Merged: ASA Staff Shortage
Join Date: May 2002
Location: australia
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dick,
Short answer- Yes.
Bonus driven culture in a safety environment. Controllers have been doing large amounts of O/T for years to ensure the industry is not inconvenienced.
ASA are continually telling us they are working on the problem. Greg Russell started as CEO and went on a self proclaimed 'No BS' tour' in 2005' to listen to our concerns'. He was made aware in no uncertain terms, and given examples of
1. Ageing staff demographic, we needed to start ramping up recruitment 2 years before his arrival and it was imperative we start now.
2. People had been left stagnating on consoles for up to 20 years.
3. People with 20+ years of shiftwork have been putting in applications for Long Service Leave up to 3 years in advance only to have them knocked back due lack of staff.
4. There is no simulator refresher training, controllers are not being regularly put under pressure in the simulator in regards to IFER situations, airspace changes, WX scenarios,etc to test themselves and be examined under extreme circumstances.
This means the time the controller is put in challenging circumstances and found to not be up to scratch is when they are dealling with live traffic. A complete Breakdown of Separation( BOS) review was done in July 2003 (following a near mid-air of two RPT jets around Tamworth) a list of recommendations was done. A post implementation review was done in Dec 2004, most of the recommendations are still on the backburner due staff shortages.
5. Training needed to be ramped up.
6. 'Efficiencies' in rostering, along with institutionalised O/T,were leaving people chronically fatigued
Greg Russells answer. "I will make sure this gets fixed as a priority."
Greg Russells actions.
1. Nothing happened with recruitment.
2.He got a hatchet man into streamline (gut ) the College.
3. He implemented SDE which saw 100 operational controllers out of a staff of less than 900 taken away from the consoles and given 30-100% payrises on AWAs. This is about the time the TIBAs really started happening , about September last year. Our CA negotiations weren't even scheduled to start til April, but Greg Russell would have Joe Public through the media believe it is an industrial campaign. It is mis management.
Greg is now trying to goad the controllers into some drastic action through his comments in the media,frivolous disputes in the AIRC, and actions through the CA 'lack of negotiations' to precipitate controllers to inconvenience the Flying Public.
The place is falling apart as it is.There are 8 known people leaving Brisbane Approach in the next 8 months, out of a roster of around 30. There may be more. The older controllers are bringing retirement dates forward because of the toxic atmosphere, and the younger ones are waiting for their 5 year 'bonds' to expire. People have contracts waiting for their signature for Germany, Ireland, EuroControl, and the Middle East. They are waiting on the CA negotiations, after ASAs efforts this week some people have decided not to wait and are in the process of resigning.
The only way out is for controllers to work even more O/T. Because even the GM ATC has admitted it will take at least 2 years to dig us out of the hole we are now in. I think more like 4 years.
This has come about from a bonus driven short term outlook in management.
Middle management are discouraged from telling it like it is because they are contract/ bonus driven, and that culture has stemmed from the Board and CEO. Don't believe the spin about industrial dispute, the origins of this debacle go back years, Greg Russell could have started us on a road to redemption 3 years ago, but he was brought in for his cost cutting/ restructuring (gutting) ability. Have a look at his record.
Short answer- Yes.
Bonus driven culture in a safety environment. Controllers have been doing large amounts of O/T for years to ensure the industry is not inconvenienced.
ASA are continually telling us they are working on the problem. Greg Russell started as CEO and went on a self proclaimed 'No BS' tour' in 2005' to listen to our concerns'. He was made aware in no uncertain terms, and given examples of
1. Ageing staff demographic, we needed to start ramping up recruitment 2 years before his arrival and it was imperative we start now.
2. People had been left stagnating on consoles for up to 20 years.
3. People with 20+ years of shiftwork have been putting in applications for Long Service Leave up to 3 years in advance only to have them knocked back due lack of staff.
4. There is no simulator refresher training, controllers are not being regularly put under pressure in the simulator in regards to IFER situations, airspace changes, WX scenarios,etc to test themselves and be examined under extreme circumstances.
