AsA: if you can't keep 'em - pay 'em more!

[sprogette]

Hey, may seem audacious to the media, but you gotta start high when you know you're going to get cut down...good luck guys, I hope you get somewhere...


Controllers bid for 63pc wage increase
June 07, 2008 01:05am
Article from: AAPFont size: + - Send this article: Print Email
AUSTRALIA'S air traffic controllers are making an audacious bid for a 63 per cent pay rise, which could lift the pay of some to as much as $175,000 a year.

The controllers union, Civil Air, is calling for a 32 to 63 per cent rise in wages.

It means a senior controller would be paid $175,000.

The union said the increase was needed to help retain and attract workers, saying there was a critical shortage of air traffic controllers.

"This is our vision to solve the problems of attraction and retention," Civil Air executive secretary Peter McGuane told News Ltd.

"There is a shortage of air traffic controllers. Significant numbers have been lured overseas by more lucrative conditions and this means extra overtime for the (rest), which has contributed to fatigue."

The wages of the controllers are paid by the airlines through the government-owned traffic control manager Airservices Australia.

Despite the turbulence in the industry, Mr McGuane said the union's wages demand was not inappropriate.

"The reality is that the aviation industry is increasing all the time, passenger numbers are at record levels and the profits generated by Airservices last year were in excess of $100 million," he said.

"That is not indicative of a downturn in the industry."

[Geffen]

Sounds like a grand plan, good luck to 'em I say!

[Funk]

'hey dad how much you reckon a controller's worth?'
'how much is he askin?'
'$175,000'
'tell him he's dreamin!'

good luck fellas, stay the course and take no crap, the current bunch of corporate crooks have no trouble sleeping so why should you :ok:

[anotherthing]

Good luck is all I say -

You always go in high with your demands, it may seem a lot but what have you had in the past ten years?

Taken into context it might not be such a ridiculous demand.

Just to put it into perspective if you were to get top whack; what would that equate to in monthly take home, and could you also please list a couple of prices to indicate cost of living e.g. an average 2/3 bed house, car fuel, and a loaf of bread?

[missy]

Before anyone gets too carried away I suggest you follow this link.

http://http://www.civilair.asn.au/joomla/

The 63% is aimed at trainees. That's right, those ATC aspirants that ain't part of the Union (Civil Air). The argument is that you need to raise the starting salaries so that the job is attractive to those who may be interested in the job. Its kind of refreshing and certainly makes a change from A & B salaries, cutting terms and conditions of new entrants to pay for the salary increases for those already within the system, selling out new entrants and the short term gains often associated with Industrial Relations.

Consider the length of time one works as an Air Traffic Controller vs the tenure of a CEO, the tenure of your upper management. Who has the vested interest in ensuring that they the work that do is properly recognised and fairly compensated.

Missy