Australian ATC to strike
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Australian ATC to strike
Reported in "The Australian", Vote taken today towards a possible strike.
Whilst on the other side of the radio, I personally support the crew in ATC.
You folk do a tremendous job and you are worth every cent.
Whilst I don't enjoy closed airspace, I would rather you were well paid and not needing to do massive O'time to keep the place running.
Good Luck!
Whilst on the other side of the radio, I personally support the crew in ATC.
You folk do a tremendous job and you are worth every cent.
Whilst I don't enjoy closed airspace, I would rather you were well paid and not needing to do massive O'time to keep the place running.
Good Luck!
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Here is the story...
Air traffic control strike threatens Australian airports | Travel News | News.com.au
Air traffic control strike threatens Australian airports | Travel News | News.com.au
Air traffic control strike threatens Australian airports
AAP
February 11, 2009 04:50pm
PASSENGERS could find themselves stranded in Australian airports as air traffic controllers threaten to go on strike.
Airservices Australia, which employs the controllers, claims workers have been coordinating mass sick days in a series of unofficial strikes.
But the results of an official ballot on industrial action will be announced tomorrow.
The controller's union, Civil Air, called off Christmas industrial action, but was almost certain members have voted to go on strike in the coming weeks.
Strikes could start as soon as February 24.
While Transport Minister Anthony Albanese would not talk about the possibility of airports grinding to a halt nationwide, opposition transport spokesman Warren Truss warned of coming chaos.
"Airlines have privately indicated that they are likely to cancel services rather than allow planes to fly in airspace which may or may not be monitored by air traffic controllers," Mr Truss said.
He said much of the union's demands seemed excessive, but also called on the government to show what plans it had to counter strike action.
"A full industrial war at our airports is simply not needed at any time, but right now it is lunacy.
"Our nation can ill-afford to have its response to the economic downturn hindered by the wage demands of a handful."
Sticking points in the negotiations between Airservices Australia and Civil Air have centred around a massive pay rise and retaining unlimited sick leave.
The union argues unlimited sick leave is necessary in an industry where sick workers could potentially put lives at risk.
Counting of the ballot, to be overseen by the Australian Electoral Commission, will start on Thursday morning and a result will likely be known in the afternoon.
AAP
February 11, 2009 04:50pm
PASSENGERS could find themselves stranded in Australian airports as air traffic controllers threaten to go on strike.
Airservices Australia, which employs the controllers, claims workers have been coordinating mass sick days in a series of unofficial strikes.
But the results of an official ballot on industrial action will be announced tomorrow.
The controller's union, Civil Air, called off Christmas industrial action, but was almost certain members have voted to go on strike in the coming weeks.
Strikes could start as soon as February 24.
While Transport Minister Anthony Albanese would not talk about the possibility of airports grinding to a halt nationwide, opposition transport spokesman Warren Truss warned of coming chaos.
"Airlines have privately indicated that they are likely to cancel services rather than allow planes to fly in airspace which may or may not be monitored by air traffic controllers," Mr Truss said.
He said much of the union's demands seemed excessive, but also called on the government to show what plans it had to counter strike action.
"A full industrial war at our airports is simply not needed at any time, but right now it is lunacy.
"Our nation can ill-afford to have its response to the economic downturn hindered by the wage demands of a handful."
Sticking points in the negotiations between Airservices Australia and Civil Air have centred around a massive pay rise and retaining unlimited sick leave.
The union argues unlimited sick leave is necessary in an industry where sick workers could potentially put lives at risk.
Counting of the ballot, to be overseen by the Australian Electoral Commission, will start on Thursday morning and a result will likely be known in the afternoon.
..........well sort of 
Well done TFN.
You are about to go down in history as the man who presided over the greatest industrial F#ck up in recent memory!
Or is that being a little harsh?
You are about to go down in history as the man who presided over the greatest industrial F#ck up in recent memory!
Or is that being a little harsh?
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"Our nation can ill-afford to have its response to the economic downturn hindered by the wage demands of a handful."
I offer a solution pay up or offer alternatives! The obvious choice is pay up you fools because it is such a training intensive job that by the time you retrain others the whole airline industry is finished!
Bring it on! Strike even harder demand more conditions!
Can read the ASA Press Release now .....
