I stand to be corrected but I believe there is only one "Full Time Officer" in the ATCOs branch. He/she is the "National Officer" and is effectively an advisor to the BEC on the practicalities and legalities of Union activity. He/she has no say in policy and is not privy to any information unknown to the BEC. The National Officer would never meet with management without other members of the ATCOs branch and has a passive role in these situations (ie a listening brief). Every other member of the ATCOs Branch (Reps, observers, SOC, BEC) are NATS ATCOs and are unpaid volunteers voted for by the membership. The ATCOs Branch is the part of Prospect that represents us to mangement. The organisation "Prospect" provides practical support and legitamacy to the ATCOs Branch in these representations.