This means the time the controller is put in challenging circumstances and found to not be up to scratch is when they are dealling with live traffic. A complete Breakdown of Separation( BOS) review was done in July 2003 (following a near mid-air of two RPT jets around Tamworth) a list of recommendations was done. A post implementation review was done in Dec 2004, most of the recommendations are still on the backburner due staff shortages.
5. Training needed to be ramped up.
6. 'Efficiencies' in rostering, along with institutionalised O/T,were leaving people chronically fatigued
Greg Russells answer. "I will make sure this gets fixed as a priority."
Greg Russells actions.
1. Nothing happened with recruitment.
2.He got a hatchet man into streamline (gut ) the College.
3. He implemented SDE which saw 100 operational controllers out of a staff of less than 900 taken away from the consoles and given 30-100% payrises on AWAs. This is about the time the TIBAs really started happening , about September last year. Our CA negotiations weren't even scheduled to start til April, but Greg Russell would have Joe Public through the media believe it is an industrial campaign. It is mis management.
Greg is now trying to goad the controllers into some drastic action through his comments in the media,frivolous disputes in the AIRC, and actions through the CA 'lack of negotiations' to precipitate controllers to inconvenience the Flying Public.
The place is falling apart as it is.There are 8 known people leaving Brisbane Approach in the next 8 months, out of a roster of around 30. There may be more. The older controllers are bringing retirement dates forward because of the toxic atmosphere, and the younger ones are waiting for their 5 year 'bonds' to expire. People have contracts waiting for their signature for Germany, Ireland, EuroControl, and the Middle East. They are waiting on the CA negotiations, after ASAs efforts this week some people have decided not to wait and are in the process of resigning.
The only way out is for controllers to work even more O/T. Because even the GM ATC has admitted it will take at least 2 years to dig us out of the hole we are now in. I think more like 4 years.
This has come about from a bonus driven short term outlook in management.
Middle management are discouraged from telling it like it is because they are contract/ bonus driven, and that culture has stemmed from the Board and CEO. Don't believe the spin about industrial dispute, the origins of this debacle go back years, Greg Russell could have started us on a road to redemption 3 years ago, but he was brought in for his cost cutting/ restructuring (gutting) ability. Have a look at his record.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Adrift upon the tides of fate
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's about it in a nutshell, Dick. But to answer your question- yes, it is cheaper to run constant overtime than have adequate staff. Think of it as a lot of little business units (sectors) that require, say, 2.3 people. Clearly, if money is no object, you have 3 people and a slight inefficiency. If safety is no object, you have 2 full-timers and make them work overtime to fill the .3. Therein is the constant clash between "business imperitives" (money), and safety.
Thats a huge simplification, I know, but the guts of the problem. To make the analogy closer and from a business viewpoint: Imagine you have a restaurant with 60 tables. You have a core staff of chefs etc, but a variable waiter requirement. Some days you need lots, some days not so many. You never know in advance how many, except for the obvious peaks (say lunch rush then the dinner rush). On top of this, every table has a different menu, and waiters take a long time to be trained in these menus, and can realistically only cope with 3 or 4 tables.
Enter the CEO charged with making more money. he cant get more customers, so has to be cost driven.
He can try and slash any obvious costs, but year after year this gets harder. He can then try and make the waiters more flexible, using part-timers, facilitative arrangements, split shifts etc. Use less waiters, but cope with peaks using overtime. Or try and change the way the restaurant does business by streamlining the different menus (that trick is yet to be perfected- and is the SDE theory).
Thats a huge simplification, I know, but the guts of the problem. To make the analogy closer and from a business viewpoint: Imagine you have a restaurant with 60 tables. You have a core staff of chefs etc, but a variable waiter requirement. Some days you need lots, some days not so many. You never know in advance how many, except for the obvious peaks (say lunch rush then the dinner rush). On top of this, every table has a different menu, and waiters take a long time to be trained in these menus, and can realistically only cope with 3 or 4 tables.
Enter the CEO charged with making more money. he cant get more customers, so has to be cost driven.
