Let's start with the contract pay issue...

ITT's way of making up for being the LOWEST BIDDER on these contracts is to have the LEAST PAYED Air Traffic Controllers in a Combat Zone in this particular theatre. When I worked for them the contract was for 140K a year, and they had the audassity to change the contract three (3) times, down to 117K After we were already on location and working.

Not only was this a kick in the financial balls, but ITT does not pay overtime as "time AND A HALF". Although in the contract is says overtime doe not include the up-lift, haz/dngr, it says nothing about OT being straight hourly pay. To complicate matters even more, facilities are intentionally short-staffed, forcing overtime to save the Co' from paying full up-lift. This in turn makes it difficult for personnel to take leave. AGAIN, the controllers are screwed even more.

They also eliminated combat/hardship pay from overtime...to do the math, that's $26.10 and hour, in a COMBAT ZONE, and yes, rockets do fall on a regular basis
Oh wait, I get it, when you hit 40 hours you're magicly transported somewhere outside the combat zone, duh

Although being required to report to meetings during unscheduled hours and arrive at work 15 mins early for the brief (that's a standard), employees are not payed for time worked.

When asked if being payed for this time worked, employees are intimmidated and threatened for saying anything.

This tip of the iceburg is getting rather large, so I'll pause here and welcome any replies.

ATCDownUnder

busybee wrote: [TO: ATCDownUnder]
ATCD,
I would offer you a couple suggestions prior to airing your opinion on ITT in a public forum. First of all, you may not want to go to the site manager with all your complaints, not get the answer you wanted to hear and then go on stuck mic and discuss it. By doing that, it definitely limits your ability to hide behind your screen name and we all know you can characterize people's personalities by how they act and carry themselves...and hiding = someone that is easily intimidated. But being that I am capable of listening to your complaints with an open mind, I have to ask you this question: If you are required to be there 15 minutes early and so is your next on-coming crew, then I believe you are still only working 8 hours...and how much of that do you work Regardless of where you are over here, the traffic and the job doesn't justify a measly complaint such as 15 minutes worth of pay. You also question the company ethics but is their business practice illegal If it is not illegal then how is it unethical I submit that it is not illegal and therefore it is not unethical at all and in-fact you bring your own ethics into question. Business is business.
I believe your contract is up soon, either to win or lose between ITT and Midwest. I believe if I were you, I'd start looking to Midwest for a job because you are obviously not happy working with ITT. Remember that through all your complaining, you were the one that signed your contract and also keep in mind that ITT is not required to keep you on board after you finish your current contract.
On a sidenote, I must wish you the very best of luck down there because I'm positive you will be held accountable for your actions and you will be held to the rules without any leeway. You have obviously bitten the hand that feeds you and I am positive you stand to lose a lot more than you stand to gain. So those long lunch breaks, bathroom breaks, PX runs, laundry passes and endless smoke breaks will come to a halt very shortly.
YOUR tower guys (at least for about another week) would be very happy knowing how you "Looked" out for them and have THEIR best interest at heart being the good ring leader and pot stirrer that you are. You are supposed to control the drama and limit the amount caused and all you have done is contribute to the problem. You definitely did not have your guys best interest in mind and now have caused the remainder of your time there to be less than comfortable, not to mention the ripple effect that will affect the other associated sites. Good call....enjoy.

P.S. I also suggest you call and see if 5 minutes fall under "Fair" Labor Laws Act because you are an hourly paid employee. Keep in mind though that your smoke minutes will probably be taken away from your pay now. It all comes out in the end...

"BE"