Jocko
I'm not going to get into an arguement with you because you obvioulsy have your own ill-informed opinion and I have mine. But I ask you again to consider the following. Are you fully aware of all the ATSA tasks at all the NATS units and the responsibilities with each position? If the answer is no, then it is quite unfair to generalise about ATSA pay. Pay comparisions between grades and occupations are nothing more than egotistical. Whilst I'm busy discussing my pay with a fireman (as you would like me to do), perhaps you would discuss yours with a Junior Doctor who has just done a 70 hour week for half your salary. And whilst we're at it, perhaps we'll get a 25 year old from the city to discuss his £100,000 bonus and at the end of this bun fight, we'll leave our mess to the cleaner on a minimum wage to clear up. What will it all achieve? Will you walk away feeling a better and more important person because you earn more than some of the others. Probably.
Whilst I would admit that ATSAs get paid well (not overpaid), their working conditions have changed a lot over the years. The previous post showing that there were 850 ATSAs in 1979 would need to be re-written today as the numbers have dropped to around 500. Every ATSA is working far harder than a few years ago. On top of that we have little job security, limited promotion prospects and a fear of worse to come. It is this that makes ATSAs react when you criticise our pay, not because we think we're on to a good thing. It is a real pity that you don't recognise the importance of everyone working as a team rather than post damaging and ill-informed personal attacks on the very same ATSA staff who may just bail you out of a hole the next time you are on duty.
Last edited by Karoshi; 3rd September 2002 at 16:03.