No ATC Industrial Action Over Christmas-New Year

[Here to Help]

Civil Air has released a new press release on its wesite:
Civil Air Australia - Home (http://www.civilair.asn.au/joomla/index.php)

Direct link here:
Civil Air Australia - CHRISTMAS INDUSTRIAL ACTION RULED OUT (http://www.civilair.asn.au/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=957&Itemid=40)

[peuce]

Good move ...a Press Release stating that Controllers are NOT going on strike is nearly as good a weapon as going on strike.

[denabol]

Took a tip from the youngsters and Googled 'Civil Air says no industrial action.' They reckon Google is the quickest way to filter and track news.

The top link was to a story in The Australian last August about militants in the control towers.

Then a link to this thread in Pprune.

Then a blog called Plane Talking which linked to the Civil Air announcement and went right up Albonese and AirServices by the cranky Crikey writer Ben Sandiland.

So two out of three, but can't understand why the old story is top of the search page.

[rmcdonal]

Yay, no delays getting home on Christmas!
Thanks guys :ok:

[makespeed250kt]

rmcdonal,

either you're being cynical, or you missed the whole point of that press release?

[max1]

What Civilair are saying is that if you are inconvenienced over this period, like you have been for 12 months, it won't be because of any industrial action on controllers part.

But that it will be because of the long term mismanagement of controller numbers. Controllers physically just can't keep working Emergency Duty to cover for the lack of staff.

We wish we had adequate numbers, like they do in the corporate headquarters i.e Alan Woods Building aka BS castle, but we don't.
I am attempting to fly over this period. Good luck to everyone, and Merry Xmas.

For those in BS castle (all 480+) the less than 800 controllers hope you have a restful and recuperative Xmas standdown period. Please let TFN know that 2/3 of his staff (Firies, Techs, Ausfic, controllers, FDCs, etc) don't get a break and his New Year message that he hopes we have come back refreshed and ready for a great 2009 is somewhat insulting.

[blind freddy]

I believe that the IRC has handed down their decision on reasonable overtime.
There should be an update or a flash soon, but the check Civil Air website.


There was an email that came out today from P&C Boss.
"Thanks to all the hard work from the non-op people, go home at 2pm today so you can get an early start to your holidays"

No mention of all the hard working operational people that have to be at work throughout the festive season

And you wonder why morale is sooooooo low.

BTW,
Sydney running an 8 minute sequence for a couple of hours today, due to no FLOW rated staff. There are however 4 people at work on their day off in Sydney today.
Also, no way of getting into Perth without going into TIBA for a couple of hours this arvo.

People are coming in on Christmas Eve to again prop up a failing system, and yet they will be crucified for what they didn't do, rather than what they have done.

Keep up the good work, Merry Christmas to you all.

[trueline]

I heard an ASA spokesman on the radio today giving an update on Santa's ETD.

It seems the NOC shop has finally found a reason for being...

[man on the ground]

Quote:
room of mirrors
Is this room in the AWB? (Bullsh!t Castle)


The secret of the NOC-shop revealed?

[Adamastor]

Don't worry, Owen. It seems the Commissioner has the Canberra spin merchants pegged pretty well:

"There is also evidence before the Commission of an adverse impact on air traffic as a result of Airservices inability (mostly in Sydney) to fill short term absences (e.g. due to illness etc).....I do not make any finding that such evidence establishes some improper conduct on the part of ATCs in Sydney (or elsewhere)."

How about you media trolls run with some truth for a change, instead of using Airservices' press releases verbatim without digging?

[Plazbot]

Is there a link to the judgement? What is the summary?

[cbradio]

sounds like Mr. Commissioner wasn't too impressed with ASA's idea that ATCs should sit by the phone 24/7, either! :D

[zoics88]

perhaps the lack of staff in SY on Christmas Eve may be related to the withdrawal of all endorsements of a contract (awa) ALM midday 23rd.

the ALM went home, non operational, at the beginning of the shift (1200 on 23rd) leaving that shift and the next three (24,25,26 Dec) needing to be replaced.

this ALM, a supposed ground specialist that has not exercised any ground control for at least two years, has been stood down on 'human factors' grounds for "read back/hear back" and delivery errors on Clearance Delivery 133.8 the only operational endorsement held, (apart from overall tower supervisor - SY TWR staff will testify to this individuals competency or lack of in this regard.)

the mail is that this individual is pissed he missed out on VR and is going for LOEQ.

[flatop]

bet his headset is a bit woofy as well

[max1]

Hey flatop thought that was a secret.
Did they have the SY-HB start in the sandpit?

[Steve Sydney]

Hey Flatop,

I hope things are going well for you over there. I guess it could be no worse than ASA.

If I do get over to the sandpit I don't think that I will leave my headset laying around, you just never know what happens in the dark!! :)