Nats dress code
Basil
Ian, I thought you did your 8 years as an Argosy man - or was the ATC posting the reason you left! It was mine; then I ended up spending the rest of my career as an ATCO anyway! Tant Pis as the Frogs say.
Talkdown Man
I thought you liked my 'ageing Rock Star' appearance.
Strike
1981 lots did!
Shorts
Was I the first to wear them at LL? (1987), HD or Window Job might know. If so, look what I started!
Off-spring tells me that the Union has not agreed with 'dress code' yet, to be discussed at next shop stewards meeting!
BW
Talkdown Man
I thought you liked my 'ageing Rock Star' appearance.
Strike
1981 lots did!
Shorts
Was I the first to wear them at LL? (1987), HD or Window Job might know. If so, look what I started!
Off-spring tells me that the Union has not agreed with 'dress code' yet, to be discussed at next shop stewards meeting!
BW
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Off-spring tells me that the Union has not agreed with 'dress code' yet, to be discussed at next shop stewards meeting!
When I joined as an ATCA 3 in '69, my first day in the Ops room at LATCC, Frank Langthorne the senior ATCA told us we were expected to wear ties on weekday daytime duties but it wasn't 'expected' on nights or at weekends. One ATCA 2 (CW) arrived without a tie one day, was told off, and next day came in wearing a tie with a huge nude female picture on it! On nights he would wear a torn t-shirt.
Many years later at Farnborough, Ted van Dort would wear a bow tie when carrying out morning briefings for the flying display, so we all wore them too. When he went we kidded his successor Don Hickson that it was traditional that the SATCO wear a bow tie for briefings, showing him a picture of 'Mac' Pearson to prove it. Apparently he wasn't aware that Mac always wore a bow tie.
Many years later at Farnborough, Ted van Dort would wear a bow tie when carrying out morning briefings for the flying display, so we all wore them too. When he went we kidded his successor Don Hickson that it was traditional that the SATCO wear a bow tie for briefings, showing him a picture of 'Mac' Pearson to prove it. Apparently he wasn't aware that Mac always wore a bow tie.
Brian, I did a short ATC ground tour at Wyton before I left. I think the posting may have had something to do with asking about PVR whilst on the Argosy at Cottesmore. They said "Oh, yes, keep your nose clean (What!?) and you'll get a Herc command." 
Hmm, difficult decision. Anyway, I haven't fallen asleep in the loo again.
Thread creep story - no, wait, it's about dress: Flt.Lt. colleague in uniform in (IIRC) Benson mess bar one night. Borrows other Flt.Lt's. shirt slides and becomes instant Gp. Capt.
Pulls a Basil in the loo, falls off and remains asleep. Staff member goes into loo and perceives Stn. Cdr. passed out in stall. Panic ensues - SDO called etc.
Hmm, difficult decision. Anyway, I haven't fallen asleep in the loo again.Thread creep story - no, wait, it's about dress: Flt.Lt. colleague in uniform in (IIRC) Benson mess bar one night. Borrows other Flt.Lt's. shirt slides and becomes instant Gp. Capt.
Pulls a Basil in the loo, falls off and remains asleep. Staff member goes into loo and perceives Stn. Cdr. passed out in stall. Panic ensues - SDO called etc.
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Fuss about nothing. No one has ever turned up for work in clothes that offend me. I wear shorts when it's warm, hoodies when it's cold, full highland dress on St Andrew's day and baggy, comfy stuff on a night shift.
The jobs I had pre Nats all had a dress code. As a hotel manager I was always in a suit and when I worked in a supermarket they provided uniforms. I really don't mind a dress code.
I work at Prestwick and the Nats staff are the only ones who don't have a uniform. Security, restaurant staff,cleaners and of course the RAF are all smarter than the ops room staff. Nats could always spend a few quid and get us all a few branded shirts,t shirts etc.
My normal dress is jeans,t shirt and trainers and I don't intend on changing that. On the very rare occasions that I represent Nats outside of work (did a school visit last year to do a presentation on ATC, fam flights etc) I smarten up appropriately.
The jobs I had pre Nats all had a dress code. As a hotel manager I was always in a suit and when I worked in a supermarket they provided uniforms. I really don't mind a dress code.
I work at Prestwick and the Nats staff are the only ones who don't have a uniform. Security, restaurant staff,cleaners and of course the RAF are all smarter than the ops room staff. Nats could always spend a few quid and get us all a few branded shirts,t shirts etc.