He can try and slash any obvious costs, but year after year this gets harder. He can then try and make the waiters more flexible, using part-timers, facilitative arrangements, split shifts etc. Use less waiters, but cope with peaks using overtime. Or try and change the way the restaurant does business by streamlining the different menus (that trick is yet to be perfected- and is the SDE theory).
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: where the sun shines
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Max1,
as usual, eloquently said.
We all know that TFN is trying to goad us into industrial action.
It will not work.
The sad thing is that we will continue to do our best to keep the place running. But, when it inevitably falls in a heap, somehow it will be the fault of the controllers for not doing their bit.
as usual, eloquently said.
We all know that TFN is trying to goad us into industrial action.
It will not work.
The sad thing is that we will continue to do our best to keep the place running. But, when it inevitably falls in a heap, somehow it will be the fault of the controllers for not doing their bit.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Perth
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Max1,
Why are you folks NOT taking Industrial Action, that is the one thing that will definately achieve your goals. What would current management hope to gain from goading you into Industrial Action ?.
Imagine the slaughter of management and bonuses post a spanking in the Media/AIRC, are the demands of the Controllers reasonable ?.
I would say Industrial Action is your only choice.
Put up, shut up or move on, I believe the industry as a whole has a great amount of respect for what you lot do, and would be very supportive.
Why are you folks NOT taking Industrial Action, that is the one thing that will definately achieve your goals. What would current management hope to gain from goading you into Industrial Action ?.
Imagine the slaughter of management and bonuses post a spanking in the Media/AIRC, are the demands of the Controllers reasonable ?.
I would say Industrial Action is your only choice.
Put up, shut up or move on, I believe the industry as a whole has a great amount of respect for what you lot do, and would be very supportive.
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: where the sun shines
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Industrial Action
LRT,
Simple, its the law.... we can't take industrial action, even if we wanted to, which we don't, by the way.
Any action taken outside of a protected period is deemed illegal, and could have penalties imposed on the union and possibly the individual.
Why do you think they are trying to goad us into it??!!
That is why Civil Air can not and does not support any illegal activities.
We are unable to persue any form of industrial action until the expiration of our current agreement, which is December 21.
Now that sounds like a particularly nasty time to be doing anything like that doesn't it?
If TFN and Co. can manage to provoke something before that, they win.
If we wait it out, and take our time, the pressure will be on them, not us.
One day they will come to their collective senses and genuinely negotiate.
But I'm not holding my breath.
Simple, its the law.... we can't take industrial action, even if we wanted to, which we don't, by the way.
Any action taken outside of a protected period is deemed illegal, and could have penalties imposed on the union and possibly the individual.
Why do you think they are trying to goad us into it??!!
That is why Civil Air can not and does not support any illegal activities.
We are unable to persue any form of industrial action until the expiration of our current agreement, which is December 21.
Now that sounds like a particularly nasty time to be doing anything like that doesn't it?
If TFN and Co. can manage to provoke something before that, they win.
If we wait it out, and take our time, the pressure will be on them, not us.
One day they will come to their collective senses and genuinely negotiate.
But I'm not holding my breath.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Perth
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Blind Freddy,
Thanks for the explanation, good luck on the 21DEC, do not forget the sins of the past.
Working to rule is legal, are you legally required to take any and all OT, TIBA is your friend.
Thanks for the explanation, good luck on the 21DEC, do not forget the sins of the past.
Working to rule is legal, are you legally required to take any and all OT, TIBA is your friend.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: australia
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LHRT,
As much as we are painted as 'white collar wharfies' it is not in our nature to harm the industry. We are trying to continue to provide the service to the industry and the travelling public in spite of what management have done. CONTROLLERS DO NOT WANT AN INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE.
Staffing wise the place has been going downhill for the last five plus years, there is no achievable on-going training plan. Wish lists are put out for public consumption. Under TFNs leadership ASA have cut and cut and cut, he is now trying to implement his SDE model, which he forlornly hopes will solve the staffing issues.
