Would that be wise WA? Joking. We engineers don't really have a problem with anyone (apart from some of the 30+ year old kit we work on). Where our problem, as I see it, stems from is the "your not an ATCO so your scum" attitude that sometimes seems to come from some of our very professional and talented colleagues. Now I know this isn't the majority opinion, just as a militant engineer isn't the norm. It would be boring if we all got on swimmingly, wouldn't it.
Back to the point of this thread. I see the main problem with this ectional pay rise thing as a union issue. We all fall under one union right? Prospect. So how can they negoiate a pay rise, bung, bonus, whatever you want to call it for one section when it only took one section to have the pay deal rejected? I pay the same dues as anyone else in the union (I think - I could be wrong...) so why does my sub money go to getting someone else a payrise in the same company? Yes I know we whimps...errrr engineers voted yes, but the ATCOs voted no and the pay deal was scuppered. So surely if its all or nothing to reject a pay deal why isn't it all or nothing on any new rises or bungs that are so skillfully negotiated by our union friends?
The majority of engineers that I know do not have a problem with ATCOs, or anyone else for that matter. But we do have feelings, and we're only human, even if we do hide behind a screwdriver sometimes.
Bwatchbabe - when I made my life choice to be an engineer I knew I was never going to be the best paid in a company that had more than engineers in it. Thats fair enough. This venom you speak of I think is a little unfair. If you feel undervalued as an ATCO in the company try being an engineer who feels they have even less value in the company. Pull together all of us now. You never know, you might like being in bed with an engineer, as it were....