Have to agree with previous post. This is a development that should concern anyone that commits aviation in controlled airspace.
Morale is non existent. The rhetoric from TFN and his isolated YSCB cohorts is demeaning and seems like it comes from a different company altogether.
* The SDE circus has been implemented in the typical knee jerk manner that this company loves to do things. In our location it has amplified staff shortages as the 3 nominees now no longer hold ratings to satisfy their FLM duties - whatever they may be.
Summary: 3 people now do the job of 1 former manager. None of which hold useful ratings.
* Retirements are required to give 1 years notice however for some reason they still seem to catch smiles and faces by surprise. A recent case of a check controller retiring is a classic example. Instead of a smooth, well planned handover to his replacement, the position was NOT even advertised until 2 weeks before his retirement!!!!
This is despite repeated "reminders" of the pending problem.
Summary: Now several weeks after the checkie has left their is STILL no check controller appointed. What problem they say!! We are working on it.
* Pressure being bought to bare on controllers to take the annual leave that they are accruing. But how can we take it when there are no staff to allow the leave? What about the LSL that people are unable to take?
Summary: The company is running threadbare on controllers. The effect this has on morale is twofold. Firstly no leave and continuing crap rosters increases sick leave and decrease morale. The fabled morale spiral dive.
Second, borderline controllers that may or may not be suitable are more likely to get through due to the pressure of staff shortages. Oh no you cry we don't compromise standards. Reality has to be considered here folks.
* New "engagement" of controllers. This involves increasing middle management (see above) and then getting these FLM's to justify there existence by creating/inventing "tasks" to be given to frontline staff. Now this is to make us feel warm and fuzzy. Make us feel that our little cog is important in keeping the ASA merry go round pumping.
Reality: Controllers working on crap rosters, not able to get leave and struggling with staff shortages already do not WANT or NEED to do other tasks to feel engaged. This has to be the biggest example of management creating something to rectify a problem (morale) without realising that you need the basics in place.
This post may have turned into a bit of a rant, but it is driven by frustration. And this frustration is widespread throughout the organisation.
Be confident that the controller you speak to is professional and holds his responsibilities and duties in high regard. But also know that the system is threadbare and senior management is unwilling or unable to really address the problem. After yet another restructure to shuffle the chairs morale is plummeting.
Lets hope that this charade can be stopped sooner rather than later.