Merged: ASA Staff Shortage
Join Date: May 2002
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Apologies Ferris,
I wasn't thinking. You are right the CURRENT management has had only three years notice of the impending crisis.
Well three years down the track I believe we have 'end-to-end', 'Worlds Best Practice', 'growing the business going forward'.
The amount of 'optimisation' of 'client centric focus' is making Airservices an 'employer of choice'. 'Our core strategy' of creating a 'suite of non-remuneration benefits' for 'Our Commitment-Our People' has seen an 'holistic', central but 'flattened management structure' showcased in a 'World Leading Learning Academy'.
As we 'embark on our journey', 'embracing challenges', and 'delivering the future' we will have our 'vision' of 'Leaders Leading'
I'm pretty sure thats what it says,not sure what it means? That is about 10% of the cliches that get thrown around. Which ones have I forgotten?
Meanwhile the controllers, firies, techs,FDCs, Ausfic,SSOs,Instructors and training staff (apologies to the ones I have missed) just try to continue doing more with less as the SS Airshambles heads toward the iceberg.
I wasn't thinking. You are right the CURRENT management has had only three years notice of the impending crisis.
Well three years down the track I believe we have 'end-to-end', 'Worlds Best Practice', 'growing the business going forward'.
The amount of 'optimisation' of 'client centric focus' is making Airservices an 'employer of choice'. 'Our core strategy' of creating a 'suite of non-remuneration benefits' for 'Our Commitment-Our People' has seen an 'holistic', central but 'flattened management structure' showcased in a 'World Leading Learning Academy'.
As we 'embark on our journey', 'embracing challenges', and 'delivering the future' we will have our 'vision' of 'Leaders Leading'
I'm pretty sure thats what it says,not sure what it means? That is about 10% of the cliches that get thrown around. Which ones have I forgotten?
Meanwhile the controllers, firies, techs,FDCs, Ausfic,SSOs,Instructors and training staff (apologies to the ones I have missed) just try to continue doing more with less as the SS Airshambles heads toward the iceberg.
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Apoligies
Sorry for my naivety, but if, as is obvious to even the blind, TFN and other individuals are doing such an inept job at running AsA, how the F*$K are they still in their positions enjoying the lerks and perks??
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C337Sorry for my naivety, but if, as is obvious to even the blind, TFN and other individuals are doing such an inept job at running AsA, how the F*$K are they still in their positions enjoying the lerks and perks??
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Special CEO Direct - 6 October 2008
Monday, 6 October 2008
On Saturday, Airservices Australia withdrew an application to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission asking it to intervene and stop industrial action that has caused serious disruption to air traffic movements into and out of Sydney in the last 24 hours.
We have taken this action because we now recognise an increase in service disruptions is because we have failed to provide adequate staffing and have successfully disengaged our ATC workforce. These disruptions have nothing to do with our Collective Agreement negotiations.
It is a credit to the professionalism of the majority of our ATC staff that they are getting on with it and getting the job done. It has become obvious that controllers are doing the right thing and Airservices will continue the disruption to our customers until I am sacked by the minister and someone capable is employed to fix things properly.
..........Only joking - but I wonder if the CEO will be quite so willing to trumpet a backdown on Monday.
Monday, 6 October 2008
On Saturday, Airservices Australia withdrew an application to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission asking it to intervene and stop industrial action that has caused serious disruption to air traffic movements into and out of Sydney in the last 24 hours.
We have taken this action because we now recognise an increase in service disruptions is because we have failed to provide adequate staffing and have successfully disengaged our ATC workforce. These disruptions have nothing to do with our Collective Agreement negotiations.
It is a credit to the professionalism of the majority of our ATC staff that they are getting on with it and getting the job done. It has become obvious that controllers are doing the right thing and Airservices will continue the disruption to our customers until I am sacked by the minister and someone capable is employed to fix things properly.
..........Only joking - but I wonder if the CEO will be quite so willing to trumpet a backdown on Monday.
Join Date: May 2002
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C337,
As far as the Board and TFN go,
If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullsh!t.
A bit like the US of A financial crisis, if the numbers are great never mind about the underlying problems.
As far as the Board and TFN go,
If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullsh!t.
A bit like the US of A financial crisis, if the numbers are great never mind about the underlying problems.
Join Date: May 2003
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Perhaps there was never an intention to pursue an action against Civilair and the non-members involved... instead, lodge the application... issue a press release... wait until the allegation is in the media... and then cancel the application.
The aim is to change public sentiment against all of the Air Traffic Controllers, gain the support of the shareholder and win in the EBA negotiations.
The aim is to change public sentiment against all of the Air Traffic Controllers, gain the support of the shareholder and win in the EBA negotiations.
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Hit the nail on the head
Quokka
I also have absolutely no doubt that this is just a part of the strategy ASA has planned to implement as we move closer to December.
