I get the sense that the union doesn't want contractors to come in on inflated contracts- is that correct?
Not entirely.
The union were happy to negotiate on the basis that direct entry controllers would join the existing pay scale at a suitable point (and I've yet to hear anyone suggest that's at point 1) and asked the IAA why they couldn't offer permanent positions to the incoming staff.
The company cannot make its mind up whether single person sectors will happen in the coming years, and so won't make any concrete decisions. What the union
do not want to see happen is 3 year contracts being offered, then renewed for another 3 years...and so on, and so on...
Use the same tactics. Use new contracts as a way of improving remuneration (permanent remuneration).
Wouldn't work that way I'm afraid, ultimately every industrial dispute works it way through the state's industrial relations mechanism, the Labour Court has already let us down on recent pay negotiations, no chance staff will trust them to deliver as you suggest.
As for the shifts, well they do appear onorous, but the unions no doubt had a hand in their development at some stage, so no point in bitchin' about them here
Fair enough, you walk in with your eyes closed...the union have no part to play in that proposed roster, and have spent the last 5 years fending off management roster proposals that have tried to take away the existing 5/3 cycle in Dublin.