View Poll Results: Would you be prepared to start a morning shift at 06.30
yes
19
52.78%
no
17
47.22%
Voters: 36. This poll is closed
Who wants changes to LACC morning shift
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Scott,
I really feel sorry for you guys back there but I guess it's just the way it is and that everybody is used to it. On my trips to the States I always found it unbelievable how few vacation days the average worker has in the US. I love my job but under the conditions you've described I would go and search for something else before it kills me. Good luck to you.
I really feel sorry for you guys back there but I guess it's just the way it is and that everybody is used to it. On my trips to the States I always found it unbelievable how few vacation days the average worker has in the US. I love my job but under the conditions you've described I would go and search for something else before it kills me. Good luck to you.
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Hi Garp;
I guess we are just wired differently <G>... There is a difference between the European work culture and US work culture. When you don't know any better, you just work away and do as you will. Look again at how the Japanese work... It's worse than us in many cases.
Would I love to get the working conditions that most European controllers enjoy? You bet, but that would also come with in most of western Europe, come with lower pay for the busy facilities, much more expensive cost of living and higher taxes. So in many ways, it is probably a wash for us. But again, would I love to have as many days off as you, oh GOD YES!!!!!!!!!
I also don't consider the work to be killing me in any way shape or form. The shift work as I get older is getting a little more difficult in that I just don't want to get up in the morning for that 0630 shift. But it wouldn't matter if I were working them straight, I would still enjoy sleeping in until about 0800 <G>. Being three years until I am elligible to retire also helps out my mind set <G>. I will be able to retire when I am 49. I think that is better than most of Europe, but I could be wrong. I won't go that early though as I would like to get the house paid off first. THEN I am OUT OF HERE <G>...
When I say that I am out of here though, it isn't because I don't want to do the job anymore. I still LOVE the job and wouldn't mind continuing doing it. But I would like to not have so many early morning shifts or midnight shifts. I would like to be able to take off when I want too also. So instead of working for 40 cents on the dollar or so, I might as well just retire and find another job if I want to work, doing what I want to do part time and work when I want to work and no more...
regards
Scott H. Voigt
NATCA Southwest Region
Safety and Technology Chairman
PS. Soon to be 47 <GGGG>
I guess we are just wired differently <G>... There is a difference between the European work culture and US work culture. When you don't know any better, you just work away and do as you will. Look again at how the Japanese work... It's worse than us in many cases.
Would I love to get the working conditions that most European controllers enjoy? You bet, but that would also come with in most of western Europe, come with lower pay for the busy facilities, much more expensive cost of living and higher taxes. So in many ways, it is probably a wash for us. But again, would I love to have as many days off as you, oh GOD YES!!!!!!!!!
I also don't consider the work to be killing me in any way shape or form. The shift work as I get older is getting a little more difficult in that I just don't want to get up in the morning for that 0630 shift. But it wouldn't matter if I were working them straight, I would still enjoy sleeping in until about 0800 <G>. Being three years until I am elligible to retire also helps out my mind set <G>. I will be able to retire when I am 49. I think that is better than most of Europe, but I could be wrong. I won't go that early though as I would like to get the house paid off first. THEN I am OUT OF HERE <G>...
When I say that I am out of here though, it isn't because I don't want to do the job anymore. I still LOVE the job and wouldn't mind continuing doing it. But I would like to not have so many early morning shifts or midnight shifts. I would like to be able to take off when I want too also. So instead of working for 40 cents on the dollar or so, I might as well just retire and find another job if I want to work, doing what I want to do part time and work when I want to work and no more...
regards
Scott H. Voigt
NATCA Southwest Region
Safety and Technology Chairman
PS. Soon to be 47 <GGGG>
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Scott,
The fact that you still enjoy it at your age is the living proof that your system is workable and acceptable. Being able to retire six years before us is very nice, perhaps with the increasing traffic our pensionable age will come down from 55 where it is at the present. I've got 16 years behind me and still 21 to go which would mean 37 years at the same facility, hmmm.