Make us look like crap with a bit of ground work so that Dick Fudley can cane us come the time when everyone finally gets the sh*its and says,
"NO MORE!, you ar*seholes"
whoops I did it twice **
, someone smack me
BgTFN
I also have absolutely no doubt that this is just a part of the strategy ASA has planned to implement as we move closer to December.
Make us look like crap with a bit of ground work so that Dick Fudley can cane us come the time when everyone finally gets the sh*its and says,
"NO MORE!, you ar*seholes"
whoops I did it twice **
, someone smack me BgTFN
Join Date: May 2003
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peuce... true, I have assumed an intelligent mind is behind the actions of Airservices' management much too often.
Acts of defamation against controllers have been seen in the Melbourne Centre, and, one manager involved is now in Sydney. Regardless of the legal advice that they may have received prior to lodging the application, I have no doubt that the client instruction was to lodge the application with the intent of maligning the reputation of Air Traffic Controllers in the media.
Acts of defamation against controllers have been seen in the Melbourne Centre, and, one manager involved is now in Sydney. Regardless of the legal advice that they may have received prior to lodging the application, I have no doubt that the client instruction was to lodge the application with the intent of maligning the reputation of Air Traffic Controllers in the media.
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Acts of defamation against controllers have been seen
Maybe if TFN claims there are renegade controllers often enough, and continues with the heavy handed approach to staff terms & conditions, he may just succeed in creating some.
But why would TFN need renegades?
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Off to the IRC...again
From our glorious leader today:
Special CEO Direct - 08 October 2008
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
As I advised on Friday afternoon, Airservices made an application to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission asking it to intervene and stop industrial action that caused serious disruption to air traffic movements in Sydney on Friday.
A hearing was convened by Vice President Graeme Watson at 5pm on Friday and went late into the night.
As a result of the Commission proceedings Civil Air undertook to post on its web site the following;
“Civil Air does not endorse any refusal to work a reasonable amount of additional hours, on a request other than in accordance with clause 4.3.2 (a) – (e) of the certified agreement, and recommends its members use their best endeavours to ensure any unplanned absences are covered”.
The union also agreed to contact members who worked on the Sydney Approach Group to convey that statement directly to them.
We considered the union statement as a positive step and decided on Saturday morning to withdraw our application.
Unfortunately a number of further disruptions have occurred in the previous few days based around differences in opinion of what constitutes “reasonable overtime” and an unwillingness to cover a number of unplanned absences.
Australia’s national airways system is now regularly being disrupted by some who are trying to pressure the organisation over a wage claim.
These disruptions are creating major delays to airline schedules and, as we saw last Friday, considerable inconvenience to thousands of passengers.
Accordingly yesterday afternoon we filed a further application in the Commission asking for it to assist in settling what we see as a dispute with Civil Air and with some of its members, around how the obligation in the ATC Certified Agreement to work a reasonable amount of additional hours is being interpreted.
We hope that the Commission will be able to list the matter for consideration before the end of the week. This will allow for conciliation on the interpretation of what constitutes “reasonable overtime”. This is a fundamental issue for Airservices.
Unless this issue is clarified we cannot effectively operate a 24 hour national operation while a small number of controllers consider that for them working “reasonable overtime” is optional.
Greg Russell
CEO
STILL all stick and no carrot!
Special CEO Direct - 08 October 2008
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
As I advised on Friday afternoon, Airservices made an application to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission asking it to intervene and stop industrial action that caused serious disruption to air traffic movements in Sydney on Friday.
A hearing was convened by Vice President Graeme Watson at 5pm on Friday and went late into the night.
As a result of the Commission proceedings Civil Air undertook to post on its web site the following;
“Civil Air does not endorse any refusal to work a reasonable amount of additional hours, on a request other than in accordance with clause 4.3.2 (a) – (e) of the certified agreement, and recommends its members use their best endeavours to ensure any unplanned absences are covered”.
The union also agreed to contact members who worked on the Sydney Approach Group to convey that statement directly to them.
We considered the union statement as a positive step and decided on Saturday morning to withdraw our application.
Unfortunately a number of further disruptions have occurred in the previous few days based around differences in opinion of what constitutes “reasonable overtime” and an unwillingness to cover a number of unplanned absences.
Australia’s national airways system is now regularly being disrupted by some who are trying to pressure the organisation over a wage claim.
These disruptions are creating major delays to airline schedules and, as we saw last Friday, considerable inconvenience to thousands of passengers.
Accordingly yesterday afternoon we filed a further application in the Commission asking for it to assist in settling what we see as a dispute with Civil Air and with some of its members, around how the obligation in the ATC Certified Agreement to work a reasonable amount of additional hours is being interpreted.
We hope that the Commission will be able to list the matter for consideration before the end of the week. This will allow for conciliation on the interpretation of what constitutes “reasonable overtime”. This is a fundamental issue for Airservices.
Unless this issue is clarified we cannot effectively operate a 24 hour national operation while a small number of controllers consider that for them working “reasonable overtime” is optional.
