Why are so many controllers leaving Australia?
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Oberon NSW
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Controllers Leaving Australia
For goodness sake. If you are so unhappy as an ATC with Airservices Australia, get another job. There are no locks on the organisation's windows or doors. The solution to your sad life's dilemna is simple. Walk into your managers office, say good morning and hand in your resignation. I'm sure you'll feel so much happier without your very generous salary and the ability to take a sickie on full pay whenever it suits you and I'm sure that you will be much happier that your fellow controllers will have to give up their time off with their families to cover for your sadness. Do everyone a favour and resign. You'll be so much happier
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Adrift upon the tides of fate
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps you have missed the point of this thread? It's because people are, indeed, "walking into their manager's office and resigning", that this thread exists. The old 'if you don't like it, leave' argument.
Well, people are. Apparently, in ever increasing numbers. Thanks for your contribution/solution, though. Let me guess, you are a manager, right?
Well, people are. Apparently, in ever increasing numbers. Thanks for your contribution/solution, though. Let me guess, you are a manager, right?
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Australia
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
questiontime
Whilst there are some valid points raised by those who have ventured overseas, the rantings of a few ex-ASA controllers hardly give an un-biased view.
I've worked with many controllers who sought greener pastures and they all had varying motives. For some it was just the money. Others weren't treated the best and got jack of it.
Yet there are also a few vocal contributors on here that left before they were pushed, or weren't given other opportunities because they could barely cut it where they were.
Of course, no one will ever concede to being one of these ex-staffers, and wonder why ASA won't take them back after they burnt their bridges to a crisp.
If you still have ambition to be an ATC, be advised, the job can be boring, frustrating, tiring, & repetitive. But also very challenging and testing. If that sounds appealling, go for it.
I've worked with many controllers who sought greener pastures and they all had varying motives. For some it was just the money. Others weren't treated the best and got jack of it.
Yet there are also a few vocal contributors on here that left before they were pushed, or weren't given other opportunities because they could barely cut it where they were.
Of course, no one will ever concede to being one of these ex-staffers, and wonder why ASA won't take them back after they burnt their bridges to a crisp.
If you still have ambition to be an ATC, be advised, the job can be boring, frustrating, tiring, & repetitive. But also very challenging and testing. If that sounds appealling, go for it.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: under
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From what I can gather,
ASA treats their employees poorly, giving little regard for personnal time.
Management don't see that as a problem, rather a privledge that you should work for them.
There are many employers in the market in Aus that will give you a lifestyle that you can enjoy and respect you as a valued employee and pay better without 365/24/7.
It seems that many controllers have developed only the one skill while working in OZ and the company hasn't enhanced its workforce, could this be a company policy to ensure they don't/can't leave?
Those "for"
say the lifestyle - obviously they aren't the ones getting rung on their days off,
if you don't like it leave - well I am sure those once did like their job, but something has changed. Also being in the real world - it just isn't that easy to develop a new set of skills and uproot your family to a new source of employment. From experience MOST MONOPOLY EMPLOYERS treat their workforce the same but the global village concept may one day cure that - as ASA seems to be going through now.
Anyway I personally don't need that kind of employer - no matter what the job and have been lucky enough to have many skill sets that enable a choice in the marketplace. I'm off to "control" a fleet of mining trucks, better pay than ASA as well, better employee benefits and a company that actually gives a damn about their employees.
I frown on all those employers that treat their staff as expendable resources.
ASA treats their employees poorly, giving little regard for personnal time.
Management don't see that as a problem, rather a privledge that you should work for them.
There are many employers in the market in Aus that will give you a lifestyle that you can enjoy and respect you as a valued employee and pay better without 365/24/7.
It seems that many controllers have developed only the one skill while working in OZ and the company hasn't enhanced its workforce, could this be a company policy to ensure they don't/can't leave?
Those "for"
say the lifestyle - obviously they aren't the ones getting rung on their days off,
if you don't like it leave - well I am sure those once did like their job, but something has changed. Also being in the real world - it just isn't that easy to develop a new set of skills and uproot your family to a new source of employment. From experience MOST MONOPOLY EMPLOYERS treat their workforce the same but the global village concept may one day cure that - as ASA seems to be going through now.
Anyway I personally don't need that kind of employer - no matter what the job and have been lucky enough to have many skill sets that enable a choice in the marketplace. I'm off to "control" a fleet of mining trucks, better pay than ASA as well, better employee benefits and a company that actually gives a damn about their employees.
I frown on all those employers that treat their staff as expendable resources.
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Orstraylia
Age: 60
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
day one 1415-2300 [12hr break]
day two 1100-1900 [11 hr break]
day 3 morn 0600-1300 [10hr break] 2300 to 0600 day four
rest of day four - sleep - until 1600 when Asa can legally start asking you to come back and do overtime
day two 1100-1900 [11 hr break]
day 3 morn 0600-1300 [10hr break] 2300 to 0600 day four
rest of day four - sleep - until 1600 when Asa can legally start asking you to come back and do overtime
Or do you intend to say that ASA can ring anytime but you cannot return to duty in under 8 hours? i.e. you can be called at any time and, if you accept their kind offer, you could be back at work having finished the above cycle, at 2.00 p.m. for up to 10 hours? Either way it`s crazy stuff imho.
Mobile only, on 'silent' or just off altogether...
