av8boy,
Perhaps if I explain it a bit more you will realise what I am talking about.
In the early 90's the Irish ATC system was short staffed. Kind of the same position that they now find themselves in.
Taking the Dublin operation as an example -
This was despite having as an example a qualified ATCO at Dublin employed as a blip driver in the school while the operation calimed they were short of staff.
Why was this ATCO not used for operational duties - ask the union who blocked such a move.
To solve the shortage quickly the Authorities recruited qualified controllers (including bringing this ATCO back to operational duty).
However, thanks to the union, these direct entry controllers who were multi discipline qualified i.e. most qualified as Tower, approach and approach radar as well as OJTI and more than 1 qualified in area radar also...........were only permitted to check out on the approach radar function at Dublin.
Why you may ask were these controllers limited to just one position with their qualifications and experience - the answer is mind blowing -
The IAA recruited people into the ATC assistant grade. In time they did a tower course and worked in the tower only until a vacancy came up on area procedural / approach radar (15 years doing tower only not being uncomon) they then did approach radar, area procedural and tower positions until a vacancy came up on area radar whereupon they got to do area radar.
The Union recognised this as career progression and stuck a spanner in the direct entry scheme by demanding that the direct entries could only do approach radar until the most junior member of staff (an ATC assistant at the time) has passed through tower, approach radar and on to area).
There was in the early 90's an ATCO paid as an ATCO but working as an assistant at Dublin ACC.
This whole union blocking system is probably why multi qualified controllers who only do shannon approach radar at Dublin ACC. I.E the union prevents them being checked out on other positions because they would then block "career progression" of more junior Dublin based personnel.
That means that the number of sector qualifications available on a roster can be less than required - not because there is not enough staff but because those qualified to do it are not allowed to and those empty searts are reserved for other staff who are not yet qualified.
That is one example of why the situation is not just a simple shortage of staff. It is a rather complicated and unionised / politically motivated shortage of staff.
The solution may be to recruit direct entries. This is being flagged as being on a fixed term contract basis - why? Would it not seem more logical to recruit direct entries now on a permanent basis, full the gaps and recruit new trainees to cover expansion, retirements etc etc.
No. The Union insists on a fixed term contract only despite it being harder to recruit controllers on that basis. Why? We are back again to the unions positon of parachuting new controllers into Area radar positions which are seen as future promotion options for current staff........i.e. if you fill all the area radar vacancies with highly qualified 20 somnethings on a permanent basis, there is a long long wait for some approach radar controllers before they get to do area radar.
I hope that has provided you with a little insight to just how the system at the IAA is not all the union would like you to believe. Note that for balance it is not as the IAA say either. You have to take both side's positions with a big barrow load of salt.
Air Traffic Controllers are demanding significantly enhanced extra attendance payments and changes to roster attendances both of which are included in a package of issues under discussion as part of a process at the Labour Relations Commission.
Note that means more money for coming in - not an end to overtime.
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The Highlands and Islands in the UK has operated for years on the basis that controllers would move from one location to another to cover for example leave. They held multiple unit validations. This is not unusual in the ATC world and would not be regarded as understaffing.
Regards,
DFC