In article <01bd9eb3$cd987fe0$2fb2acce@ann-s>,
  Ann Gonneau <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
.  SERCO's been making the headlines in Canada recently as
> the Ministry of National Defense handed them a contract to take over the
> operation of the air traffic control facility at Goose Bay, Labrador.
> Without the protective legislation, transitioned employees found themselves
> offered salaries 25% on average below their previous pay scale as the 'scope
> of  work' had been altered - if anything like Cumberland's experience it's
> increased!  Cumberland went from 5 full-time staff to 4 and from 7
> interpreters to 3, while increasing opening hours by an additional day.
>

Hi Ann,  Just thought I'd offer a slight correction here.  SERCo is taking
over ATC in Goose Bay as of August 1/98.  But the salary they are offering
controllers  is only a few dollars a year less than that of a full incentive
captain in the CF  ( a very good salary indeed).  Despite that they've only
managed to hold on to 3 of the 18 controllers who worked here with the
Forces.  (Many  factors other than salary influenced that:  time in the
forces, pension penalties etc.  You don't give up a pension or take a
10-40%cut in pension to go to a job that may only last 4 years)  It is in the
other services that SERCo has been taking over since April 1 that the salary
changes were drastic:  food services, janitorial, carpentry, painting  etc.
The kicker was when they offered clerical staff jobs as cleaners at about 40%
less pay.  On the other hand everyone agrees that service has improved
dramatically since they have taken over...much to everyone's surprise.  No
one waits in line to be served lunch while staff sit at nearby tables smoking
 (an all too common occurence when staff worked for DND).  And everyone
comments on how clean everything is now.  True staff has been cut by about
30%, but if the work is being done better by fewer what does that say about
the situation before?  As a taxpayer, I like to see my tax dollar used in the
best way possible.  There is talk now of forming a Union but not everyone if
jumping at the chance to sign on.  I'm anxious to see what things will be
like next April when SERCo has been handling things for a year.  The one
place they have been having a high turnover of staff is in food services and
that will probably settle down soon.

Suzanne Mealey



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