GATCO Membership
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GATCO Membership
Hi folks, just interested to see how many UK (civil & Mil) controllers on here are members of GATCO? Just a straw poll really....
and if you're not, an quick explanation of why not would be appreciated.
Spamcan
and if you're not, an quick explanation of why not would be appreciated.
Spamcan
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I'm a member.
Something which often gets forgotten is the fact that tax relief is available on GATCO subscription fees although its only £7.00 a month without the tax relief so not much in the first place!
Something which often gets forgotten is the fact that tax relief is available on GATCO subscription fees although its only £7.00 a month without the tax relief so not much in the first place!
Last edited by Andy Mayes; 16th Jun 2012 at 10:55.
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Not a member, offers me nothing that my union membership doesn't as far as I'm aware.
Plus it was shoved down our throat at the college by one of the instructors who was/is big in GATCO. Put the backs of a lot of us up at the time, I think our course was a record in the number of people who didn't join GATCO.
Plus I can always read their magazine when someone else leaves it at work
Plus it was shoved down our throat at the college by one of the instructors who was/is big in GATCO. Put the backs of a lot of us up at the time, I think our course was a record in the number of people who didn't join GATCO.
Plus I can always read their magazine when someone else leaves it at work
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Thought about it recently and looked at their website and there didn't appear to be a retired rate. I certainly can't afford £84 a year; I've even let my Arsenal membership lapse!
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 16th Jun 2012 at 18:08. Reason: spelling
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Originally Posted by Brian 48nav
.........looked at their website and there didn't appear to be a retired rate. I certainly can't afford £84 a year ...............
I pay £60pa as I'm classed as 'Retired-operational' albeit only as a FISO.
I also pay £33pa Arsenal Membership; could never afford a season ticket even if it was offered.
I also pay £33pa Arsenal Membership; could never afford a season ticket even if it was offered.
Last edited by chevvron; 16th Jun 2012 at 20:28.
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Firstly, yes...im a member..
Couple of things there...
Firstly its a shame that you have been misinformed/not informed of the, rather substantial, differences between Prospect and GATCO. Prospect is NOT a body solely devoted to you as an ATCO or your profession, it represents MANY different professions and ATCOS dont take any priority. It has negotiating rights (with NATS) for talks regarding pay and conditions. GATCO is a professional body which, not only provides professional legal cover and representation to its members, but does a great many things the union does not do.
It has representatives on a myriad of different european and international bodies and is a platform for ATCOS to be heard internationally. The union does not provide this as its not their remit.
Bottom line is union is NOT ATC specific and provides a basic service (LOL) to you. GATCO is something entirely different. There is also a social side to the organisation which, I dont believe, the union has either.
Oh, one more thing which has been mentioned before....you can claim tax relief on your subs as GATCO is a recognised professional body which you cant do with union subs.
Spamcan
Not a member, offers me nothing that my union membership doesn't as far as I'm aware.
Plus it was shoved down our throat at the college by one of the instructors who was/is big in GATCO. Put the backs of a lot of us up at the time, I think our course was a record in the number of people who didn't join GATCO.
Plus I can always read their magazine when someone else leaves it at work
Plus it was shoved down our throat at the college by one of the instructors who was/is big in GATCO. Put the backs of a lot of us up at the time, I think our course was a record in the number of people who didn't join GATCO.
Plus I can always read their magazine when someone else leaves it at work
Firstly its a shame that you have been misinformed/not informed of the, rather substantial, differences between Prospect and GATCO. Prospect is NOT a body solely devoted to you as an ATCO or your profession, it represents MANY different professions and ATCOS dont take any priority. It has negotiating rights (with NATS) for talks regarding pay and conditions. GATCO is a professional body which, not only provides professional legal cover and representation to its members, but does a great many things the union does not do.
It has representatives on a myriad of different european and international bodies and is a platform for ATCOS to be heard internationally. The union does not provide this as its not their remit.
Bottom line is union is NOT ATC specific and provides a basic service (LOL) to you. GATCO is something entirely different. There is also a social side to the organisation which, I dont believe, the union has either.
Oh, one more thing which has been mentioned before....you can claim tax relief on your subs as GATCO is a recognised professional body which you cant do with union subs.
Spamcan
Last edited by Spamcan defender; 17th Jun 2012 at 13:24.
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Speke Softly
Thanks, I'll have a better look!
TC, I was a Red Member on £33/yr and when this years renewal came through it had gone up to £55, when I asked why, the reply was I'd got to the top of the list and been upgraded to Silver - it gives no other benefit than more priority to buy tickets. I said I wanted to remain a Red Member as there is no way I'm going to go all the way to London to see a game - seemed to stump them a bit! I managed to see every game on the laptop last season courtesy of flashsportstreams!