If this was an airline, he had 90% of the pilots needed and has been working them like dogs (we don't have CAR48 protection). He stopped recruiting.To save further money he sent a toecutter in and gutted the training area. He decided to create another level of management. To tie them to him these jobs were to be AWA (contract positions) only, payrises were from 30-100%. This took a further 10% of the workforce away. Some of the new 'pilot' managers had less than 2 years experience, others were doing 'projects' out the back due dubious aviation records, of course some were good. Quite a few who won positions were uncomfortable that their safety based decisions would be at odds with a contract and turned them down.
As the staffing crisis deepens TFN Airways decides that he will bring in a requirement for the now 80% of required pilots to hold endorsements on all aircraft types, and that they will be obligated to attend for work whenever rung.
He has decided to start recruiting in a big way, but then realises that the toecutter has been overzealous and that the training department has pretty much ceased to exist. He now finds that a lot of his pilots have had enough and are leaving, he decides to throw all the blame on the pilots. He is now inventing fictitious industrial action and trying to goad the pilots into doing something illegal.
And this is pretty much where TFN airlines is now
As much as we are painted as 'white collar wharfies' it is not in our nature to harm the industry. We are trying to continue to provide the service to the industry and the travelling public in spite of what management have done. CONTROLLERS DO NOT WANT AN INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE.
Staffing wise the place has been going downhill for the last five plus years, there is no achievable on-going training plan. Wish lists are put out for public consumption. Under TFNs leadership ASA have cut and cut and cut, he is now trying to implement his SDE model, which he forlornly hopes will solve the staffing issues.
If this was an airline, he had 90% of the pilots needed and has been working them like dogs (we don't have CAR48 protection). He stopped recruiting.To save further money he sent a toecutter in and gutted the training area. He decided to create another level of management. To tie them to him these jobs were to be AWA (contract positions) only, payrises were from 30-100%. This took a further 10% of the workforce away. Some of the new 'pilot' managers had less than 2 years experience, others were doing 'projects' out the back due dubious aviation records, of course some were good. Quite a few who won positions were uncomfortable that their safety based decisions would be at odds with a contract and turned them down.
As the staffing crisis deepens TFN Airways decides that he will bring in a requirement for the now 80% of required pilots to hold endorsements on all aircraft types, and that they will be obligated to attend for work whenever rung.
He has decided to start recruiting in a big way, but then realises that the toecutter has been overzealous and that the training department has pretty much ceased to exist. He now finds that a lot of his pilots have had enough and are leaving, he decides to throw all the blame on the pilots. He is now inventing fictitious industrial action and trying to goad the pilots into doing something illegal.
And this is pretty much where TFN airlines is now
Last edited by max1; 26th Oct 2008 at 13:51.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Columbia
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Max1,
Could not have put it any better myself.
Dick,
ASA is a terrible mess, the writing has been on the wall for nearly three years now and the situation is getting desperate.
I love my job, I had a real passion for the opportunities that existed these however are all now non existant, the management of the place has literally driven us into the ground.
I pose the question.
Just because I am a shiftworker why should there be an expectation that I will work on my days off to keep the place running, no end in sight to this requirement because it has now become the norm due to mismanagement. How am I any different to someone who works in finance 9-5, that may want to enjoy time with the family on the weekend and not be constantly irritable and fatigued?
Why should my entitlement to enjoy my free time be any less?
Controllers have individually had enough, to be honest even if the Union did not exist the same result would transpire.
I finished a night shift a while ago at 6am and by 10am the phone was ringing to fill shifts for that afternoon, talk about sense of humour failure!
Little wonder everyone that can is leaving!
BeGone TFN
Could not have put it any better myself.
Dick,
ASA is a terrible mess, the writing has been on the wall for nearly three years now and the situation is getting desperate.
I love my job, I had a real passion for the opportunities that existed these however are all now non existant, the management of the place has literally driven us into the ground.
I pose the question.
Just because I am a shiftworker why should there be an expectation that I will work on my days off to keep the place running, no end in sight to this requirement because it has now become the norm due to mismanagement. How am I any different to someone who works in finance 9-5, that may want to enjoy time with the family on the weekend and not be constantly irritable and fatigued?
