However, despite their grumblings in the press, they probably realise that if they pay peanuts, they could well be lumbered with monkeys.
Oh Please!! This is obviously written by a NATS ATCO who is so far up their own ar*e they've lost sight of reality. When will you guys realise that you operate on an identcal licence to everyone else, passed the same courses and and are regulated by the same body. What makes you think that just because you work for a pseudo government agency you're better than anyone else?
NATS is just A N Other service provider doing the same job to the same standards. So please, lose the high and mighty attitude. It does you no favours.