I agree with
ck1F. Don't belittle your arguments with childish name calling. The appropriate editorial changes have been made. Now back to the debate ...
Many Air Traffic Service Providers, including the National Air Traffic Services in the UK, have in place schemes of additional attendance to augment operational service delivery.
The UK NATS has an 'overtime' scheme called the AAVA Scheme. This stands for Additonal Attendance
Voluntary Agreement. My emphasis on the Voluntary. But maybe the IAA don't quite understand what it actually entails. Units may have slight local variations but in general;
The AAVA scheme has a limited life. The ATCO union, Prospect, on behalf of it's members have agreed when it is valid until (2009 rings a bell). After that, it can be terminated, or an extension or change to conditions negotiated if that's what members want. It is by no means certain that it will continue indefinitely.
Staff are not obliged to sign up for it if they don't want to. The clue is in the word
Voluntary.
Staff who do sign up to it generally make NATS aware of when they are available for callout. If you have not registered your interest in doing AAVAs you won't receive a call.
Staff who are called may decline the offered shift if they wish, there is no compulsory attendance for any minimum number of shifts. There is a national agreed maximum number of attendances.
Staff who have agreed to attend an AAVA prior to the publication of the roster will be rostered for the duty as a strategic shift attendance. It can only be cancelled with the agreement of both parties.
Staff who are called after the roster is published should normally be given 48 hours notice if possible (but this can be reduced, e.g. to cover last minute sickness). Up to 48 hours before the shift, either party can cancel the attendance if they choose.
Attendances are renumerated with a one off payment per shift. This varies depending on the unit grading, but is in the range £200-£600 before tax approximately.
A similar scheme exists for staff to sell annual leave, up to a maximum of 6 days per annum. Again, this is voluntary.
NATS cannot count on anything other than the goodwill and the promise of some cash to make people attend on 'overtime'. Reading the press statement from the IAA, they seem to think that it is part of their controllers core conditions of employment and it is inferred that it is mandatory. The ATCOs in NATS (I strongly believe) would never accept such conditions as basic terms of employment.
There is not a shortage of Air Traffic Controllers in the Irish Aviation Authority. In fact, some 15 Controllers retired from the Authority under a Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme in 2003/2004 without IMPACT objection. Staffing levels are matched to the level of air traffic at any given time and are applied in accordance with international standards.
This sounds like a version of 'The Emperor's New Clothes'.
Shortage ?? What shortage ??
One side in the debate is telling porkies it would seem.