Why should my entitlement to enjoy my free time be any less?
Controllers have individually had enough, to be honest even if the Union did not exist the same result would transpire.
I finished a night shift a while ago at 6am and by 10am the phone was ringing to fill shifts for that afternoon, talk about sense of humour failure!
Little wonder everyone that can is leaving!
BeGone TFN
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: brisvegas
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dick,
I`d like to point out a few things if you would be so kind as to pass them on.
1. Air Traffic Controllers have been working extra shifts for years. Some are rostered weeks in advance but many are short notice call outs i.e. a call at 5.00 a.m.to attend work at 6.00 a.m.
2. The number of call outs has been steadily increasing for some time but there has been a marked increase in the last 12 months. Why? The reasons are many but if you take 100 or so supervisors away from part-time live traffic handling and expect the other 750 or so controllers to pick up the slack..... It`s not rocket science is it?
3. The age profile of contollers is not getting any better. if you`ve been shiftworking for 20 or 30 years, as many have, guess what? On your days off, especially if you finished on a night shift, you are not capable of driving to work safely, let alone separate IFR from VFR in class A or whatever we are supposed to do these days.
4. ASA has made no effort to negotiate a new CA. They`ve been stalling for months after lots of rhetoric that "there has to be a better way" Yeah right Greg!
5. The current CA ends on December the 21st. After that day all of our facilitative arrangements, where we agree with management to work outside of our core rostering principles, become null and void. The use of a facilitative agreement has, generally, been a win-win for controllers and management allowing more efficient rosters and more days off.
6. Post the 21st of December when FA`s are out the door then most groups will need to find an extra controller or two to run their core rosters. Where will we find these controllers? We won`t, `cos we don`t have them.
The result of all of the above? On the 22nd of December, just in time for the Christmas rush, there will be many, many holes to be filled on rosters all around the country. This is why ASA is taking Civilair to the IRC atm as who in their right mind wants to work on their days off. Yes, days off, not holidays like most. The bulk of the 750 or so operational controllers will continue to work 24/7 shiftwork over the xmas/newyear whist the general population has a well earned break. Now don`t get me wrong as a shiftworking ATC i expect to work my share of public holidays, weekends etc. but at certain times of the year why shouldn`t i be free to have a drink or two ( bugger me it`s Christmas, make it three!) and enjoy my days off?
Why has it come to this Dick? Most of us who`ve been around a while have seen this sort of thing in previous negotiations. Trouble is this time we have a CEO who says one thing and does almost the complete opposite. We are not after a fight. We just want to be fairly rewarded for what we do.
Come the 22nd don`t blame the controllers or Civilair. Take a long hard look at ASA and thier rhetoric and actions of the last few months.
I`d like to point out a few things if you would be so kind as to pass them on.
1. Air Traffic Controllers have been working extra shifts for years. Some are rostered weeks in advance but many are short notice call outs i.e. a call at 5.00 a.m.to attend work at 6.00 a.m.
2. The number of call outs has been steadily increasing for some time but there has been a marked increase in the last 12 months. Why? The reasons are many but if you take 100 or so supervisors away from part-time live traffic handling and expect the other 750 or so controllers to pick up the slack..... It`s not rocket science is it?
3. The age profile of contollers is not getting any better. if you`ve been shiftworking for 20 or 30 years, as many have, guess what? On your days off, especially if you finished on a night shift, you are not capable of driving to work safely, let alone separate IFR from VFR in class A or whatever we are supposed to do these days.
4. ASA has made no effort to negotiate a new CA. They`ve been stalling for months after lots of rhetoric that "there has to be a better way" Yeah right Greg!
5. The current CA ends on December the 21st. After that day all of our facilitative arrangements, where we agree with management to work outside of our core rostering principles, become null and void. The use of a facilitative agreement has, generally, been a win-win for controllers and management allowing more efficient rosters and more days off.
