They deserve some return on their investment.
They already do. They make profits thanks to your skills. Healthy ones.
They don't employ you out of charity!!
If they had found a way to do without ATCOs or to pay us half of what they do, they would have already done so!
They say less than 2% of applicants go on to validate, yet they see you as a cost/liability rather than an asset.
Wake up and smell the Costa* Coffee
*Swanwick branch
Rant over. Merry Christmas