My normal dress is jeans,t shirt and trainers and I don't intend on changing that. On the very rare occasions that I represent Nats outside of work (did a school visit last year to do a presentation on ATC, fam flights etc) I smarten up appropriately.
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"Is that near the bondage shop with the leather teddy-bear in the window?"
Never heard of it!!
Mind you it does conjure up all sorts of "dress code" images.
OTB
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Having worn uniform all my working life I'm not going to enter this debate which, from what I can make out seems to involve just the gentlemen of the species. I have just a couple of suggestions to make, one is the shorts suit. I was once passed by a very smart-looking businessman in Perth West Oz. He wore beautiful shiny black brogues which would have pleased any nit-picking Sergeant Major, carried an equally smart briefcase and brolly and wore a shorts suit - tailored shorts and jacket, cream knee-length socks and the whole outfit surmounted by an immaculate bowler hat.
Shorts Suit (ignore the footwear):
Should this not be quite to your taste you could always go for the Lord Mayor of London look.
Shorts Suit (ignore the footwear):
Should this not be quite to your taste you could always go for the Lord Mayor of London look.
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How would it work if the union negotiated an alternative deal where those who adopt a dress code of smart/casual keep their full pay, but those rebellious anarchists who just refuse to toe the line but don't feel strongly enough about their position to actually resign over it (i.e. all of them), take a suitable pay cut?
No, I didn't think you'd do that either.
No, I didn't think you'd do that either.
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DX,
The 'Boris Look' is really where it's at.
The NATS Environment Director, (whose picture has mysteriously disappeared from the public website), trumpeted a reduction in CO2 from a reduction in staff commuting.
Everyone is cycling to work these days, (allegedly). So, with the loot saved on unleaded/diesel, smart/casual can be purchased.
2 'quick wins' for management then.
The 'Boris Look' is really where it's at.
The NATS Environment Director, (whose picture has mysteriously disappeared from the public website), trumpeted a reduction in CO2 from a reduction in staff commuting.
Everyone is cycling to work these days, (allegedly). So, with the loot saved on unleaded/diesel, smart/casual can be purchased.
2 'quick wins' for management then.
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What's wrong with a dress code FFS? What do all the flip flop and torn jeans hooligans do if they take the wife/gf to a restaurant or club that has a code? Tell the bouncer/maitre d' to eff off? No, I bet they dress accordingly. If they're invited to a wedding, do they turn up in beach shorts and T shirts, saying 'How I dress has no bearing on my good wishes for the happy couple.' Nah! For goodness sake I wish you so-called professionals would grow up and stop behaving like petulant teenagers.
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wanderover,
You're not wrong.
A few years ago, I was asked to show a party of visitors around a NATS unit.
At the 'de-brief' afterwards, a lady said she had enjoyed the visit immensely, she was slightly less apprehensive about flying, as a result, and commented on the "scruffiest collection of highly-trained professionals" she had ever seen.
O.K. it was a Saturday morning duty.
A year back, on the LAG I was working on, only myself and the 3 lady ATCOs/ATSAs had 'shoes' on. Everyone else was wearing 'trainers'. One ATCO was even wearing 'builder's trousers' too, with big pockets for hammers and chisels etc.
P.S.
I used to wear my slippers on TWR night-shifts though. Nice'n cozy!
You're not wrong.
A few years ago, I was asked to show a party of visitors around a NATS unit.
At the 'de-brief' afterwards, a lady said she had enjoyed the visit immensely, she was slightly less apprehensive about flying, as a result, and commented on the "scruffiest collection of highly-trained professionals" she had ever seen.
O.K. it was a Saturday morning duty.
A year back, on the LAG I was working on, only myself and the 3 lady ATCOs/ATSAs had 'shoes' on. Everyone else was wearing 'trainers'. One ATCO was even wearing 'builder's trousers' too, with big pockets for hammers and chisels etc.
P.S.
I used to wear my slippers on TWR night-shifts though. Nice'n cozy!
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One ATCO was even wearing 'builder's trousers' too, with big pockets for hammers and chisels etc.
PPRuNe Bashaholic
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The solution is in NATS hands. Almost every other service industry company which wants to project a brand image or smart staff to the public provides them with a uniform. That allows little leeway for personal interpretation of the rules or arguments about what is and isn't acceptable. Branded polo shirts and other attire should be provided if NATS require a consistent dress code which projects the image they want.
Or we could go for airline style uniforms with gold bars on the epaulettes. Got to be at least 7 stripes for a Supervisor
Or we could go for airline style uniforms with gold bars on the epaulettes. Got to be at least 7 stripes for a Supervisor