Greg Russell
CEO
STILL all stick and no carrot!
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This coming from someone who cut things to the bone, destroyed morale and any remaining goodwill. When will they realise its not a 'normal job' where a couple of hours overtime doesn't hurt. Time away is just as important to freshen up when safety is involved. Fully staff the rosters properly and not with creative numbers and we wouldn't be in this problem.
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while a small number of controllers consider that for them working “reasonable overtime” is optional.
Overtime is optional - that's why it's OVER time! Bloody hell - how hard is this concept? While they are working on defining "reasonable" overtime, I hope they also take a look at "recurrent" overtime - years and years of being asked, pressured and then bullied to work overtime not just occasionally, but constantly. Once a month is not reasonable IMHO - overtime should be a short term, emergency solution to an unforseen problem, not an ongoing, cheap replacement for adequate staffing.
Overtime is optional - that's why it's OVER time! Bloody hell - how hard is this concept? While they are working on defining "reasonable" overtime, I hope they also take a look at "recurrent" overtime - years and years of being asked, pressured and then bullied to work overtime not just occasionally, but constantly. Once a month is not reasonable IMHO - overtime should be a short term, emergency solution to an unforseen problem, not an ongoing, cheap replacement for adequate staffing.
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RAAFASA, with that attitude you'll get nowhere. 
No, overtime is NOT optional. You are REQUIRED to work REASONABLE overtime. It's in the CA. The sticky is in the definition of "reasonable", and the definition ASA are expecting you to follow is theirs..people who never work overtime believe it is "reasonable" for those that do to come in whenever they are bloody well required, and anyone who says "no" in the knowledge that their refusal means closing airspace, well that's not just unreasonable, it's also "unprofessional" and "renegade".
No, overtime is NOT optional. You are REQUIRED to work REASONABLE overtime. It's in the CA. The sticky is in the definition of "reasonable", and the definition ASA are expecting you to follow is theirs..people who never work overtime believe it is "reasonable" for those that do to come in whenever they are bloody well required, and anyone who says "no" in the knowledge that their refusal means closing airspace, well that's not just unreasonable, it's also "unprofessional" and "renegade".
'Reasonable' O/T...
In ye days of olde,
The term used to be accepted as one O/T shift per fort. - from memory.
Has this changed??
Regards to all.......
.
The term used to be accepted as one O/T shift per fort. - from memory.
Has this changed??
Regards to all.......
.
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Ye days of olde I believes relates to a decision made in 1989, before terms such as fatigue management, work/life balance, etc. Seems like AsA is angling for the commission to make a ruling so that AsA can threaten anyone who knocks back OT with action.
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This IRC avenue is all about shifting the blame to ATC's.
You cannot take 107 controllers off the roster, away from seperating traffic, and just expect the remaining 750 or so to cover their absence with overtime.
It takes up to 18 months to get an ATC their first rating. And usually another 6 to 12 months to get any other ratings in that airspace group. After 4 years, TFN should know the lead-in times required. But the "restructure" went ahead anyway. (Johnnie was on his way out, and AsA had to get the AWA's in.....)
It won't matter what the IRC defines reasonable overtime as. AsA - probably because publicly they use statistics across service delivery lines (which include 3 or more ATC airspace groups each) to average the overtime required to a better sounding extra 1.1 shifts (or something like that) per ATC per month - But AsA needs to acknowledge that some groups need almost no overtime, and others for example have their rosters published with empty shifts to be filled in advance - BEFORE ANYONE GOES SICK!!
FFS - it's a safety critical job! Making ATC's work more overtime is going to increase their fatigue, impair their performance, and increase the risk of something going wrong!
You cannot take 107 controllers off the roster, away from seperating traffic, and just expect the remaining 750 or so to cover their absence with overtime.
It takes up to 18 months to get an ATC their first rating. And usually another 6 to 12 months to get any other ratings in that airspace group. After 4 years, TFN should know the lead-in times required. But the "restructure" went ahead anyway. (Johnnie was on his way out, and AsA had to get the AWA's in.....)
It won't matter what the IRC defines reasonable overtime as. AsA - probably because publicly they use statistics across service delivery lines (which include 3 or more ATC airspace groups each) to average the overtime required to a better sounding extra 1.1 shifts (or something like that) per ATC per month - But AsA needs to acknowledge that some groups need almost no overtime, and others for example have their rosters published with empty shifts to be filled in advance - BEFORE ANYONE GOES SICK!!
FFS - it's a safety critical job! Making ATC's work more overtime is going to increase their fatigue, impair their performance, and increase the risk of something going wrong!
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We're not tackling this from the right direction.
Our base line should be "reasonable time off", not "reasonable overtime"
TFN's latest has lost me (and I'm conservative), no wonder any respect
for these bozo's has gone.
Our base line should be "reasonable time off", not "reasonable overtime"
TFN's latest has lost me (and I'm conservative), no wonder any respect
for these bozo's has gone.