250kts
"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."
At last a voice of reason. I have wasted a long time in recent weeks wading through pages of drivel in this thread. It seems that my 5 year old daughter has a better idea of what is happening to the rest of the country than most of you. I have said it before but as a profession we really do have an over inflated opinion of our worth. I am all for saving the pension I signed up for AND getting an above inflation pay rise but I am realistic enough to see that we are not impervious to the financial disaster which has befallen the UK and beyond.
We still have an excellent pension scheme compared to any and almost all of us can look forward to many years of safe employment.
For christ's sake take your heads out of your backsides and see what the world is really like for those struggling by on an average wage with the very real prospect of a bleak 2009.
We have done bloody well in the 9 years I have been here and will probably continue to do so for years to come.
Happy Christmas All!