airports that will always require assistants.....even Stansted and Gatwick with their EFPS still require assistants!
Back to the origional post......HR a can be slow at times. but it is likely you will be employed on a variable contract......there may be a time limit to how long you can be kept on the Variable contract before you have to be offered a permanent post........3 years rings a bell....but that may have changed now.
Good Luck!