French ATC Strike March 6th-10th (Brest/Bordeaux FIR's)
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The union has definitely lost it's way. The latest pay negotiation was a great example.
I pay my £17 a month, and will continue to do so, but it's only for the legal cover should I have an incident one day.
It's a real shame. I know plenty of the union guys/gals put a lot of graft in.
I pay my £17 a month, and will continue to do so, but it's only for the legal cover should I have an incident one day.
It's a real shame. I know plenty of the union guys/gals put a lot of graft in.
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247
The union lost it's way many years ago when it pushed for unit banding. The union exists to look after the interests of Swanwick and Heathrow, however the way NATS is going that's about all that will be left.
Is Prestwick Centre still earmarked for closure within 10 years?
The union lost it's way many years ago when it pushed for unit banding. The union exists to look after the interests of Swanwick and Heathrow, however the way NATS is going that's about all that will be left.
Is Prestwick Centre still earmarked for closure within 10 years?
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Who knows.
However, I do know there's a large contingent within the union ranks that would happily see the introduction of Band-6! Obviously that would need to be mirrored at the bottom end by a shiny new Band-0 that all the current 1-3 units can move into. Seems fair.
However, I do know there's a large contingent within the union ranks that would happily see the introduction of Band-6! Obviously that would need to be mirrored at the bottom end by a shiny new Band-0 that all the current 1-3 units can move into. Seems fair.
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247.
I am very experienced at working with unions.
Your point regarding the legal cover is very apt. May I ask who is responsible for instilling such fear into you so that you feel it necessary to part with £17 every month?
Industry is so often blamed for generating a culture of blame and fear. Who is actually responsible?
Do the maths.....
I am very experienced at working with unions.
Your point regarding the legal cover is very apt. May I ask who is responsible for instilling such fear into you so that you feel it necessary to part with £17 every month?
Industry is so often blamed for generating a culture of blame and fear. Who is actually responsible?
Do the maths.....
I am so very glad that I left NATS when I did ! (before station grading). I was at EGPD, & as far as I am concerned , it was amongst the most demanding stations they had. Likewise at Jersey. When I arrived there, it still had some traffic, & was the 3 rd. busiest Unit in the country ( in the summer). So, money well earned !
However, I do not subscribe to station banding ( or whatever it is called). How do you grade a station ? Yes, EGLL & TT are far bigger & busier than PD & JJ. But they split the traffic between many more sectors & controllers. Everything comes at them from the same direction & at the same speed. They have more airspace to play with & more procedures to deal with it. In my experience the chaos that ATC has to deal with at a place like EGBE is far more demanding of the top rate for the job.
The union sold the rest of the units down the river when it agreed to Station Grading !
However, I do not subscribe to station banding ( or whatever it is called). How do you grade a station ? Yes, EGLL & TT are far bigger & busier than PD & JJ. But they split the traffic between many more sectors & controllers. Everything comes at them from the same direction & at the same speed. They have more airspace to play with & more procedures to deal with it. In my experience the chaos that ATC has to deal with at a place like EGBE is far more demanding of the top rate for the job.
The union sold the rest of the units down the river when it agreed to Station Grading !
I suppose in response others would point to the disparity of revenues created for the company and customers at EGTT and EGLL as opposed to EGBE, etc or perhaps the relative lack of (successful) progression from band 2/3 to band 5 units.
These are all well worn arguements but isn't this thread meant to be about the French ATC strike this week?
These are all well worn arguements but isn't this thread meant to be about the French ATC strike this week?
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Well that authority isn't particularly sound I'm afraid...I can give you a number of examples over the last 3-4 years that have made just such a move.There are however very few that managed to stay.
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Some media reported that the main reason of the strike is that the French controllers feel underpaid, as a comparison to the wages paid in other countries for similar hours and traffic loads.
To me it is not surprising that they are striking, since labour conditions at air traffic control seem to be deteriorating progressively and no one really wants to face it and discuss it, specially our employers. It is not just the salaries that are paid, but the hours, the shift patterns, and the poor condition of working facilities and equipment.
To me it is not surprising that they are striking, since labour conditions at air traffic control seem to be deteriorating progressively and no one really wants to face it and discuss it, specially our employers. It is not just the salaries that are paid, but the hours, the shift patterns, and the poor condition of working facilities and equipment.
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I would like to ask how many hours on average Frech atcos work per week/month.
If you could write here separatly for twrs, accs, plus how many hours of these on frq, how many guaranteed rest between logged on freq hours, administrative duties hours ( if any mandatory)
Etc...
I always dream ( and spoke about french T&C), just would like to be current.
If you could write here separatly for twrs, accs, plus how many hours of these on frq, how many guaranteed rest between logged on freq hours, administrative duties hours ( if any mandatory)
Etc...
I always dream ( and spoke about french T&C), just would like to be current.
Join Date: Dec 2015
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32 contractual hours per week (average on a 12 day roster) including 25% break time if my memory is correct.
In practise, these hours will be reduced due to lower flight activity hence lower controlling needs.
French law imposes a minimum of 11 hours between two work days as a general rule and ATCs will have that or more. No administrative duty to my knowledge
Satellite Man : underpaid, lol.
Salary for an area controller or for a tower controller at a large airport will be 5k-8k (increase from 5 to 8k€, net, before income tax over the course of one's career)
In practise, these hours will be reduced due to lower flight activity hence lower controlling needs.
French law imposes a minimum of 11 hours between two work days as a general rule and ATCs will have that or more. No administrative duty to my knowledge
Satellite Man : underpaid, lol.
Salary for an area controller or for a tower controller at a large airport will be 5k-8k (increase from 5 to 8k€, net, before income tax over the course of one's career)
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So around €4-6k after tax, would be fairly average in Western Europe for a controller at a large airport or centre i would say...maybe a bit low even. But the 32-hour workweek evens that out perhaps...
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32 contractual hours per week (average on a 12 day roster) including 25% break time if my memory is correct.
In practise, these hours will be reduced due to lower flight activity hence lower controlling needs.
French law imposes a minimum of 11 hours between two work days as a general rule and ATCs will have that or more. No administrative duty to my knowledge
Satellite Man : underpaid, lol.
Salary for an area controller or for a tower controller at a large airport will be 5k-8k (increase from 5 to 8k€, net, before income tax over the course of one's career)
In practise, these hours will be reduced due to lower flight activity hence lower controlling needs.
French law imposes a minimum of 11 hours between two work days as a general rule and ATCs will have that or more. No administrative duty to my knowledge
Satellite Man : underpaid, lol.
Salary for an area controller or for a tower controller at a large airport will be 5k-8k (increase from 5 to 8k€, net, before income tax over the course of one's career)
People in other sectors are getting good salary raises every year; why ATCOs shouldnt have a salary raise? Arent governments saying that the economy is starting to perform again? It would be great to see that reflected in salaries.
