Heard some information about staffing levels in one ATC Group the other day. Their roster is being published in 3 weeks blocks at a time (so easy to organise one's life with 3 weeks notice....).
Anyway, in the next 3 week block there are over 30 blank shifts........on a 17-person group! That means, without sick leave or special/family leave popping up, each controller will have to work an average of 2 overtime shifts each JUST TO KEEP THE PLACE RUNNING. I fail to see how sick leave is the root cause if there are so many shifts blank when the roster is first written.
Thanks,
Showa-Cho.