Mr Everett at Manch
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Mr Everett at Manch
Hello, just wondering what people got out of todays meetings with Richard Everett at Manchester today? Did people have their questions answered? Any fears they have put to rest or made worse?
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Pension Fund
Ah! So he's the only one then? I'd prefer an independent in charge rather than an in-house finance director with the never-to-be-forgotten initials RM!!!!!!!
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It was interesting to talk to Tricky Ricky and hear what he had to say - as well as what the other speakers / panel members said too.
A couple of people during my little chat forcefully raised concerns regarding the move "oop north" and, to be honest, I felt the answers that were actually given (there was a little issue dodging on show admittedly) were direct and to the point, even if they weren't what the majority of us wanted to hear.
In one case it'll be interesting to see what happens to the controller concerned, a really nice chap, given the frankly sad circumstances of his move down from Scotland a couple of years ago. I hope he for one is taken care of in the correct way.
I noted too that things for the ATSA grades at MACC and the Airport side of things look grim to say the very least in the next 5 years.
Very very grim.
To summarise personally I'm glad that management are getting out and about (makes a change from the old regime) and I think we were all mostly glad at MACC for the chance to talk to the organ grinder for once. Even if what he said is, quite frankly, very bad news for likeminded souls to I.
A couple of people during my little chat forcefully raised concerns regarding the move "oop north" and, to be honest, I felt the answers that were actually given (there was a little issue dodging on show admittedly) were direct and to the point, even if they weren't what the majority of us wanted to hear.
In one case it'll be interesting to see what happens to the controller concerned, a really nice chap, given the frankly sad circumstances of his move down from Scotland a couple of years ago. I hope he for one is taken care of in the correct way.
I noted too that things for the ATSA grades at MACC and the Airport side of things look grim to say the very least in the next 5 years.
Very very grim.
To summarise personally I'm glad that management are getting out and about (makes a change from the old regime) and I think we were all mostly glad at MACC for the chance to talk to the organ grinder for once. Even if what he said is, quite frankly, very bad news for likeminded souls to I.
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Niteflight01, Could you amplify what very very grim means?. It might mean that ATSA staff from Manchester have to be posted elsewhere, but thats life as a mobile grade!.
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It certainly doesn't mean they will be posted elsewhere.
From what I understand (which isn't much as usual) the ATSAs have two choices.
Firstly, they can apply to move elsewhere now. Or the alternative is to take redundancy when the move happens as the company will be left with no choice.
The actual quote was, in the meeting I was at : "There will be no place for the Manchester ATSAs at Scottish".
From what I understand (which isn't much as usual) the ATSAs have two choices.
Firstly, they can apply to move elsewhere now. Or the alternative is to take redundancy when the move happens as the company will be left with no choice.
The actual quote was, in the meeting I was at : "There will be no place for the Manchester ATSAs at Scottish".
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I know that's not very nice if you're one of the people concerned, but (as you eluded to above) at least they're being honest about their plans - some of our current managers will say anything to keep their immediate audience happy.
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Agreed 1261 - as I said - even if the news wasn't all good for my colleagues at least management were being totally open and honest about it. That certainly makes an excellent change and a definite improvement over the old regime 
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niteflight01, There isn't a place for Scottish ATSA's at NPC Scottish either, so the Manch ones needn't feel left out!
A lot of people have their heads in the sand up here
Local Paper
A lot of people have their heads in the sand up here
Local Paper
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The link didn't work but I can well image how people are feeling up there.
Saying that the end of the ATSA grade has been on the cards for 20+ years so I'll believe it when I see it.
Let's hope I never ever see it.
Saying that the end of the ATSA grade has been on the cards for 20+ years so I'll believe it when I see it.
Let's hope I never ever see it.
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niteflite01 (Quote)
"even if the news wasn't all good for my colleagues at least management were being totally open and honest about it. That certainly makes an excellent change and a definite improvement over the old regime."
I think you have been sucked in niteflite01 ; so you are happy to be told you are going to be shafted?
It really is time our Union chappies got their act together and started to stand up for the staff instead of being brainwashed by the "Management"
"even if the news wasn't all good for my colleagues at least management were being totally open and honest about it. That certainly makes an excellent change and a definite improvement over the old regime."
