Hi Hairy Badger (and others)
there is another thread going on about the question whether ATC stafff is really that much underpaid so maybe this belongs there but I'll reply here anyway.
Without wanting to be opinonated I would like to ask you, did you ever take the trouble to log your actual "working" hours. That is: how much time do you really spend at the "tube"? I wouldn't be surprised at all if you would be. It's probably less then you think. On the other hand it could well be more then before PPP, but that would merely indicate how much it was then.
It seems to me that you don't need money to get out. On the contrary, you'd get the money IF you get out. You do need a lot of guts though and believe me, I know, I've been there. From those days I still carrry the memory of destructive complaining that seems so typical for Air Traffic Controllers that do feel unrecognised by their management. I am convinced that a little more of that would take away the need for more money, privatised or not.
actas