Yet there are also a few vocal contributors on here that left before they were pushed, or weren't given other opportunities because they could barely cut it where they were.
Haha, no you are all good if you could barely cut it,
In this case you are management material.
I also don't think the people who have left for Europe will be back any time soon.
And I also hear through the grape vine the party in the brissy departures lounge is in full swing. I am wondering who is going to train the esteemed alm team, who i doubt will be able to hold the ratings required to fill the gaps.
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Orstraylia
Age: 60
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And I also hear through the grape vine the party in the brissy departures lounge is in full swing. I am wondering who is going to train the esteemed alm team, who i doubt will be able to hold the ratings required to fill the gaps.
Not quite full swing yet i`d say, but gathering pace. Rumour has it the revised Brissy Approach roster is soooo inviting it has the troops dusting off resumes and making discreet enquiries of former comrades now overseas.
As for the 2% fat endorsements for ALMs? Who will train them and who will check them?
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Global Village
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HEATHROW DIRECTOR
<<Better Money, lower cost of living, better lifestlye,>>
Amazing. We've been to Oz twice and thought we'd died and gone to Heaven. Yet, drive around some really dirty, grim areas of London and you'll find the pubs full of Ozzies.....???? Why? Is the beer over here that good?
Its called returning to the scene of the crime!!
<<Better Money, lower cost of living, better lifestlye,>>
Amazing. We've been to Oz twice and thought we'd died and gone to Heaven. Yet, drive around some really dirty, grim areas of London and you'll find the pubs full of Ozzies.....???? Why? Is the beer over here that good?
Its called returning to the scene of the crime!!
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Always changing
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looks like those online Equity and Diversity courses just didn't get through to Management - or are they exempt from doing them. Maybe they are just for lazy ATC's with so much spare time on shift.
What a complete embarrassment. I sincerely hope those women get a nice settlement and apology.
It's just another good reason to not work there.
What a complete embarrassment. I sincerely hope those women get a nice settlement and apology.
It's just another good reason to not work there.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And as for the way they treat women here is a first hand account.
I was the first female controller the tower (I will not disclose) had in 6 years. I asked, quiet discretely for them to put sanitry bins in the ladies toilets. They brought the lady who worked for the disposal company into the cab of the tower and introduced her to me and advised
"this is the lady who will be taking care of your special needs"
Ummmm what the f*ck
The tower was full and it was done in front of everyone, I was mortified.
And I'm sorry did you say special needs. It's perfectly natural buddy.
And that was just the begining........
But the story has a happy ending. I got out.
I was the first female controller the tower (I will not disclose) had in 6 years. I asked, quiet discretely for them to put sanitry bins in the ladies toilets. They brought the lady who worked for the disposal company into the cab of the tower and introduced her to me and advised
"this is the lady who will be taking care of your special needs"
Ummmm what the f*ck
The tower was full and it was done in front of everyone, I was mortified.
And I'm sorry did you say special needs. It's perfectly natural buddy.
And that was just the begining........
But the story has a happy ending. I got out.
Seeing as someone else bumped the thread, I thought I might take the opportunity to add that 20 months down the track, it has proven to be the best decision I ever made to depart.
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Australia
Age: 63
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It must be a stress thing, or a deficit of simple civil society ... the struggles at Airservices.
From the users side, I nearly always feel the Australian ATC are doing a good job, and they deal with me as a "consumer" very professionally. The grumpiest controllers (on occasions)I have come into contact with are Bankstown, but they probably get subjected to all levels of variable competence,language variations, and traffic loads. I'm reassured by the proceedural strictness of the Australian air traffic system.
Rest assured... air protocol doesnt allow us pilots to say more than the briefest of thanks, and the job satisfaction can't come in practical terms from that kind of feedback...however I'm pretty sure everyone who flies safely in and out of our controlled airports is pretty aware of the good service they are getting.
I had to put down at Williamtown suddenly last year when some unforecast IMC with very low cloud base hit the area ...the controllers were great .
From the users side, I nearly always feel the Australian ATC are doing a good job, and they deal with me as a "consumer" very professionally. The grumpiest controllers (on occasions)I have come into contact with are Bankstown, but they probably get subjected to all levels of variable competence,language variations, and traffic loads. I'm reassured by the proceedural strictness of the Australian air traffic system.
Rest assured... air protocol doesnt allow us pilots to say more than the briefest of thanks, and the job satisfaction can't come in practical terms from that kind of feedback...however I'm pretty sure everyone who flies safely in and out of our controlled airports is pretty aware of the good service they are getting.
I had to put down at Williamtown suddenly last year when some unforecast IMC with very low cloud base hit the area ...the controllers were great .
I used to hate having to apply for my leave 18 months in advance, like I can really plan that far ahead.
Stupid ASA
Stupid ASA
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: On a different Island
Age: 52
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah like the lack of a genuine training plan... Which continually caused systemic leave cancellations... Never happened in Sydney though... aaahhhmmmm
The 18 months notice was so that ASA could plan to accommodate your leave requests i.e. if you gave them 18 months notice it wasn't "reasonable" whatever the reason to deny you leave... not used to deny access to leave if you didn't give 18 months notice...
The 18 months notice was so that ASA could plan to accommodate your leave requests i.e. if you gave them 18 months notice it wasn't "reasonable" whatever the reason to deny you leave... not used to deny access to leave if you didn't give 18 months notice...