I think you have been sucked in niteflite01 ; so you are happy to be told you are going to be shafted?
It really is time our Union chappies got their act together and started to stand up for the staff instead of being brainwashed by the "Management"
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I didn't say I was happy with what was said - in fact I said quite the opposite. But being told we are getting shafted means we can do something about it. And something about it we shall do.
That is as opposed to not being told we're getting shafted until it's far too late for any action to be taken.
At least we finally seem to be getting into some sort of informational loop - albeit after some vigourous prompting.
That is as opposed to not being told we're getting shafted until it's far too late for any action to be taken.
At least we finally seem to be getting into some sort of informational loop - albeit after some vigourous prompting.
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The mechanics of the Wednesday meeting were interesting.
Firstly , nobody knew of any visit (not even the watch managers) until somebody spotted a memo on a notice board by one of the lifts late on the Friday afternoon.
We were then required to give notification of our desire to attend together with a contact number.
Small groups - carefully selected by management - were than given 30 minute slots.
Note taking was extensive with questions and their originators being noted by the visitors. The CEO stuck to his script with barely eyecontact according to many.
Meanwhile Human Resources filled in some detail and insisted that redundancy terms for ATCOs would not be available.
With so many meetings , it's taking a while for the whole picture to become clear but the general view is that it was of little value and many staff are making plans for their exodus from NATS.
It's also worth mentioning that most of us didn't attend because we knew nothing about it.
Colleagues are receiving interesting and conflicting legal advice about our job mobility and redundancy . Luckily a number of spouses are in the legal profession so for now our advice is free!
Firstly , nobody knew of any visit (not even the watch managers) until somebody spotted a memo on a notice board by one of the lifts late on the Friday afternoon.
We were then required to give notification of our desire to attend together with a contact number.
Small groups - carefully selected by management - were than given 30 minute slots.
Note taking was extensive with questions and their originators being noted by the visitors. The CEO stuck to his script with barely eyecontact according to many.
Meanwhile Human Resources filled in some detail and insisted that redundancy terms for ATCOs would not be available.
With so many meetings , it's taking a while for the whole picture to become clear but the general view is that it was of little value and many staff are making plans for their exodus from NATS.
It's also worth mentioning that most of us didn't attend because we knew nothing about it.
Colleagues are receiving interesting and conflicting legal advice about our job mobility and redundancy . Luckily a number of spouses are in the legal profession so for now our advice is free!
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macc. Interesting to read about the way the meetings were held. One could say they were giving most staff a chance to have their say in small groups ... or you could say they wanted to dominate the meetings so broke you down into small numbers.
Meeting notice. .. What did the staff survey say about communications ? Yet again we prove that senior management are either not interested in the lessons from that survey or not capable of learning. Answers on a postcard to ...
Legal advice on mobility ? I had a few years industrial relations work and would lay a very heavy wager you have no option. The terms and conditions of your employment and your appointment letter and decades of custom and practice say you will move under the Employee Handbook terms. No ifs or buts.
For those looking to get redundancy. Voluntary redundancy is not an option. They won't let you go. You resign. You won't get constructive dismissal because you are a mobile grade. ATCO flexible retirement ? NATS can say no.
When we moved to Swanwick there was a lot of initial uncertainty. The final package was a big improvement on the initial terms and most people are content with their lot.
Sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear.
Meeting notice. .. What did the staff survey say about communications ? Yet again we prove that senior management are either not interested in the lessons from that survey or not capable of learning. Answers on a postcard to ...
Legal advice on mobility ? I had a few years industrial relations work and would lay a very heavy wager you have no option. The terms and conditions of your employment and your appointment letter and decades of custom and practice say you will move under the Employee Handbook terms. No ifs or buts.
For those looking to get redundancy. Voluntary redundancy is not an option. They won't let you go. You resign. You won't get constructive dismissal because you are a mobile grade. ATCO flexible retirement ? NATS can say no.
When we moved to Swanwick there was a lot of initial uncertainty. The final package was a big improvement on the initial terms and most people are content with their lot.
Sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear.
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Yep - a good account macc2.
One of my colleagues attended the first meeting and was told nothing of the future plans and there was certainly no mention of the specifics that were heard in the second meeting which I, at the risk of "outing" myself, attended. That surely isn't good enough?