TC, I was a Red Member on £33/yr and when this years renewal came through it had gone up to £55, when I asked why, the reply was I'd got to the top of the list and been upgraded to Silver - it gives no other benefit than more priority to buy tickets. I said I wanted to remain a Red Member as there is no way I'm going to go all the way to London to see a game - seemed to stump them a bit! I managed to see every game on the laptop last season courtesy of flashsportstreams!
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Yahoo
Whatever you think of the "prats" in the union if you are employed by NATS all the benefits and terms and conditions of employment that you currently enjoy and take for granted have been obtained by hard working UNPAID union representatives negotiated over decades. Do you seriously think that if there was no trade union representation and you had to negotiate terms on an individual basis you would be anywhere near the salary and in particular the pension benefits you currently enjoy. You used the word prat in your post, having read one or two of your posts I would suggest you need look no further than a mirror to see the biggest prat on this forum.
Whatever you think of the "prats" in the union if you are employed by NATS all the benefits and terms and conditions of employment that you currently enjoy and take for granted have been obtained by hard working UNPAID union representatives negotiated over decades. Do you seriously think that if there was no trade union representation and you had to negotiate terms on an individual basis you would be anywhere near the salary and in particular the pension benefits you currently enjoy. You used the word prat in your post, having read one or two of your posts I would suggest you need look no further than a mirror to see the biggest prat on this forum.
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I joined the Guild a number of years ago and was an active member on the policy front. I was fortunate enough to represent the UK on one of the IFATCA committees. On this committee I was tasked to write a couple of technical papers each year. As I sat on the committee for 7 years I was involved in a diverse range of topics and really got to broaden out my knowledge of ATC / ATM. I have no doubt that the knowledge that I gained whilst 'working' for GATCO / IFATCA has benefitted me in my day job and I still call upon knowledge acquired in my time with the Guild from time to time today.
I also got to visit many differing parts of the globe, made a number of good friendships and even presented before a Parliamentary sub-committee.
You can really benefit from Guild membership and the more you put in, the more you will get out.
I also got to visit many differing parts of the globe, made a number of good friendships and even presented before a Parliamentary sub-committee.
You can really benefit from Guild membership and the more you put in, the more you will get out.
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Interesting comments from Euro. Many years ago - 20 years or so - I looked at what the Guild did and the way it presented itself. Particularly on technical topics it appeared to be anything but professional and seemed to be a mouthpiece for a small number of self-opinionated and self-appointed individuals.
Rather than just complaining as some of my colleagues did, I got in touch with the local committee and offered to get involved. I was 'interviewed' by a couple of the regular names that I saw in the magazine who were pleased to welcome me into the fold. They told me about all the events that were on the calendar and the drinking and golfing plans they had...and the international gatherings where they had to go to keep up-to-date . And because 'we' would be committee members, the vast majority of it all would be paid by the Guild. A few questions about other work done by the Guild were met with an almost total lack of interest.
My mind may be playing a few tricks with my memory of our meeting, and I'm sure that there were some good bits, but my overriding recollection is of a couple of people who were primarily using the Guild as means of low-cost partying. I've really no idea if they were representative of those involved in the organisation at the time but I was disappointed enough to cancel my membership after this experience.
Rather than just complaining as some of my colleagues did, I got in touch with the local committee and offered to get involved. I was 'interviewed' by a couple of the regular names that I saw in the magazine who were pleased to welcome me into the fold. They told me about all the events that were on the calendar and the drinking and golfing plans they had...and the international gatherings where they had to go to keep up-to-date . And because 'we' would be committee members, the vast majority of it all would be paid by the Guild. A few questions about other work done by the Guild were met with an almost total lack of interest.
My mind may be playing a few tricks with my memory of our meeting, and I'm sure that there were some good bits, but my overriding recollection is of a couple of people who were primarily using the Guild as means of low-cost partying. I've really no idea if they were representative of those involved in the organisation at the time but I was disappointed enough to cancel my membership after this experience.
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obwan
One benefit of the Union was that the negotiators always managed to get promoted to the higher ranks of the ATCO system!
As to pay rises they always seemed to have an ability to talk down the going rate.
I agree with what Euroc5175 says.
One benefit of the Union was that the negotiators always managed to get promoted to the higher ranks of the ATCO system!
As to pay rises they always seemed to have an ability to talk down the going rate.
I agree with what Euroc5175 says.
I was fervently anti union until I got victimised by management. I joined straight away and haven't found the need to use the 'protection' of the union since I joined!!
Last edited by chevvron; 18th Jun 2012 at 16:15.