6. Post the 21st of December when FA`s are out the door then most groups will need to find an extra controller or two to run their core rosters. Where will we find these controllers? We won`t, `cos we don`t have them.
The result of all of the above? On the 22nd of December, just in time for the Christmas rush, there will be many, many holes to be filled on rosters all around the country. This is why ASA is taking Civilair to the IRC atm as who in their right mind wants to work on their days off. Yes, days off, not holidays like most. The bulk of the 750 or so operational controllers will continue to work 24/7 shiftwork over the xmas/newyear whist the general population has a well earned break. Now don`t get me wrong as a shiftworking ATC i expect to work my share of public holidays, weekends etc. but at certain times of the year why shouldn`t i be free to have a drink or two ( bugger me it`s Christmas, make it three!) and enjoy my days off?
Why has it come to this Dick? Most of us who`ve been around a while have seen this sort of thing in previous negotiations. Trouble is this time we have a CEO who says one thing and does almost the complete opposite. We are not after a fight. We just want to be fairly rewarded for what we do.
Come the 22nd don`t blame the controllers or Civilair. Take a long hard look at ASA and thier rhetoric and actions of the last few months.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Vic
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You have to give management credit for creativity in solving the current problems.
The latest solution that will be implemented from the middle of November is to establish a night rating for airspace that is similar to what a controller is or has been rated on, even without completing the requisite training. This "endorsement" can be exercised as long as the traffic levels arent too high or too complex, and if they are, it is up to the duty supervisor to sort out. This has come about because the training for new airspace has not been completed on time.
I guess this is just in line with the plug-and-play endorsement philosophy that is envisaged as one of the "flexibility" measures being considered by managers, but to me it is a very sharp, thin edge to a very large wedge.
Check out TLI 0319/08 before it (hopefully) gets pulled when someone up there realises the safety implications of what is being proposed and how vulnerable it leaves everyone involved.
The latest solution that will be implemented from the middle of November is to establish a night rating for airspace that is similar to what a controller is or has been rated on, even without completing the requisite training. This "endorsement" can be exercised as long as the traffic levels arent too high or too complex, and if they are, it is up to the duty supervisor to sort out. This has come about because the training for new airspace has not been completed on time.
I guess this is just in line with the plug-and-play endorsement philosophy that is envisaged as one of the "flexibility" measures being considered by managers, but to me it is a very sharp, thin edge to a very large wedge.
Check out TLI 0319/08 before it (hopefully) gets pulled when someone up there realises the safety implications of what is being proposed and how vulnerable it leaves everyone involved.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ASA Annual Report 2007-2008
ASA Annual Report is out
http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/...report0708.pdf
Page 39 is interesting.
This is down on 06-07's total $106,754, 000 by $14, 779, 000.
Which is less than the mark down for Impairment of $15, 441, 000.
Second, Page 71...
If Impairment is important, why was it not included in 06-07? and
What software projects were ceased?
http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/...report0708.pdf
Page 39 is interesting.
NET PROFIT AFTER INCOME TAX $91,975, 000
Which is less than the mark down for Impairment of $15, 441, 000.
Second, Page 71...
B . IMPAIRMENT
In line with accounting standards, management has performed an impairment review of both existing assets and assets under construction. Principally, the review has focused on future use of existing assets, and changes in technology and business system requirements. As a consequence of this review, a number of software projects have ceased, and the costs associated with this work has been expensed.
If Impairment is important, why was it not included in 06-07? and
What software projects were ceased?
Page 84.
Remuneration of executives
2008
$4,836,713
2007
$4,458,912
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2008
$4,836,713
2007
$4,458,912
$4,836,713
2007
$4,458,912
If you get 8.47% for the atrophy of the company, what for being a licence holding seperator thats keeping it afloat in a staff shortage?
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bill WoodfulIf you get 8.47% for the atrophy of the company, what for being a licence holding seperator thats keeping it afloat in a staff shortage?
