ARTCC RADAR CTLR COMPLAINT ABOUT STAFFING; EQUIP; PROCS AND FACILITY FAA POLICY. DOESN'T LIKE THE SHIFT WORK AND SAYS TOO MANY DUTIES.

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ATC STAFFING LEVELS STINK. GIVEN THE CONTINUAL UPGRADES TO EQUIP; COMPUTERS; COMS; ETC; PEOPLE ARE OFF THE FLOOR ALL THE TIME. ADDITIONALLY; WITH OTHER THINGS GOING ON; STAFFING FOR THE OP IS HURTING. OTHER PARTS OF THE FAA ARE DOWNSIZED; SO MORE CTLRS ARE USED FOR 'OTHER DUTIES.' SUPVRS ARE GIVEN MORE DUTIES; SO THEY PAWN MORE OFF ON ATC'S. FINALLY; THE AGENCY SHOWS NO SIGNS OF INCREASING HIRING; YET POSTSTRIKE REPLACEMENTS ARE NOW 3-8 YRS FROM BECOMING ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT. GIVEN 3-4 YRS TO CHK OUT IN A CTR OR BUSY TRACON; THINGS ARE GOING TO SUCK IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE SOON. SHIFTS: BACKWARDS SHIFT ROTATION (SWING-SWING-DAY-DAY-MID) IS TERRIBLE FOR INTERNAL BODY CLOCKS. EXACERBATED AT CTRS LIKE ZSE; ZMP; AND OTHER NORTHERLY CTRS WHERE WINTER NIGHTS ARE 14-16 HRS LONG. CTLRS IN MANY OTHER WESTERNIZED NATIONS WORK 30-35 HR WKS; ON MORE REASONABLE SHIFT ROTATIONS. MANY PEOPLE I KNOW WOULD TAKE A 10 PERCENT PAY CUT TO WORK A 36-HR WK; 4-9 HR SHIFTS; STANDARD. TIRED CTLRS DO BAD WORK; MYSELF INCLUDED. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE I GOT MAX SLEEP POSSIBLE BTWN SHIFTS AND STILL COULDN'T STAY ALERT. INCREASING TFC AND LOWER STAFFING AND OLD TECHNOLOGY AND CRUMMY SHIFT ROTATIONS EQUAL LOWER SAFETY!