The point is that the role is changing like it or not. Technology is replacing many of the tasks that ATSA's had to do, especially in Twr/App units of recent time, (a side not here NSL assistants generally for many years have worked harder, more hours with more tasks than NERL ones, yet get paid far less!) Assistants are worth their weight in gold, in more ways than just when it gets busy or something unusual, but it is a fact that when this isnt the case, their tasks are more limited now than before. EFPS, Full automated Met, CDM tools which perform autologging, FIDS updates etc. Even in some cases the way ATCO postions are now manned such as planners, co-ordinators, or use of Radar1 Radar2 are all reducing the continuous need for ATSA's. They are a great asset, when you consider them being another pair of eyes, to handle that strange time consuming telephone call from some nutter, sorting out some flightplan cockup etc. But very hard to quantify that all the time.
What frustrates though, is that all this arguing about ATSA's isnt going to save them their jobs. What becomes totally mad, is that when you see opportunites for ATSA's to become involved in other tasks to re-generate their wort, the response you can often be faced with is that isnt "in the WP" or " The union wont allow that" or "What will I get paid for that?" So their jobs are at risk because what they do is being replaced by technology, yet sometimes when given the chance to replace their lost tasks with new ones to help secure their future and make them that much needed part of the team again, the Union! Again actually just help them out of the door that much quicker.
Change is happening....ATSA's need to be apart of it, not become a victim of it, in order that they keep their at the end of the day very well paid jobs. If you are asked to help out on the simulator, be involved in a project, take on another task do it....becasue then you will have a reason to argue why the company shouldnt get rid of you, other than our cries of you being worth your weight in gold.