The whole thrust of AsA's arguement is that it has to be cost neutral - we have to pay for our payrise by giving up entitlements.this from the company that made an net profit of $106M in 2007, and $92M this year - $14M less, but as mentioned above, this year there's a new entry in the report of "Write-down and impairment of assets $15.4M"
But I'm sure there's no correlation there - at all.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: australia
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Airways Revenue i.e. what airlines get charged for ATC and ARFF was up $31million to $707.261 million (4.5%). This represents more than 95% of ASAs income, up from 94.4% last year.
This at a time when @ 100 controllers were 'promoted' on AWAs to non-separation duties leaving around 750 to carry the can.
I wonder how many other businesses would degrade the workforce that brings in over 95% of their income by 11-12% when they have already identified that they are chronically short of staff.
The Board had a meet and greet with staff in Brisbane last week. The Chairman was asked how he thought the negotiations were going seeing that ASA had only just put an 'offer' on the table 6 months into negotiations and with less than 2 months to go until the expiry of the current CA. His reply was that it was only early in negotiations yet. He was also asked if he thought this would be sorted by Dec 21st . He thought it would, he further stated that by their very nature that these negotiations were adverserial. This was after TFN had told staff that he wanted negotiations to be non-adverserial and resolved by September. TFN publicly states that staff shortages were fixed by the end of August.
At this meeting an advisor to the Board advised me that the Board was aware we are CURRENTLY AT LEAST 70 SHORT. Spin over substance.
Come Dec 21st , Facilitative Arrangements that allowed staff to work outside Principles Of Rostering cease to exist, they run out with the current CA, it is a legal requirement.
At that time the years of mismanagement will be starkly highlighted, controllers DO NOT WANT this to occur. This mess must be sorted out prior to this. ASA are in no rush to get a new agreement in. As per most greedy corporations they realise that no agreement means no payrises (we haven't seen one since January) and the longer they stall the more money they realise.
The Government Bargaining Framework under which they hide behind does not allow for backdated payrises. ASA have used this in the last two CAs and are sticking with it. In the last 8 years we are about 2 years behind due 911, SARs etc.
ASA need to realise that they are there for industry, not the other way around. Unfortunately the personality types running the organisation are quick to applaud and reward themselves with generous payrises and bonuses, ignore their many debacles, and seem to forget that 95% of the revenue is generated because of the travelling public.
The money spent in the last few years on opening offices in Dubai, India, etc to 'grow the global business' seems at odds with the focus on cost cutting that has gone on in the core business and that is why we have the situation we now have.
P.S. In the Annual Report ASA state they have 971 controllers, the GM ATC admits we have about 800 controllers, he is actually an ex controller .They count anyone who has a medically valid licence. In the AIRC ASA figures showed a grossly inflated 930, this crowd would do Enron proud.
This at a time when @ 100 controllers were 'promoted' on AWAs to non-separation duties leaving around 750 to carry the can.
I wonder how many other businesses would degrade the workforce that brings in over 95% of their income by 11-12% when they have already identified that they are chronically short of staff.
The Board had a meet and greet with staff in Brisbane last week. The Chairman was asked how he thought the negotiations were going seeing that ASA had only just put an 'offer' on the table 6 months into negotiations and with less than 2 months to go until the expiry of the current CA. His reply was that it was only early in negotiations yet. He was also asked if he thought this would be sorted by Dec 21st . He thought it would, he further stated that by their very nature that these negotiations were adverserial. This was after TFN had told staff that he wanted negotiations to be non-adverserial and resolved by September. TFN publicly states that staff shortages were fixed by the end of August.
At this meeting an advisor to the Board advised me that the Board was aware we are CURRENTLY AT LEAST 70 SHORT. Spin over substance.
Come Dec 21st , Facilitative Arrangements that allowed staff to work outside Principles Of Rostering cease to exist, they run out with the current CA, it is a legal requirement.
At that time the years of mismanagement will be starkly highlighted, controllers DO NOT WANT this to occur. This mess must be sorted out prior to this. ASA are in no rush to get a new agreement in. As per most greedy corporations they realise that no agreement means no payrises (we haven't seen one since January) and the longer they stall the more money they realise.
