You've got to love a weak mind. Always reverting to personal insults cos they can't grasp what a proper discussion involves.
To recap Aunt: I don't have a chip on my shoulder about ATCOs, I don't hate ATCOs and I think most ATCOs are very decent human beings. Obviously there are exceptions, as there are in all walks of life. We seem to find most of the exceptions ppruning.
Now back to the story. Us OPERATIONAL people deserve a decent pay rise. To that I think we all agree. What seems to be the bigger issue here is that the rest of us want parity with the ATCOs after there was a little struggle for power in the lower ranks of the company. Fair enough. ATCOs win every time no doubt. What the problem is, all you blind ATCOs who can't see the ATSA past the end of their nose as they tilt their head upwards (not all ATCOs by any means - as I said 95% of them are very decent nice people) is the way the other ranks are VALUED (remember that word? Was thrown about a bit a while ago). The other OPERATIONAL grades in the company feel very undervauled. For a start we have a management system everyone knows only too well do not love us mere foot soldiers. Then we have the "gods" who look down on us. Do you know how much hard work the rest of the company actually puts in so Mr. and Mrs ATCO can come into work, sit down and chat to planes all day long? Sure you have pressure and a hard job, but so do the rest of us. Now imagine, if you will, our friends the Managers who want to reward the ATCOs for whinging (Fair play to you - it worked), and kick the rest of us in the short and fuzzies and make us all feel like not actually working hard any more. All we want is a little recognition for the job we do. Just like you. We may be sheep at times when it comes to saying yes, but don't go getting excited and upset when we say no once in a while. Let us have our fight and see what happens. You've had ours and you won.