Serving Personnel
With 86% of respondents stating that they work between 41 and 80 hours per week, it is no surprise to see that once again 66% of personnel believe they are working harder now than they were this time last year. This is in stark comparison to the Office for National Statistics July 2018 report which states that the average number of hours worked in the UK by full time workers is 37 hours per week. Again, the lack of SQEP is by far the major reason that our personnel state they have to work harder than ever before. With an increase in the contingent operational tempo together with a sporadic IT infrastructure which forces many to work harder rather than smarter, many of our personnel expressed their concern as follows:
“Currently operating within a busy office which has been at 25 – 40% manning levels for the last 10 months. The same output is expected which has resulted in two personnel being signed off sick for stress, which then compounds the problem.”
“I currently have at the moment an extreme lack of engineering manpower with constantly ambitious flying targets.”
“Less manpower, gapped posts and a lack of funding for equipment that would allow better production or output of man-hours”.
Infrastructure
Workplace infrastructure and the standard of equipment also came in for significant criticism. Poor infrastructure was heavily debated (both work place and accommodation areas) which for some Stations had led to a strong feeling of being undervalued. Personnel employed in sections such as Air Traffic Control, Aerospace Battle Management, Medical Centres and HR pointed to a lack of properly functioning, up-to-date IT equipment and software as something that greatly added to the workload associated with a shortfall in manpower. The poor writing and subsequent delivery of contracts was also high on the agenda of discussion and it was felt that much more needed to be done to ensure that the service was receiving good value for money. A number of examples were given including; Housing and Infra, Messing and various current contracted capability solutions.
“I quite often feel frustrated that when I’m trying to do the best job that I can that I am constantly hamstrung due to ineffectual IT, poor infrastructure or outdated work practices. These lead to a feeling of what’s the point in bothering and is demoralising.”
“we’ve been for weeks without hot water over the winter period. The demand for Junior Ranks accommodation outweighs what the station can offer, with one block currently quarantined the pressure is felt station wide.”
“The standard of amenities and accommodation for Junior Ranks at my unit are appalling. Majority of personnel have been without water for several months and have to shower in the gymnasium (whose showers then broke due to demand).”
8
raf-ff.org.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24