Say hello to the crowd from Maastricht UAC at the IFATCA-conference and enjoy the sun overthere.
The fact that you still enjoy it at your age is the living proof that your system is workable and acceptable. Being able to retire six years before us is very nice, perhaps with the increasing traffic our pensionable age will come down from 55 where it is at the present. I've got 16 years behind me and still 21 to go which would mean 37 years at the same facility, hmmm.
Say hello to the crowd from Maastricht UAC at the IFATCA-conference and enjoy the sun overthere.
Join Date: Sep 2001
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6.30 starts, or earlier, sound hellish but lets not forget, if the traffic is there then it needs to be worked.
I hate to spout a management line, but we are paid a very good wage and Unsocial Hours Payment to do exactly that, work unsocial hours.
Another thing to remember is that if you are asked to come in earlier to work traffic that is arriving earlier, then that traffic has come from somewhere, and worked by someone. I am referring to Shanwick where it is busy at 3am and there are consequently night shifts that start at 1am and 2pm, ending at 8am and 9am respectively, because that is when the traffic is there! Starting a shift at 2am I would suggest is more antisocial than coming in at 6am when at least you have managed some sleep.
I am not suggesting for one minute that we tear up WPP and have shifts starting at any time of day or night but we do need to be realistic and recognise when the service is required!
I hate to spout a management line, but we are paid a very good wage and Unsocial Hours Payment to do exactly that, work unsocial hours.
Another thing to remember is that if you are asked to come in earlier to work traffic that is arriving earlier, then that traffic has come from somewhere, and worked by someone. I am referring to Shanwick where it is busy at 3am and there are consequently night shifts that start at 1am and 2pm, ending at 8am and 9am respectively, because that is when the traffic is there! Starting a shift at 2am I would suggest is more antisocial than coming in at 6am when at least you have managed some sleep.
I am not suggesting for one minute that we tear up WPP and have shifts starting at any time of day or night but we do need to be realistic and recognise when the service is required!
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Scott
Sorry for not replying sooner, been off air for a while.
Still trying to get my head around the shift pattern you described!
We definitely have it too easy!!!
Just a couple of Q's:
How many days off do you get after working the 5 straight you listed? and,
What's your sickness record like (generally, not personally!)
Can imagine alot of LACC controllers who wouldn't be seen dead in the ops room on a morning after the afternoon before!!!
Sorry for not replying sooner, been off air for a while.
Still trying to get my head around the shift pattern you described!
We definitely have it too easy!!!
Just a couple of Q's:
How many days off do you get after working the 5 straight you listed? and,
What's your sickness record like (generally, not personally!)
Can imagine alot of LACC controllers who wouldn't be seen dead in the ops room on a morning after the afternoon before!!!
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Still Dark and Hungry;
Sorry this took so long, I just got back from IFATCA in Argentina. I'm beefed out right now <G>>...
We get two days off after every five day shift ( That is if we don't have mandatory overtime. ). You have to remember that we work a 40 hour work week over here. It's the expected thing <G>.
As to sick leave. Well, I guess that the norm is probably a couple of days off sick every few months at most. Of course there is the abnormal when you come down with something which will keep you from working, but for the most part it isn't too bad. We earn four hours of sick time every pay period which is two weeks. There are some folks of course who use every hour they earn and consider it guaranteed vacation time <G>...
Take care
Scott
Sorry this took so long, I just got back from IFATCA in Argentina. I'm beefed out right now <G>>...
We get two days off after every five day shift ( That is if we don't have mandatory overtime. ). You have to remember that we work a 40 hour work week over here. It's the expected thing <G>.
As to sick leave. Well, I guess that the norm is probably a couple of days off sick every few months at most. Of course there is the abnormal when you come down with something which will keep you from working, but for the most part it isn't too bad. We earn four hours of sick time every pay period which is two weeks. There are some folks of course who use every hour they earn and consider it guaranteed vacation time <G>...
Take care
Scott
