Lets be clear about this!!! The ATCO flexible retirement scheme is based on age and time served. The non-ATCO flexible retirement scheme was based on age and time served. Some wording may be different between the two schemes but the principle is the same. The correct course of action would be for NATS and the unions to agree a form of words which kept both schemes. Furthermore the union says that their legal advice is that the non-ATCO scheme do not breach the new legislation. IMHO this is another management move to divide and conquer. If this situation is not changed we will have a three tier pension scheme GOLD - ATCO, SILVER- existing non-ATCO staff and BRONZE - new staff.