Travel Concessions for NATS staff
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just a few thoughts.
Firstly it does seem a little strange/amiss/perhaps insulting that our (Nats) owners dont feel any compunction towards offering any sort of travel incentive to the hard working NATS employee.
Surely their other employees would feel a little aggrieved if they received as many direct entitlements as us i.e. square root of f all
Secondly I do find it a little disturbing that some folk on this thread (and a few others that I work with ) think that travel concession offers would comfort the blow of a poor pay offer.
big bo$$ocks, nothing to do with it.
Lastly Ukatts. Perhaps not as effective as in the past but all thanks to those who started it and continue to run it. I and many people still continue to benefit from producing a scratched laminated card with a very embarassing photo to obtain the odd discount or upgrade in many situations.
Firstly it does seem a little strange/amiss/perhaps insulting that our (Nats) owners dont feel any compunction towards offering any sort of travel incentive to the hard working NATS employee.
Surely their other employees would feel a little aggrieved if they received as many direct entitlements as us i.e. square root of f all
Secondly I do find it a little disturbing that some folk on this thread (and a few others that I work with ) think that travel concession offers would comfort the blow of a poor pay offer.
big bo$$ocks, nothing to do with it.
Lastly Ukatts. Perhaps not as effective as in the past but all thanks to those who started it and continue to run it. I and many people still continue to benefit from producing a scratched laminated card with a very embarassing photo to obtain the odd discount or upgrade in many situations.
I'm Just A Lawnmower
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Foo fighter
Scratched laminated card? You want to apply for a new one, they are top notch now: credit card style with image burnt on to the plastic. I was dead impressed. And of course the image is updated, in my case from the spotty faced oik of twenty years ago to the classically handsome forty something I am now.
Scratched laminated card? You want to apply for a new one, they are top notch now: credit card style with image burnt on to the plastic. I was dead impressed. And of course the image is updated, in my case from the spotty faced oik of twenty years ago to the classically handsome forty something I am now.
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Erm, seems like me inquiry has prompted quite a debate. Apologies if I got anyone a little hot under the collar.
Very interesting reading though! My father-in-law is with Virgin, so I do qualify for concessions with him, although its limited to his genorosity etc.
Still really looking forward to getting on with going for a position as a trainee ATC, can't say concessions would have really swayed it for me, I just want to get the job!
Very interesting reading though! My father-in-law is with Virgin, so I do qualify for concessions with him, although its limited to his genorosity etc.
Still really looking forward to getting on with going for a position as a trainee ATC, can't say concessions would have really swayed it for me, I just want to get the job!
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foo,
Why is it disturbing that I suggest that a decent OFFICIAL concession scheme may be accepatable when the company is so obviously in the S**T?
Once a scheme was in place then that would be it-it would be there forever and difficult to remove. I would happily accept something like this in lieu of 1% this year and then allow the union to negotiate a better pay deal as the company situation improves. Better x% + concessions than x% on its' own. I am absolutely in favour of Prospect pushing for as much as they can but if the money ain't there then so be it- let's have an alternative in compensation.
In fact I can feel an emergency motion for the conference coming on right now in view of the recent break down in the pay talks.
As for UKATTS: I have nothing but admiration and respect for the guys who started and continue to provide this service to ATC throughout the UK. They do it in their own time and deserve our support. Keep it up boys!!!!
Why is it disturbing that I suggest that a decent OFFICIAL concession scheme may be accepatable when the company is so obviously in the S**T?
Once a scheme was in place then that would be it-it would be there forever and difficult to remove. I would happily accept something like this in lieu of 1% this year and then allow the union to negotiate a better pay deal as the company situation improves. Better x% + concessions than x% on its' own. I am absolutely in favour of Prospect pushing for as much as they can but if the money ain't there then so be it- let's have an alternative in compensation.
In fact I can feel an emergency motion for the conference coming on right now in view of the recent break down in the pay talks.
As for UKATTS: I have nothing but admiration and respect for the guys who started and continue to provide this service to ATC throughout the UK. They do it in their own time and deserve our support. Keep it up boys!!!!
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I agree totally with 250kts on both counts.
Very well said Sir
We work, albeit indirectly perhaps, for the airlines in question so why should we not be given the benefits offered to their other employees?
