PPRuNe Radar
My understanding is that the current regulations were devised by the regulators in conjunction with all ATCO employers at the time.
NATS is by far the largest employer of ATCOs in the country. If they go to the CAA with new proposals which get more efficient use of the staff while maintaining safety they will ultimatly win the case. This would probably be supported by many of the non NATS employers as well.
This isn’t something I advocate or desire, it is one of the inevitable results of the privatisation. Look at any other privatised industry and the behaviour of the regulators. To believe anything else is just sticking your head in the sand.
This is one of the reasons why I think that the fuss over the current pay offer is pointless. There are much bigger issues than getting a few quid extra per month.