NATS Pay and Privatisation
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Dunx, Big Nose 1 is telling the whole truth and nothing but, you have seen nothing, absolutely nothing, which will compare with what you see at LATCC. And before you ask, yes I am an ex-RAF controller and yes I am valid at LATCC. And for anyone who thinks controllers are overpaid, come and have a go then wonder if you'd do it for less, not.
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Guys,
I appreciate what you are saying, and I am not saying for one minute that anyone is not telling the truth, but the general consensus within military controllers (not just RAF) is that life is better on the outside.
After all, you are the guys doing the job...not me, but that doesn't mean that my role is any lesser that yours.
EG when you have up to 30 visiting foreign fast jets on detachment ( a regular occurence at my unit) who all want to get airbone together, and are all nice and friendly on the way out, but want to come back 45 mins later all screaming fuel priority and claiming that they they are more important than a 4 jet at 10 miles with a bird strike......
This is not just an isolated example, and there are no panic buttons to press at a military terminal unit.
As for the pension scheme, retiring as a Flt Lt at 40 (as most commisioned controllers do!) does not even scratch the surface of what a NATS controller does. (remember the SNCO controllers too)
I don't want to sound like a stuck up military (unlicensed!!) controller, and I am sure that I will have a completely different point of view if I get through the college and get validated. It is just a voice for what the military feels just now.
If I have offended anybody, then my apologies, but from our point of view you have much more freedom, a better pay scale and very little (by comparison) of the other nonsense that come with being in the military.
Keep up the good work guys, and please don't kick my head in if I end up working along side you!!!
I appreciate what you are saying, and I am not saying for one minute that anyone is not telling the truth, but the general consensus within military controllers (not just RAF) is that life is better on the outside.
After all, you are the guys doing the job...not me, but that doesn't mean that my role is any lesser that yours.
EG when you have up to 30 visiting foreign fast jets on detachment ( a regular occurence at my unit) who all want to get airbone together, and are all nice and friendly on the way out, but want to come back 45 mins later all screaming fuel priority and claiming that they they are more important than a 4 jet at 10 miles with a bird strike......
This is not just an isolated example, and there are no panic buttons to press at a military terminal unit.
As for the pension scheme, retiring as a Flt Lt at 40 (as most commisioned controllers do!) does not even scratch the surface of what a NATS controller does. (remember the SNCO controllers too)
I don't want to sound like a stuck up military (unlicensed!!) controller, and I am sure that I will have a completely different point of view if I get through the college and get validated. It is just a voice for what the military feels just now.
If I have offended anybody, then my apologies, but from our point of view you have much more freedom, a better pay scale and very little (by comparison) of the other nonsense that come with being in the military.
Keep up the good work guys, and please don't kick my head in if I end up working along side you!!!
Join Date: Nov 1998
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Hey Dunx - you volunteered....
An announcement on privatisation is due before the end of this parliamentary session so the 28th could be correct. The word is that it is almost certainly a trade sale (the worst option for us) as it is the cheapest and most expedient for the Government.
Time to get our collective act together and decide whether we really want to fight it enough to go on strike.
Pay - Management 'final offer' - 3.25% plus a few scraps. I think it's probably just enough to apease the majority again. Whaddayouthink?
ps where can I get some of these cool little rotating smilies?
pps I hope journo is still watching this thread cos if it does come to a strike we're going to need to win the propaganda war as mgt will play the overpaid card big time to try to rubbish us.
An announcement on privatisation is due before the end of this parliamentary session so the 28th could be correct. The word is that it is almost certainly a trade sale (the worst option for us) as it is the cheapest and most expedient for the Government.
Time to get our collective act together and decide whether we really want to fight it enough to go on strike.
Pay - Management 'final offer' - 3.25% plus a few scraps. I think it's probably just enough to apease the majority again. Whaddayouthink?
ps where can I get some of these cool little rotating smilies?
pps I hope journo is still watching this thread cos if it does come to a strike we're going to need to win the propaganda war as mgt will play the overpaid card big time to try to rubbish us.
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The debate on whether or not NATS ATCO's are overpaid/underpaid etc is a waste of electrons. The real point is that staff genuinely feel undervalued by their management. Not a good starting point for a newly privatised company I'd suggest.
Look at BA - the customer is always first malarky has worn very thin and the folks are well pissed off - even the pilots who are very well remunerated by our standards. If management put the morale of their staff first this would cascade down to the service provided.
I'm not saying Branson's lot have it all correct but I think their company ethos is along the right direction - any 'Virgins' care to comment? (hope they don't buy NATS as I'd look particularily stupid in a red uniform!)
Don't believe all the platitudes and propaganda put out by NATS management in the coming weeks and months. Their assurances that it'll all be ok are worthless as the first thing to change will be the management. Then it'll be the ATSAs and whats left of the engineers. Then it'll be our turn. They'll try to divide and rule by playing units, grades and disciplines off against one another. We have to resist this and stick together or else we're f**ked
Look at BA - the customer is always first malarky has worn very thin and the folks are well pissed off - even the pilots who are very well remunerated by our standards. If management put the morale of their staff first this would cascade down to the service provided.
I'm not saying Branson's lot have it all correct but I think their company ethos is along the right direction - any 'Virgins' care to comment? (hope they don't buy NATS as I'd look particularily stupid in a red uniform!)
Don't believe all the platitudes and propaganda put out by NATS management in the coming weeks and months. Their assurances that it'll all be ok are worthless as the first thing to change will be the management. Then it'll be the ATSAs and whats left of the engineers. Then it'll be our turn. They'll try to divide and rule by playing units, grades and disciplines off against one another. We have to resist this and stick together or else we're f**ked
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A big problem which I think management have overlooked (quelle surprise) in the event of NATS being privatised is the stampede to retire by controllers who are nearing retirement age which will occur before the pension fund can be plundered. If that happens on my watch, we are indeed ####ed. Then what will our thrusting new managers do, open another box of validated controllers? At least the share-holders meetings should be a laugh.
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Hi Guys,
Due to thread size and hence long download time, I'll close this one off now. Anyone who wants to, please feel free to start Part 2 of this topic if you wish.
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PPRuNe Radar
ATC Forum Moderator
[email protected]
Due to thread size and hence long download time, I'll close this one off now. Anyone who wants to, please feel free to start Part 2 of this topic if you wish.
------------------
PPRuNe Radar
ATC Forum Moderator
[email protected]
