OK folks I think we've done this particular argument to death now.
NATS_NOT_FUNNY doesn't agree with the majority of ATCOs and has voted accordingly. He has his reasons. Agree or disagree as you wish, but he has a right to express his views. Personally I disagree with him,and as I have mentioned, do MOST ATCOS.
Next up...
I believe we need to take a stand now. Let this issue fail, and NATS "management" will walk all over us in the future. NOW is the time to say, enough is enough.
Divisions amongst NATS Staff? It certainly seems that way. With PCS and the Engineers recommending the offer and the ATCOs rejecting it.. forcefully. Why have PCS and the Engineers reps recommended the offer? Do you ATSAs and Engineers want to PAY for the ATCOs pay rises? United we stand, divided YOU fall. What's going to happen if NATS offer the ATCOs a decent pay offer and you're stuck with the current offer? What are you going to do then?
One more point. Consider short term industrial action. There will be those that actually go on strike and those that go in. Eventually we've all got to work together again. Except that there will be serious bad feeling and non-cooperation between the two factions. NATS is leaderless and badly managed now. Just HOW are they going to cope with a workforce not only peed off now, but openly at war with itself following industrial action? They aren't, are they?
Solution? Two words already promised by NATS management. OPEN and HONEST.
Stop the spin. Offer a decent pay rise that the Operational staff DESERVE. Start taking to task those managers that FAIL or have FAILED.
Things NEED to change. I was one, among many, who was open to change when TAG took over. Sadly NOTHING altered and now TAG are reaping the reward for NOT doing a "night of the long knives" when they took over.
Discuss....
Rgds BEX