Not at all and I'm not quite sure how one implies the other. I still expect a good pension by any measure of what a good pension is. I also expect that inevitably there will be further attempts to reduce pension benefits because UK PLC which includes NATS can no longer afford the pensions it used to provide. I am very grateful to the union for ensuring we enjoy some legal protection which many company pension scheme members do not which may ultimately mean we keep our good pension far longer than most people.

Like it or not NATS has to live within its means and I happen to believe that there is little victory in a larger pay rise which ultimately has to be paid for by people losing their jobs. The board may not have been as prudent as I would like but I don't think that means we shouldn't be.

eglnyt
We all have to live within our means but my means are definitely getting smaller as the cost of living..food, fuel etc.. gets larger.:bored:

We are either in good financial health or we aren't. If a payrise makes jobs go on the line then we aren't in good financial health and shouldn't be paying out millions of pounds in dividends.

Exactly !!!

Double standards, that sums it up.
Jobs for the boys, money for the fat cats, and job losses and pay cuts for the staff.

PB's bonuses are almost as obscene as the RBS directors', but yet it seems perfectly acceptable to some posters on here !!!

Am away to read more about our customers now, to tune into them better !

We clearly were but are not likely to be in the very near future.

Just on the subject of the cutomers BA declared record profits just over 12 months ago. Speaking to one of their employees recently I asked if Willie was exaggerating the situation. He was adamant that the organisation is really fighting for survival and the situation is really that dire.

It just shows how quickly it can all turn round.

Still not happy about the dividends though.

PS. ZOOKER. STAY OUT OF IT. YOU KNOW LESS THAN NOTHING

Welcome to the world of the PLC. This battle was lost back in 2001 when NATS was part privatised, and all of a sudden had to become financially viable. Managers brought in were those experienced in companies that are run to make a profit, and as such have managed NATS down the road we now find ourselves on.

Its the same story in any big PLC or Ltd company, and unfortunately, NATS will be no different. It only now seems to be occuring to the unions and the workforce that it is beginning to catch up with us 8 years after PPP. But unfortunately its not going to change any time soon. Ask anyone that works in a big organisation (be it a supermarket, a bank, a train company, insurance provider etc) they'll give you the same story, people on the shop floor are shafted while management and shareholders reap the benefits.

The best we can hope for now is to pull together as a workforce and limit any further damage to our T&Cs. We can draw our own conclusions on how succesful that strategy may be, bearing in mind the recent polls on pension and pay :{

Pelton,
In post No. 82, you ask:-
"HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF MONEY?"
Several years ago, I passed a GCSE Level examination in Economics.
I am certain it was mentioned then.
Also, I was at school with 2 people (brother and sister) whose surname was Money, and of course there is the legendary 'Zoot Money', the famous British rhythm and blues keyboard player.
So the answer to your question appears to be a resounding Yes! :ok: