NATCA Going Down in Flames

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...

This is the same argument that we all tried to use against privatizing
Flight Service.

Surprise! After the dust settled, it turned out that the "most
experienced" briefers -- the ones who retired -- were actually the
deadwood in the organization, and (in the short term, until they start
charging per-call) we're better off with Lockheed-Martins' version of
FSS. Call performance is better, briefers are better trained, with
better equipment, and getting a weather briefing is a more positive
experience for pilots.

There are almost 300 million people in this country. No one is
irreplaceable. No one.


I wasn't aware there had been any changes in equipment or training to date.
What's your source for that?

I don't think FSS "privatization" is a valid comparison. There have been
superior alternatives available to a weather briefing from FSS for years, I
can't even remember the last time I called for one.



I sure wish you guys would learn that lesson, and keep quiet about this
silly dress code issue.


I don't understand why you view this is just a "silly dress code issue".
The dress code is just a small part of the newly imposed work rules, yet all
you've chosen to focus on is the controllers no longer being able to wear
cut-offs and flip-flops to work, something so prevalent that I'd never seen
or heard of it in 23 years of FAA service.

One of the other changes was the elimination of CIC pay. When a controller
was functioning in a supervisory capacity, Controller in Charge, an
additional 10% of base pay was earned. Over the past 18 pay periods I
averaged $99.87 in CIC pay, so I just took an effective pay cut of almost
$2600 per year. Would you be happy about that if you were in my place?
Would your employees be happy about it if you imposed it on them? Why do
you choose to ignore that change and focus on the dress code?



Privatization is NOT going to be good for GA.


Why not? Aren't private sector employees superior to government employees?
If it improved FSS why wouldn't it improve ATC?