As 250kts has said I'd be happy to take some sort of official discounted staff travel scheme over this elongated pay-bicker any day. I think it would probably save NATS as a company some money and that can't be a bad thing in the current climate.
Maybe then too we'd have a chance of getting our pay rise on time - and not 5 -6 months later.
I'm also quite alarmed but not wholly surprised to read that staff travel discounts were supposedly offered to us all as a "sweetener" for the PPP deal but then vanished into the post-privatisation sunset. Is this true?
If so I think it warrants further publicity / action.
Very well said Sir
We work, albeit indirectly perhaps, for the airlines in question so why should we not be given the benefits offered to their other employees?
As 250kts has said I'd be happy to take some sort of official discounted staff travel scheme over this elongated pay-bicker any day. I think it would probably save NATS as a company some money and that can't be a bad thing in the current climate.
Maybe then too we'd have a chance of getting our pay rise on time - and not 5 -6 months later.
I'm also quite alarmed but not wholly surprised to read that staff travel discounts were supposedly offered to us all as a "sweetener" for the PPP deal but then vanished into the post-privatisation sunset. Is this true?
If so I think it warrants further publicity / action.
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I don't think we should be putting ideas in mismanagements head
regarding ways to save them money on a pay rise.
how many times have people bleated on about being undervalued financially ? to take an offer of a travel scheme in lieu of money is a bit short sighted. what about next time round, what would we get next year if the company is in the sh1t - vouchers for this that and the other. sorry but no thanks.
i did initially say that we should be entitled to some sort of travel perk, but this should be nothing to do with any sort of pay negotiations.
regarding ways to save them money on a pay rise.
how many times have people bleated on about being undervalued financially ? to take an offer of a travel scheme in lieu of money is a bit short sighted. what about next time round, what would we get next year if the company is in the sh1t - vouchers for this that and the other. sorry but no thanks.
i did initially say that we should be entitled to some sort of travel perk, but this should be nothing to do with any sort of pay negotiations.
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I think a rise of inflation-and-a-bit maybe - plus a guaranteed reduced rate travel scheme with our owners and, most importantly of all, a written bond that the board members and those from the upper echelons of management will NOT award themselves huge bonuses - would go down very well considering the state we're in at the moment.
Or am I playing devil's advocate here?
Or am I playing devil's advocate here?
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I just think that the time is perfect to persuade NATS and TAG that in order to help them out of the present mess then we would be prepared to accept an improvement to our T&Cs that will cost very little.
I can think of no other time that NATS management will be persuaded to go down this route,certainly not in the day to day running of the business. Yes,there is a small cost in terms of admin but nothing significant.
The other benefit for Prospect is that it puts the "clear blue water" between themselves and the other bargaining groups as promised last year-but seemingly not carried out in the present negotiations. And that is not a dig at the other groups, more a suggestion to Prospect and the BEC.
PS.niteflite. Thanks for the comments-can't remember the last time a MACC ATCO referred to a LACC ATCO as "sir". Things are certainly looking up. 
I can think of no other time that NATS management will be persuaded to go down this route,certainly not in the day to day running of the business. Yes,there is a small cost in terms of admin but nothing significant.
The other benefit for Prospect is that it puts the "clear blue water" between themselves and the other bargaining groups as promised last year-but seemingly not carried out in the present negotiations. And that is not a dig at the other groups, more a suggestion to Prospect and the BEC.
PS.niteflite. Thanks for the comments-can't remember the last time a MACC ATCO referred to a LACC ATCO as "sir". Things are certainly looking up.
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My pleasure - I don't subscribe to the whole MACC vs LACC business anyhow.
It may sound clichéd but all of us - ATSAs, ATCOs, Engineers and yes, even management, are all very much on the "same side" and we should all be big and clever enough to see beyond the playground stuff.
Not only that but us all at each others throats isn't good from a Union point of view. Divide and rule and all that
I'll be seeing my Union rep about all of this staff travel business when I'm in work, especially if as has been rumoured, it was offered to us all as part of the PPP shenanigans.
It may sound clichéd but all of us - ATSAs, ATCOs, Engineers and yes, even management, are all very much on the "same side" and we should all be big and clever enough to see beyond the playground stuff.