Some people - who asked very directly and bluntly - were told whilst another whole group weren't.
Also, I don't think the groups were as carefully selected as it would seem though they were far too small and yes, the notification of the meetings was poor (a letter on the top desk and an email - who reads their emails???? - wasn't enough I don't think for such a major event). Certainly a few of my colleagues I was there with are well known on the unit as having forthright and perhaps contraversial-to-management views. So if some sort of vetting did take place it didn't work or wasn't at all apparent on my occasion.
Legally I'm not sure we have a leg to stand on sadly. And it does pain me to say so. We're a mobile grade and thusly, as I understand it (thanks to one of those legally minded wives mentioned) where we work is pretty much at the sayso of the powers that be within reason.
Incidentally, most of the ATSAs I have spoken to are banking on the redundancy package and are not going to move units before the proposed move oop north - only those in the training section seem to have been mentioned as moving to MACCNerc by management and I suspect that is subject to change.
One of my colleagues attended the first meeting and was told nothing of the future plans and there was certainly no mention of the specifics that were heard in the second meeting which I, at the risk of "outing" myself, attended. That surely isn't good enough?
Some people - who asked very directly and bluntly - were told whilst another whole group weren't.
Also, I don't think the groups were as carefully selected as it would seem though they were far too small and yes, the notification of the meetings was poor (a letter on the top desk and an email - who reads their emails???? - wasn't enough I don't think for such a major event). Certainly a few of my colleagues I was there with are well known on the unit as having forthright and perhaps contraversial-to-management views. So if some sort of vetting did take place it didn't work or wasn't at all apparent on my occasion.
Legally I'm not sure we have a leg to stand on sadly. And it does pain me to say so. We're a mobile grade and thusly, as I understand it (thanks to one of those legally minded wives mentioned) where we work is pretty much at the sayso of the powers that be within reason.
Incidentally, most of the ATSAs I have spoken to are banking on the redundancy package and are not going to move units before the proposed move oop north - only those in the training section seem to have been mentioned as moving to MACCNerc by management and I suspect that is subject to change.
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Bigears I dont think anybody has their heads in the sand . What would you suggest the ATSA's do , it's well and trully out of their hands .
Mr Everrit should have thought before he opened his gob because I think if it's true that there will be no ATSA's at all then I hardly think they ( ATSA's) will hang around until NPC is up and running so they ( Nats ) could find themselves undermaned and in the brown smelly stuff
Mr Everrit should have thought before he opened his gob because I think if it's true that there will be no ATSA's at all then I hardly think they ( ATSA's) will hang around until NPC is up and running so they ( Nats ) could find themselves undermaned and in the brown smelly stuff
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niteflite - I like the acronym. If we just add an S at the end then MACCNERC S could become the unofficial but universally used description of the new centre in Scotland (S).
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I believe that during one of these "evenly balanced" meetings Mr Everitt was asked the following.....
If the company was "conversing" with another overseas ATC provider with the aim of ceasing their recruitment of NATS ATCO's.
His response was to deny this.
Some members of staff have reason to believe that there is definitely truth behind this question and Mr Everitts response was therefore untrue.
Can anyone elaborate upon this?
If the company was "conversing" with another overseas ATC provider with the aim of ceasing their recruitment of NATS ATCO's.
His response was to deny this.
Some members of staff have reason to believe that there is definitely truth behind this question and Mr Everitts response was therefore untrue.
Can anyone elaborate upon this?
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chig - I'm lucky I suppose in the respect that when the time comes to up sticks and move north I'm willing to do so if I really have to - being a young-ish whippersnapper and all 
That doesn't mean though that I don't understand and support my colleagues of all grades 110%.
The ATCOs that do TWR / APP are at least assured of being at Manchester for the next few years - I'm not sure when the contract is up for renewal again but any prospective ATS provider looking to take over the Aerodrome side of things will need ATCOs from somewhere.
That doesn't mean though that I don't understand and support my colleagues of all grades 110%.
The ATCOs that do TWR / APP are at least assured of being at Manchester for the next few years - I'm not sure when the contract is up for renewal again but any prospective ATS provider looking to take over the Aerodrome side of things will need ATCOs from somewhere.