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We are locked in the nastiest negotiation with management since the 1981 strike that got 10500 controllers fired by Reagan. This has been hard for me personally because I always believed I had a pretty respectable job and that is important to me. Management is fighting part of the battle in the media, trying to destroy our image. What have you heard about controllers, either concerning this or anything else? I will try to objectively answer any questions you have.

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"Chatfield, I think there's something wrong with our bloody ships." Admiral David Beatty, upon watching the battlecruiser Queen Mary explode at the battle of Jutland.

My name is Tobias Smith and I approved this post.

I have always heard that the job is high stress with a high burnout rate as a result. During my high school days deciding what I wanted to do I actually investigated this career a little bit.

All in all, I think it is a respectable career given the responsibility with others' lives on the line.

Not sure what has been said in US media however.

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"I built me a bomb and dropped it on every MFer who got in my way!"

News to me.....we Canadians closely monitor our neighbour to the south for signs of instability. Our armed forces are on high alert ready to invade at the first sign of weakness.

But don't weaken too quickly, we gave him a case of beer and he's a bit hung-over at the moment.


(Seriously, between Delay and Rita I've not seen it hit the news, should I be ashamed?)

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Dr. Golga Bolg
SWTOR - Golga
Rift - Gnarlwood: Golgar Golgantua Golgate - Retired
WoW - Dalaran: Bolg Golga Virrok All Retired
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Eve - Edge Finn - Limbo
Section 2 - (Former) Director
What am I playing now?: The waiting game

I haven't heard a lot about it either, but admittedly my exposure to "the media" is usually pretty limited. Most of the people in the media are too dumb for me to take seriously about anything, and I have my own extensive network that I tap into for news.

I've thought more than once about making Air Traffic Control my career, but for one reason or another I've never persued it. I think it would be a fun job, and I have heard about the high stress and the high burnout.

In general, I tend to despise most managerial personnel, so I'm not surprised they are behaving poorly for you.

What exactly is the situation? Now that it has been brought to my attention, I'll probably start looking into it, and starting with someone in the know could be a good idea.

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Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!

Here in France we rarely hear about controllers, except when they are involved in some plane crashes. So I think here people thinks they are people that do their job just like everybody...

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Flyoc,
Farm with attitude.

This is news to me!

They strike here occasionally, for some reason or another. Lots of delays and general nastiness and then everyone goes back to work .......... or something!

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X2-PB

Pathfinder Kingmaker Campaign:
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AntanKarmola on their forums

Star Wars: The Old Republic: - Not really playing
Antare Karmola - Jedi Guardian (32)
Antan Karmola - Jedi Shadow (21)
Arianae Karmola - Gunslinger (20)

This is very much news to me as well.

Perception: Hmm...I'm on an average minimum of eight flights a month...I LOVES me some ATCs!! They're the best!

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Liro
"The english language is not a wedding gown, it doesn't get better the more lace you add. It is instead a thong. Less is more." From /.
I need to remind myself of this regularly.

I have seen nothing in the news, but when groups use massive refusal to work and the ensuing national disruption it causes as a bargaining tool, that usually pisses me off.

Suspending air service for some extra days of vacation or another couple bucks an hour at the cost to ALL other industries, well, sorry, but I would be apt to do what Reagan did.

There are other ways.

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SW:TOR - Mantison Gunslinger, Ironmant Trooper, Manni Jedi Knight
WoW - Dalaran - Manni 85 Mage, Ironmant 83 Warrior, Mantison 80 Hunter
SWG - Chilastra Retired Mantison, Commando / TKA Master aka Trogdor !!!!

Good...

The FAA should just conduct the contract negotiations but they hired a big union buster to run their negotiations. They have made comments in the media about how the previous contract (the one the current FAA administrator extended two years ago) made us overpaid. They mentioned the fact that there are a few controllers who make 200,000 dollars. I would like to get me some of that money, but if anyone makes 200k it is because they work a sick amount of overtime. This is due to not hiring enough people. I don't get how they schedule someone for that much overtime then complain because they make too much money.

Mostly I am pissed because the local facility where I work is changing around the schedules of all the controllers, to mess with our heads. People bid schedules based on child care, personal lives, etc. It is just mean to change them 4 months early for no other reason than to aggravate people or because you can.

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"Chatfield, I think there's something wrong with our bloody ships." Admiral David Beatty, upon watching the battlecruiser Queen Mary explode at the battle of Jutland.

My name is Tobias Smith and I approved this post.

You guys see "Pushing Tin," with John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton? Oh Lord that was a funny movie.

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

Controllers think that movie is bogus. The actual part about the characters is pretty good. Most of the stuff about ATC is frigging dumb.

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"Chatfield, I think there's something wrong with our bloody ships." Admiral David Beatty, upon watching the battlecruiser Queen Mary explode at the battle of Jutland.

My name is Tobias Smith and I approved this post.

Isn't that the way it is with most books/movies that try to portray a complex profession? I remember reading "Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown about how a virus is loaded as an encryption key... and thinking that the very first thing he describes about encryption is completely wrong... and that the entire plot was founded on that one single point.

Oh well. Hollywood != Life.

I would guess that is correct Yak.

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"Chatfield, I think there's something wrong with our bloody ships." Admiral David Beatty, upon watching the battlecruiser Queen Mary explode at the battle of Jutland.

My name is Tobias Smith and I approved this post.

We've never even considered striking, nor would I do it. Let me repeat, my union has never threatened to strike during this negotiation and there is no contingency plan for it. However, if the government continues to push to privatize ATC, then it would become an option they would give us as private employees of a private company. I think privatization is a mistake. If private baggage screening had to be made a government entity because of safety, how can you then contract out air traffic control? Not that I think the government bag screening is much better but still...

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"Chatfield, I think there's something wrong with our bloody ships." Admiral David Beatty, upon watching the battlecruiser Queen Mary explode at the battle of Jutland.

My name is Tobias Smith and I approved this post.

I saw an interview of Fox 5 last night about some of the FAA problems and the issue. It seemed to paint you guys in a pretty good light..

At this point, this conversation should be taken to The Forum. I've got lots to say on the issue, as can always be expected. But I'm quite sure it would errupt into an argument shortly thereafter. Any takers on starting a Forum thread on this?

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

you really need to get a better PC so you can spend more time playing and less time starting fights

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Dalaran: Arindel - Frost Mage (Mining/Alchemy)
Dalaran: Roran - Paladin (Weaponsmith/Blacksmith)
Dalaran: Baine - Rogue

Fights? Who's starting fights?

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

Move it.

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"Chatfield, I think there's something wrong with our bloody ships." Admiral David Beatty, upon watching the battlecruiser Queen Mary explode at the battle of Jutland.

My name is Tobias Smith and I approved this post.

I'll fight anyone on this topic.

Finally something I know about.

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"Chatfield, I think there's something wrong with our bloody ships." Admiral David Beatty, upon watching the battlecruiser Queen Mary explode at the battle of Jutland.

My name is Tobias Smith and I approved this post.

"Let's get it on!!"


http://avian-gamers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15582

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

First shot has been fired in the new section.

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"Chatfield, I think there's something wrong with our bloody ships." Admiral David Beatty, upon watching the battlecruiser Queen Mary explode at the battle of Jutland.

My name is Tobias Smith and I approved this post.