" Over many years our Controllers have enthusiatically worked overtime and covered emergency duty. In fact, we have often received quite strong objections from Controllers when Overtime has been cut back, or when they think it has been unfairly distributed to others. It has been in the context of this historical environment that we have quite reasonably made our normal manpower calculations and forcasting.
Now we have the Controllers changing their minds. They now, quite unreasonably, expect the Organisation to pick up the pieces. Such a change in manpower resourcesing will take years to re-adjust.
We can only assume that this change of mind may be but a cynical attempt to blackmail the Country into giving them a 63% payrise. "
" Over many years our Controllers have enthusiatically worked overtime and covered emergency duty. In fact, we have often received quite strong objections from Controllers when Overtime has been cut back, or when they think it has been unfairly distributed to others. It has been in the context of this historical environment that we have quite reasonably made our normal manpower calculations and forcasting.
Now we have the Controllers changing their minds. They now, quite unreasonably, expect the Organisation to pick up the pieces. Such a change in manpower resourcesing will take years to re-adjust.
We can only assume that this change of mind may be but a cynical attempt to blackmail the Country into giving them a 63% payrise. "
G'Day 'Peuce' et al,
RE Mr Hat's post -
Mr. Truss's statement - and HE is the 'Opposition'??
"Airlines have privately indicated that they are likely to cancel services rather than allow planes to fly in airspace which may or may not be monitored by air traffic controllers," Mr Truss said.
He said much of the union's demands seemed excessive, but also called on the government to show what plans it had to counter strike action.
"A full industrial war at our airports is simply not needed at any time, but right now it is lunacy.
"Our nation can ill-afford to have its response to the economic downturn hindered by the wage demands of a handful."
Sticking points in the negotiations between Airservices Australia and Civil Air have centred around a massive pay rise and retaining unlimited sick leave.
The union argues unlimited sick leave is necessary in an industry where sick workers could potentially put lives at risk."............end of quote.
Yeah 'Peuce', have to agree with you.
Key words / phrases...... to be refuted....IMHO...
'union's demands seemed excessive'..
'full industrial war'..
'right now it is lunacy'..
'wage demands of a handful'..
'massive pay rise'..
'unlimited sick leave'.. (when used out of context)..
In THIS economic climate, very powerful statement against you (ATC),
and could be turned to 'emotive' issues against you very easily,
as many small and not-so-small businesses going broke.
People hurting, and without public education / explanation / the facts will not be seen.
Where is your responding statement??
It is hardly a 'war' - WE all know that -
All you are after is your ENTITLEMENT of having a 'RDO' day off occasionally, but nobody else does......
and the pay issue will be another matter I would reckon.....(in this climate)
Good Luck girls and boys!!
RE Mr Hat's post -
Mr. Truss's statement - and HE is the 'Opposition'??
"Airlines have privately indicated that they are likely to cancel services rather than allow planes to fly in airspace which may or may not be monitored by air traffic controllers," Mr Truss said.
He said much of the union's demands seemed excessive, but also called on the government to show what plans it had to counter strike action.
"A full industrial war at our airports is simply not needed at any time, but right now it is lunacy.
"Our nation can ill-afford to have its response to the economic downturn hindered by the wage demands of a handful."
Sticking points in the negotiations between Airservices Australia and Civil Air have centred around a massive pay rise and retaining unlimited sick leave.
The union argues unlimited sick leave is necessary in an industry where sick workers could potentially put lives at risk."............end of quote.
Yeah 'Peuce', have to agree with you.
Key words / phrases...... to be refuted....IMHO...
'union's demands seemed excessive'..
'full industrial war'..
'right now it is lunacy'..
'wage demands of a handful'..
'massive pay rise'..
'unlimited sick leave'.. (when used out of context)..
In THIS economic climate, very powerful statement against you (ATC),
and could be turned to 'emotive' issues against you very easily,
as many small and not-so-small businesses going broke.
People hurting, and without public education / explanation / the facts will not be seen.
Where is your responding statement??
It is hardly a 'war' - WE all know that -
All you are after is your ENTITLEMENT of having a 'RDO' day off occasionally, but nobody else does......
and the pay issue will be another matter I would reckon.....(in this climate)
Good Luck girls and boys!!
