Headlines aren't exactly the facts

Below we include the wages claim from within the VISION DOCUMENT submitted for consideration by Civil Air. THIS IS NOT A FORMAL CLAIM (yet!)

Airservices has obviously leaked this document to a trusted, conservative biased journalist (after reviewing other stories by the author), and he has run with it.  Never let the facts get in the way of a 'good story'. Journalism 101.

You can see the offending articles here (the Oz) and here (ABC online)

There is no hiding that the Vision is asking for pay rises.  But the average wage increase over three years is 39.2% with the majority reportedly about to claim closer to 35%.

Think globally.

Wages currently on offer Ireland 109K Euro's, Germany 110K Euros, Eurocontrol 140K Euros (tax free), Bahrain 140K USD Tax Free, Dubai 180K USD (Tax Free).

With an estimated 3000 controllers short worldwide ANSPs are going to have to loosen their collective purse strings to attract the best ATCs they can capture (lure).  This global market is having a significant effect on retention.  

The current starting wage is having a significant effect on recruitment.  $35K to go into ATC where you have less than 50% chance of getting an ATC career with a maximum wage of $135K or going through a trainee manag

ement position with a base wage about the same and an end wage of significantly higher, without the risk, without the shift work; it's a balance of supply and demand.

Oil Short - Prices up,

Gold short - Prices up,

Rice Short - Prices up,

Wheat Short - Prices up,

ATC Short - Prices up.

The claim that it will cost airlines 10's of Millions is an outrageous slur.  Airservices has converted the recent growth (our productivity) into $100M+ profits, whilst increasing their CAPEEX budget.  

Controllers are asking for their share of already generated productivity. Look at the following table to see where the pay-rises can come from, without effecting the airlines by $1.00.

In the life of our current agreement ASA profit has increased by 96% and our wages 13.6%, which in real terms (real wages growth) is backward and well behind community growth (AWOTE) see our previous post here on AWOTE growth.