I'm sorry, but the problem isn't the ATCO salaries. I work at a London airport as a tower only (although do have and validated approach), if I leave and go to a nearby non NATS airfield I would, if I joined at the top of the scale where I am now, have a reasonably large pay rise. We operate with less staff than a few years ago, and work all the hours we can. There are less support staff than before so the extra costs, apart from pensions (which are decreasing as there are less staff on them as newer ones arrive), the costs have never been lower relatively. HH started with about 20 people. How many now? All a case of the tail wagging the dog I'm afraid.