Airways Revenue i.e. what airlines get charged for ATC and ARFF was up $31million to $707.261 million (4.5%). This represents more than 95% of ASAs income, up from 94.4% last year.
This at a time when @ 100 controllers were 'promoted' on AWAs to non-separation duties leaving around 750 to carry the can.
I wonder how many other businesses would degrade the workforce that brings in over 95% of their income by 11-12% when they have already identified that they are chronically short of staff.
The Board had a meet and greet with staff in Brisbane last week. The Chairman was asked how he thought the negotiations were going seeing that ASA had only just put an 'offer' on the table 6 months into negotiations and with less than 2 months to go until the expiry of the current CA. His reply was that it was only early in negotiations yet. He was also asked if he thought this would be sorted by Dec 21st . He thought it would, he further stated that by their very nature that these negotiations were adverserial. This was after TFN had told staff that he wanted negotiations to be non-adverserial and resolved by September. TFN publicly states that staff shortages were fixed by the end of August.
At this meeting an advisor to the Board advised me that the Board was aware we are CURRENTLY AT LEAST 70 SHORT. Spin over substance.
Come Dec 21st , Facilitative Arrangements that allowed staff to work outside Principles Of Rostering cease to exist, they run out with the current CA, it is a legal requirement.
At that time the years of mismanagement will be starkly highlighted, controllers DO NOT WANT this to occur. This mess must be sorted out prior to this. ASA are in no rush to get a new agreement in. As per most greedy corporations they realise that no agreement means no payrises (we haven't seen one since January) and the longer they stall the more money they realise.
The Government Bargaining Framework under which they hide behind does not allow for backdated payrises. ASA have used this in the last two CAs and are sticking with it. In the last 8 years we are about 2 years behind due 911, SARs etc.
ASA need to realise that they are there for industry, not the other way around. Unfortunately the personality types running the organisation are quick to applaud and reward themselves with generous payrises and bonuses, ignore their many debacles, and seem to forget that 95% of the revenue is generated because of the travelling public.
The money spent in the last few years on opening offices in Dubai, India, etc to 'grow the global business' seems at odds with the focus on cost cutting that has gone on in the core business and that is why we have the situation we now have.
P.S. In the Annual Report ASA state they have 971 controllers, the GM ATC admits we have about 800 controllers, he is actually an ex controller .They count anyone who has a medically valid licence. In the AIRC ASA figures showed a grossly inflated 930, this crowd would do Enron proud.