Well well...
All I can say so far is I'm with those who think that we should reject the offer and be prepared to back it up with industrial action if necessary.
Let's just consider the SERCO / sacking for industrial action scenario for a minute:
Any company which takes on NATS will surely have to give guarantees in terms of reducing delays, increasing capacity, reducing charges etc. At Swanwick, we are now often working up to the maximum period allowed by SRATCOH and taking minimum fatigue breaks. Even doing this, we are not able to offer the maximum capacity of Swanwick due to insufficient staff (not able to open S33 for example). To sack ANYBODY, whether as a new owner trying to cut costs or as revenge for industrial action, will make all those required guarantees unachievable for YEARS. Any reduction in training time or increase in working time will require protracted legal negotiation with the likes of SRG or the CAA (who yesterday told NATS where to stick their latest cry for help!). It simply won't happen, and that is why Mr Everitt is trying to forestall further action.
I must say that I don't actually object to receiving a letter at home, although second class post would seem a cheaper option (and if they can give me a personalised label on the envelope why can't they put my name at the top of the letter?). The letter reads very reasonably, and you can bet that there are those who were not so sure who will say: 'OK then, let's give you another chance'.
However, as many have said before, this is the time we need to make a stand. The place is creaking at the seams, and the local management seem incapable of doing anything other than firefighting to keep it stumbling along as we lurch from one near-crisis to another. By NATS' own admission yesterday, they have £50m+ surplus on their investment plan to develop the business. The most important part of any business is its workforce, and if you get that on a secure and happy footing, then the rest is relatively easy. The flexibility you need to introduce changes is there and so on. It certainly isn't now!! Spend the money and get a happy workforce, and then see what the difference is.
It'll be interesting to see what the mood is when I go back to work tomorrow..
To the person, whose name I forget, who said 'go and work somewhere else. Oh, you can't 'cos you're not qualified' (sic), all I would say is that if you are one of these Approach and/or Tower ATCOs and you think that makes you bomb-proof, then think again. There are far more people who hold your type of ratings than hold mine, so I suggest you are the one who would be an easy target for replacement if SERCO or whoever were to take over.
