Covid-19 effect on ATC working conditions
 

Hi guys, I was wondering if last year made some effect on our working conditions globally. European (probably not only) traffic went down dramatically and ANSPs lost most of the fees. Did it affect you working conditions? Some spectacular reduction of salary? Reduced staffing? Single Person Operations? Reduced working hours? Unemployment?

Any predictions and hopes as to when things get better?

Hello. in Ukraine:
Before Covid we had 6 shifts, now we have 12 "half-shifts". Working time and salary cut by 50%.
Sometimes ATCs work ALL night (11 hours on duty) without substitution (lack of stuff in case of 1/2 shift +studing/illness). And administration forbids to issue zero-rate for few hours in such cases. As they are afraid of "Eurocontrol sanctions")))
Fortunately no one fired)

At many UK airports we have combined radar and tower function, which means fewer bodies in the building and more people on furlough.

The area centers also have sectors permanently bandboxed which results in the same.

Huh???????

Traffic across the eurocontrol network in March 21 was 64% down on March 20. And March 20 was a quiet month due to the introduction of lockdowns in Europe.

The only positive is - it can only get better.

Gatwick contract amongst the victims of Covid?

More like a victim of poor management and recruitment.

Do tell more. What's going on at Gatwick?

ANS have lost the contract, NATS have re-gained it. Discuss.

Possibly been asked before but, what happens when one company takes over from another - do all the staff all transfer to the new provider overnight ? And, if not, how does the new company ensure that it has sufficient validated staff to provide the required service ? Surely, it is not desirable to have a repetitive situation where the incumbent provider is regularly replaced by another ?

Staff transfer with the contract, under TUPE Regulations, which gives certain protections in terms of their contract of employment.

When NATS has lost contracts, certain staff who were employed prior to NATS’ 2001 Privatisation have the right to remain in NATS employment due to a protection that was negotiated at the time to do with their pension scheme. So NATS had to find (or at least offer) alternative postings. But that’s a pretty unique situation.

Thank you BigDaddy.