National Air Traffic Control Sale Puts Lives At Risk
Prospect has hit out at the Chancellor’s budget announcement which revealed plans to sell off the Government’s share in the national air traffic provider NATS. On behalf of 3,000 air traffic controllers, engineers and specialists at NATS, Garry Graham, Prospect’s National Secretary for Aviation, said:
“We have been consistent in warning that this is a route which the UK Government should not go down. Air traffic control is a vital part of this country’s infrastructure.
A safe, efficient and effective air traffic control system is of crucial interest, not only to the UK economy, but also to every member of the traveling public.This proposed sale has nothing to do with supporting a safe and effective air traffic control system and is entirely Treasury driven.”
He said the union had written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, seeking an urgent meeting on this issue, but had yet to receive a reply despite a pre- election commitment from David Cameron that Prospect would be consulted prior to any announcement.
“The Government’s proposals are short-sighted and represent a knee-jerk reaction by the Treasury. NATS receives no public subsidy, is a net contributor to the Exchequer and provides an invaluable public service.
No other country has gone down this route – ironically, Germany has recently rejected proposals to go down the route of privatisation. Stability, sustainability and safety should be the key Government concerns – air traffic control is too important to be left to the vagaries of the market.
The UK has some of the most congested and complex airspace in the world and it is a tribute to the professionalism and hard work of our members that it is also some of the safest.”
Prospect is seeking urgent meetings with Ministers to set out its members’ concerns and resist any proposed Government sale.
NATS was part-privatised in 2001. At present the Government retains a 49% share, the Airline Group – a consortium of airlines – has a 42% holding, BAA has a 4% shareholding while the remaining 5% of shares are held by staff.
Whilst for the traveling public, the main issue of air traffic control should be one of safety for the millions who fly into and out of UK airports, the management of NATS, and the Government's only concern is for profit and the greed of the City and the senior management.
The NATS’ annual accounts for the year ending March 2010 showed another year during which delays were at an historic low and another impressive year in terms of safety. But, healthy profits resulted only in the payment of dividends to shareholders.
Prospect Aviation Officer Garry Graham said: “Our members will be rightly proud yet again in terms of what they have achieved in relation to safety, service delivery and delays. But we believe all profits should be reinvested in staffing, technology and training.
"Simply stripping money out of the business, particularly at this stage of the economic cycle, makes no sense.”
However Graham reserved his harshest criticism for the remuneration packages of outgoing Chief Executives Paul Barron and Lawrence Hoskins who received nearly £2m and £1.2m respectively.
Describing these sums as "disgraceful and repugnant" Graham said: "In a year when our members have had to endure a pay freeze, and senior management have lectured staff on the need for restraint and to reduce costs, we see two departing Chief Executives choosing to ‘fill their boots’.
"This is another example of the red in tooth and claw impact of partial privatisation – where there is one rule for staff and another for senior executives. It is yet one more reason we believe the further sell-off of NATS should be opposed."
The mood among members in the face of such hypocrisy was, he added, one of extreme anger that will “certainly make for an interesting pay round".
Only time will show whether or not the Government's thirst for profit for senior management and shareholders above all else results in a cut in safety as the union fears.
Source: Prospect