Not only that but us all at each others throats isn't good from a Union point of view. Divide and rule and all that
I'll be seeing my Union rep about all of this staff travel business when I'm in work, especially if as has been rumoured, it was offered to us all as part of the PPP shenanigans.
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Staff Travel
As we are now (part) owned by several airlines, including BA and VS I think it is disgusting they give us nothing more than a derisory ID80. However even more disgusting is e..Jet who give us NOTHING - yet every day we bend over backwards to help them meet tight slots etc !
Wonder how many know for instance, that a major US carrier which ops into UK gives baggage handlers ID90 - but NOTHING to ATC !! Doesn't it make you feel wanted !
Well done to UKATTS guys who do a great job - and in their own time ! To them - thanks.
Wonder how many know for instance, that a major US carrier which ops into UK gives baggage handlers ID90 - but NOTHING to ATC !! Doesn't it make you feel wanted !
Well done to UKATTS guys who do a great job - and in their own time ! To them - thanks.
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This will really p*** you off......
I'm on the Mar 04 training course but I work for Eurostar at the moment.Branson used to have a share in Eurostar a long time ago and as part of this,E* employees got ID90s on VS.They've kept this concession even though Branson has absolutely sod all to do with E* these days!!!So,to recap,if you work for a TRAIN company you can get ID tickets,but not if you work for ATC!!!As a future employee of NATS (hopefully!) I'd like to see this sorted,although I'm in the fortunate position of having a sister who works for BA and a girlfriend who works for VS.
777
I'm on the Mar 04 training course but I work for Eurostar at the moment.Branson used to have a share in Eurostar a long time ago and as part of this,E* employees got ID90s on VS.They've kept this concession even though Branson has absolutely sod all to do with E* these days!!!So,to recap,if you work for a TRAIN company you can get ID tickets,but not if you work for ATC!!!As a future employee of NATS (hopefully!) I'd like to see this sorted,although I'm in the fortunate position of having a sister who works for BA and a girlfriend who works for VS.
777
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Whilst I agree that it is somewhat annoying that Eurostar employees get ID90 from VIR, we do get decent confirmed seat deals from that airline through Touchdown. Got a fairly cheap holiday in the Carribean a couple of years ago through it.
Come to think of it, we might even get concessionary Eurostar tickets as well, though living in the frozen north it is not something that is likely to interest me too much.
Come to think of it, we might even get concessionary Eurostar tickets as well, though living in the frozen north it is not something that is likely to interest me too much.
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I think we do get a deal through UKATTS with VIR. But that is my whole point-it is unofficial and not a very cheap discount either as it is based on a high fare calculation.
The issue is whether our employers should go the "extra mile" to retain some goodwill with their staff cos a 3% pay offer sure as hell ain't going to!!
And remember it would cost them peanuts.
As for easyJet-I don't think they even have a staff travel section for their own staff. Imagine the reaction of the ex-GOE employees when they found that out.
The issue is whether our employers should go the "extra mile" to retain some goodwill with their staff cos a 3% pay offer sure as hell ain't going to!!
And remember it would cost them peanuts.
As for easyJet-I don't think they even have a staff travel section for their own staff. Imagine the reaction of the ex-GOE employees when they found that out.
I think it's a little arrogant to expect ID fares from Low Cost carriers considering how cheap they can be. I would, however, like to encourage LCs to offer their minimum booked fares (the realistic ones I'm talking about) to staff and ATC without the usual applicable restrictions. As far as the full service carriers are concerned even ID90 isn't the saving it used to be. ID80 depends on the fare basis and ID75 is nothing less than an insult as this will generally cost more than a fully booked internet fare. On a particular sector which I often fly I pay 6 euros less for an ID90 than I do for the cheapest advance purchase fare. The only advantage of the ID90 is the flexibility to change my travel dates.
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LC MINIMUM FARES
AVMAN - quite agree - wouldn't hurt to give us minimum fares - goodwill gesture would be greatly appreciated.
easy cabin crew assured me they do get staff deals.
RYR give us staff deals, GO used to, so why is it so difficult for EZY ????
easy cabin crew assured me they do get staff deals.
RYR give us staff deals, GO used to, so why is it so difficult for EZY ????
