HASTYDEPARTURE,
However I find myself numbed by , in my opinion , the less than 100% turnout from members of the various branches in what should and has been the most important topic in many a year . An often used phrase here has been "keeping our powder dry" , something we`ve all heard from our Union bods for as long as I can remember . Well for all the good it`s done us we may as well have stuffed the said powder up our noses as apparently one can get a high from doing this - certainly won`t get one from being a member of what must be the biggest joke of a Union . It should be retitled "F..k All Prospect!" or for those with more delicate eyesight "No Prospect!".
It would be pointless going over and over all the excellent points raised over the past couple of months but my availability for AAVAs has just now become zero and my resignation from "No Prospect" was sent with the same speed as my No Vote .
To end I would hope that I can participate in further debates on PPRuNe with the same enthusiasm , wit and passion that many on here have shown during this sad episode - the Unions took away our right to fight over this issue and I for one cannot forgive them that or remain a member as I don`t want to give them the unwritten permission to do it to me again .
Transmission ended!
I think the "keeping our powder dry" statement came from an ATCO Chair around 10 years ago. If we were evrr to light it then it was over PPP, and I reckon you could count on 3 hands the number of ATCOs who really got involved with the anti-PPP campaign apart from sending the odd letter to their MP. Certainly not many were at the Houses of Parliament canvassing them directly.
I see you have been taking advantage of the AAVA agreement. That was a deal negotiated on your behalf and subsequently past pay rises have included the "selling" of that deal to management.
This is what helped you to around a 40% pay rise since PPP.
It certainly is disappointing that only 70% found the time to put a x in the box and go the local post box, but maybe this is an indication that there is a reluctant acceptance that there really was no real option to that presented. Also an acceptance that there is no other career that most of us would rather be employed in in the present down turn.
Just look at your employment conditions and honestly say that "the union" has not done you proud over the years from salary to SRATCOH.
Nothing ever stays the same in life and you don't always get exactly what you want, apparently unless you are a NATS ATCO and think the rest of the industry owes you not only a pretty good salary, job security but also a class leading pension. Well unfortunately the "real world" is closing in on us as the ATSAs at Scottish are sadly finding out now and those at LACC will discover in the not too distant future.
You still have fine conditions of work and will continue to have in the future.
I look forward to the debate in the future.