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Old 24th May 2010, 13:54
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My first post on here, get it off my chest time.
Any one else at Swanwick bemused by the attitude of some (majority) of the ATSA's?
I work there in administration and am constantly amazed at these self important poeple wanting it all ways. With rumours gathering of large lay offs I cannot understand their attitude to the organisation in general.
They are so hard done by - cant survive unless they get good rises etc but try getting some of them in for overtime, my god talk about the world owing them a living. Had an instance 2 weeks ago when some were told at the weekend they were not needed and could go, well they could of been home an hour earlier without going round gloating, oh look they are going to pay me for sitting at home! Well wise up chaps, you could be sitting at home for agreat deal longer.
On another point I read on an older thread about the re-location issue, the poster stated that anyone who had not relocated should not be at a disadvantage should it come to redundancy, how can that be fair?
I relocated my family at great upheaval from west london because we were expected too, now it seems large groups of the workforce are driving 60 plus miles and then expect to be fresh and alert to do a shift. This just can't be right. Would be interesting to see absenteeism figures for the poeple that are travelling long distance, I know of one guy, wont name him, who took a day off sick because he had .................hiccups!
Says it all really
Rant over
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Old 24th May 2010, 14:34
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10W

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cant survive unless they get good rises etc but try getting some of them in for overtime
There may be some valid points in there, but overtime is voluntary. Why shouldn't someone say 'no thanks' if they're not interested ?
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Old 24th May 2010, 14:49
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Thank you for making me laugh, try at least to sound slightly serious next time
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Old 24th May 2010, 15:02
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"As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent. In fact the press may use it, or the unscrupulous, or sciolists*, to elicit certain reactions."
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Old 24th May 2010, 16:06
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the pointed end, 2/10 for effort.

Otherwise pretty poor attempt at a wind up really. If I was writing you a report card it would be along the lines of 'could do better, must try harder'.

Hopefully my atsa chums will just ignore you.
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Old 24th May 2010, 17:10
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<<< Hopefully my atsa chums will just ignore you. >>>

Well, this ex-ATSA certainly has..... the OP seems to be an unimaginative variation on an occasional theme.......
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Old 24th May 2010, 17:32
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Angry

So you work in 'Administration'? Nothing to do with ATC then!
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Old 24th May 2010, 17:57
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EGLL19791986... Jeezzz.. I must have sat alongside you sometime? Hope the nightmares are easing up!!

As for the originator.. I think he needs a few months of night duties to sort him out!!

Bren M (ex A-Watch Hounslow Goods Yard and then West Drayton Open Prison).
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Old 24th May 2010, 18:21
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HI Bren. Well you might not have sat beside me, but I probably put your strips out for you on a few occasions! Hope you are enjoying your retirement, don't worry you're not missing much by not being at Swanwick!!
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Old 24th May 2010, 21:10
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Pointy thing.

Your attitude to operational staff is indicitive of the administrative staff at airports and within ATC, nice enough people but the chips on your shoulders require an articulated lorry to get you to and from the office.
The vast majority of your type are probably very good at counting pens, reams of paper and formulating next months stationary order on a spreadsheet, indeed, you are probably capable of putting out a stonking memo or two about use of the photocopier.
I dare say that you could surpass any of our armed forces in serving our Queen and country by boring the enemy to death in any given conflict, but when it comes to doing an operational job in aviation you wouldn't have a clue.
Now run along before I secretly increase your ink cartridge order and arrange for it to be delivered by a different driver on a Tuesday morning instead of the chap who's always done it on a Thursday - just after lunch.
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Old 24th May 2010, 21:55
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However there do seem to be a number of easily bruised egos out there


Before jumping down my neck, I did my time as an ATCA (Min. of Av.and CAA as was0
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Old 24th May 2010, 23:24
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Having previously worked without assistants, I know how wonderfully valuable they are, whether you need them to help with an emergency, or just one of those silly days when the PBX line seems to go nuts for no real reason.

I can function without an ATSA, but where I work? They're worth their weight in platinum.

Thanks, guys!
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Old 25th May 2010, 06:48
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Simple stuff - if the admin wallahs stayed home for a few days nobody would notice. If the ATSAs did the same, everything would grind to a stop.
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Old 25th May 2010, 09:55
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At the airfield where I worked there was an ex ATCA who was in admin (but not NATS admin)- he was one of those who declined to transfer to the CAA when it was created back in '75 and transferred to another branch of the civil service - remember NATS and NATCS had been Department of Trade and Industry and before that Board of Trade. It was apparent there was a hell of a chip on his shoulder by his attitude to ATC staff. Remind you of someone?
The pointed end; were you an ATSA at one time?
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Old 25th May 2010, 10:25
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Wonderful. I married one.
 
Old 25th May 2010, 10:48
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Should I be worried that I'm with an admin assistant then

Not THIS admin person I must certainly point out
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Old 25th May 2010, 12:24
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Originally Posted by HEATHROW DIRECTOR
Simple stuff - if the admin wallahs stayed home for a few days nobody would notice. If the ATSAs did the same, everything would grind to a stop.
Unless it happens that the admin wallah is the one that makes your pay happen!
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Old 25th May 2010, 12:29
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Wonderful. I married one.
One divorced me

Wonderful people, couldn't eat a whole one anymore though
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Old 25th May 2010, 12:32
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The Pointed One.

If (and its a big if) you are correct and that some ATSAs do have "an attitude" then perhaps it is a response to the general attitude and culture at Swanwick towards them, both individually and collectively.

Last edited by DC10RealMan; 26th May 2010 at 03:20.
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Old 25th May 2010, 12:48
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Wonderful people, couldn't eat a whole one anymore though
Try some Tabasco sauce, goes with anything.

On a serious note, the ops rooms couldn't run without ATSAs. They do a fantastic job, certainly make our controllers' jobs easier.
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