The Government Bargaining Framework under which they hide behind does not allow for backdated payrises. ASA have used this in the last two CAs and are sticking with it. In the last 8 years we are about 2 years behind due 911, SARs etc.
ASA need to realise that they are there for industry, not the other way around. Unfortunately the personality types running the organisation are quick to applaud and reward themselves with generous payrises and bonuses, ignore their many debacles, and seem to forget that 95% of the revenue is generated because of the travelling public.
The money spent in the last few years on opening offices in Dubai, India, etc to 'grow the global business' seems at odds with the focus on cost cutting that has gone on in the core business and that is why we have the situation we now have.
P.S. In the Annual Report ASA state they have 971 controllers, the GM ATC admits we have about 800 controllers, he is actually an ex controller .They count anyone who has a medically valid licence. In the AIRC ASA figures showed a grossly inflated 930, this crowd would do Enron proud.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: On a different Island
Age: 52
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AsA has offered 4% per annum - provided we give up or reduce about 6 of our terms and conditions. The whole thrust of AsA's arguement is that it has to be cost neutral - we have to pay for our payrise by giving up entitlements.
This is why I left Australia, so far so good. Get the next flight out, only when the 70 Short number reaches 150 that they'll go 'perhaps we got this wrong'. No wait, nobody in the corporate world has ever made a mistake, so there would be no admission of getting it wrong...
Join Date: May 2001
Location: UAE
Age: 63
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
leaving for greener/dustier climes
Remember to think to yourselves the mantra that you will hear over and over again once you move overseas..."if you don't like it, leave".
And then use this to your current place of employment. As many of the above have said, they will get the hint eventually when there is noone left.
I departed for shores brown, then browner and finally green 11 years ago, and have never regretted the move.
It will come as quite a shock, but there are ANSP's out there that actually appreciate and respect their staff.
Not wishing to bang the Irish drum, but this is the happiest place that I have worked in over 20 years. Can you imagine workmates actually going out together for a drink? or a BBQ (weather dependent of course) or going on a weekend away for a Xmas do? (we are off to Edinburgh this time).
Life is short and you are a long time dead.....leave.
And then use this to your current place of employment. As many of the above have said, they will get the hint eventually when there is noone left.
I departed for shores brown, then browner and finally green 11 years ago, and have never regretted the move.
It will come as quite a shock, but there are ANSP's out there that actually appreciate and respect their staff.
Not wishing to bang the Irish drum, but this is the happiest place that I have worked in over 20 years. Can you imagine workmates actually going out together for a drink? or a BBQ (weather dependent of course) or going on a weekend away for a Xmas do? (we are off to Edinburgh this time).
Life is short and you are a long time dead.....leave.
Block:
Only after a mid air kills a very large number of people will the smallest of "gaps" be grudgingly acknowledged.
This is why I left Australia, so far so good. Get the next flight out, only when the 70 Short number reaches 150 that they'll go 'perhaps we got this wrong'.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: UAE
Age: 63
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mola Mola...
I hope you are not suggesting that nothing will occur until two aircraft collide?
Given that TCAS is a pretty good tool these days, it could be years before that happens and the boys and girls would like it resolved before the coroners inquest.
My spies tell me that some of the controllers have even written to members of parliament and ministers of the Crown voicing their concerns. If any of you budding cub reporters are reading this, you may want to bring up the fact that the pollies know about all this and are doing nothing.
It will play very badly in the aforementioned coroners court.
I also heard that AsA are introducing "Doggo" ratings?? I suppose it is better than TIBA...just.
Which idiot put his signature to that?
Given that TCAS is a pretty good tool these days, it could be years before that happens and the boys and girls would like it resolved before the coroners inquest.
My spies tell me that some of the controllers have even written to members of parliament and ministers of the Crown voicing their concerns. If any of you budding cub reporters are reading this, you may want to bring up the fact that the pollies know about all this and are doing nothing.
It will play very badly in the aforementioned coroners court.
I also heard that AsA are introducing "Doggo" ratings?? I suppose it is better than TIBA...just.
Which idiot put his signature to that?