PMS said
to all you guys/gals who are thinking of applying OR have applied and been accepted
I think it is important for you all to know that you are all being employed at the expense of an Australian citizen. To be honest its bloody disgusting, because the US, UK, and most if not all of Europe do not allow foreigners to be able to apply for jobs that a national could fill.
Before you say it yes, Germany did for while, but they actually could show they had a real shortage.
In Australia we don't, in Airservices case they are employing foreign nationals under 457 visa rules and some other visa bull**** rule, that is meant to only be allowed if there are NO locals who are not previously trained and rated there.
Unfortunately the case is that there are quite a number of local Aussie ex ATC employees of Airservices who have been trying to get back in over the last 4-5 years and being rejected by the employer and then hiring foreign nationals to fill the slots, at a far greater expense than to employ a local.
In one case there was one controller who was working overseas and current and he was told that "he was not a good corporate citizen" so bad luck, that's discrimination.
The government seems to turn a blind eye, but that will change soon once the lid is lifted and it will.
It could mean that those on 457 visas could be made to return home once the 2 years is up, If the government has a change of heart.
WOW, what a post. Most ATCs don't care where their colleagues come from, as long as they are competent and easy to work with.
457 visas are used across a range of industries, aviation, mining, engineering. According to the website it mentions that a 457 visa lets a skilled worker travel to Australia to work in their nominated occupation for their approved sponsor for up to four years. 457 visas are a shared risk, a risk if the skilled worker leaves after 4 years, a risk is the skilled worker is asked to leave after 4 years.
There is no doubt that the world of ATC is both a closed shop is some cases and opening up in others. OZ ATC numbers are low across the board because of poor decisions made many years ago (scaling back recruiting, effectively shutting the ATC training college) and believing that quantity = quality (in terms of the numbers applying). OZ ATC numbers need to be boosted to cover an ageing workforce, for new services, new Towers, parallel runways at Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth and a transition to a new system (1SKY). And, potentially Badgery's Creek and the prospect of relocating Cairns APP/DEP to Brisbane, Adelaide APP/DEP & Sydney APP/DEP/DIR to Melbourne.
Unfortunately the case is that there are quite a number of local Aussie ex ATC employees of Airservices who have been trying to get back in over the last 4-5 years and being rejected by the employer and then hiring foreign nationals to fill the slots, at a far greater expense than to employ a local.
In one case there was one controller who was working overseas and current and he was told that "he was not a good corporate citizen" so bad luck, that's discrimination.
"not a good corporate citizen" - perhaps a period of self-reflection is required. Certainly there have been stories of some former employees giving minimal notice prior to leaving, send nasty "good bye and good riddance" emails.