Last edited by Ex FSO GRIFFO; 11th Feb 2009 at 23:30.
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I reckon it would be very prudent to engage the services of a top PR/Spin company to promote your cause effectively. It would be worth every cent.
Doesn't matter how justified you are (and I believe you are), the spin the public eats will make A HUGE difference to your campaign. All the public are going to hear are '63%' and 'huge payrise' - you'll be made to look like a bunch of greedy primadonnas.
ASA management will have the 'microphone' (so to speak) and saying whatever they like - you better be able to counteract that!
PR/Promotion: If they can push people like Beyonce and Christina Aguilera onto the world - they can do anything.
best of luck - you guys deserve it - and the rest of us deserve a air traffic system.
Doesn't matter how justified you are (and I believe you are), the spin the public eats will make A HUGE difference to your campaign. All the public are going to hear are '63%' and 'huge payrise' - you'll be made to look like a bunch of greedy primadonnas.
ASA management will have the 'microphone' (so to speak) and saying whatever they like - you better be able to counteract that!
PR/Promotion: If they can push people like Beyonce and Christina Aguilera onto the world - they can do anything.
best of luck - you guys deserve it - and the rest of us deserve a air traffic system.
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Civilair does have a PR adviser. Civilair does put out releases refuting ASAs spin. Journalists do read these forums, so they can acquaint themselves with the facts, or at the very least be able to ask ASA some pointed questions.
Unfortunately the media are more concerned with sensationalising a story to get people to read or watch. Journalists are also time poor, it is easier to cut and paste ASAs sensationalist spin that actually try to uncover the story.
Warren Truss has said today that we only work 30 weeks a year, and that we are claiming a 60% payrise on an average salary of $125k a year. Absolute rubbish, but puts pressure on the government.
We are just convenient fodder for political mudslinging, and to get the general public to howl in protest as they read/watch lazy journalism about supposedly greedy controllers holding the country to ransom.
It is what our media and politicians do. Maybe at some stage the tide will turn and ASAs mismanagement and bonus driven culture that has led us to this point will finally be uncovered. There are 50 people working in ASAs Corporate Relations area. How many ex-journos or friends of journos would be there?
I, like all controllers, am loathe to see anymore hardship imposed on the airlines. ASA like many organizations would rather spin the truth, which they have been doing for years, than admit any failings on their part. 50 people in the Spin Department. Why do we need that many?
Unfortunately the media are more concerned with sensationalising a story to get people to read or watch. Journalists are also time poor, it is easier to cut and paste ASAs sensationalist spin that actually try to uncover the story.
Warren Truss has said today that we only work 30 weeks a year, and that we are claiming a 60% payrise on an average salary of $125k a year. Absolute rubbish, but puts pressure on the government.
We are just convenient fodder for political mudslinging, and to get the general public to howl in protest as they read/watch lazy journalism about supposedly greedy controllers holding the country to ransom.
It is what our media and politicians do. Maybe at some stage the tide will turn and ASAs mismanagement and bonus driven culture that has led us to this point will finally be uncovered. There are 50 people working in ASAs Corporate Relations area. How many ex-journos or friends of journos would be there?
I, like all controllers, am loathe to see anymore hardship imposed on the airlines. ASA like many organizations would rather spin the truth, which they have been doing for years, than admit any failings on their part. 50 people in the Spin Department. Why do we need that many?
A nice full page "advert" in the Australian might be enough to get the public's attention. Then you could put the facts out there for them, AsA spin free.
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Fantastic result!
Now who wants to lay odds that the papers tomorrow will be reporting "strike to occur in 7 days" before Civilair even makes a decision on what action will be taken. (an overtime ban is a much more likely starting point - given just how reliant the place is on overtime)
Now who wants to lay odds that the papers tomorrow will be reporting "strike to occur in 7 days" before Civilair even makes a decision on what action will be taken. (an overtime ban is a much more likely starting point - given just how reliant the place is on overtime)
no offense intended but regardless of economic situation try and replace this so called "Handful"?
Those who were around 20 years ago will remember we were cautioned by ex PATCO members about the possibility of "Sprinters". Look it up if you don't know.
I reckon it would be very prudent to engage the services of a top PR/Spin company to promote your cause effectively.
Good luck to you anyway. Just reminds me of why I left Airservices.