ZFW CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING NEW FACILITY STAFFING POLICY AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THE OP; IE; MORALE; TEMPERS; NOISE; ETC.

Narrative

FACILITY MGMNT AT ZFW ARTCC HAS IMPLEMENTED STAFFING REQUIREMENTS WHICH ARE DEGRADING SAFETY IN THE NAS. THERE IS NOW A MANDATE TO FRONT LINE SUPVRS TO KEEP CTLRS ON POS AS CLOSE TO 2 HRS AT A STRETCH AS POSSIBLE. ADDITIONALLY; THERE ARE SPECIFIC GOALS TOWARDS LIMITING THE NUMBER OF CTLRS ON BREAK AT ANY GIVEN TIME; AND A MANDATE TO OPEN ALL SECTORS ASAP ON ANY SHIFT; AND TO STAFF AS MANY; IF NOT ALL; D-SIDES AS POSSIBLE. THESE SPECIFICS REFER TO THE 'FRISCO' AREA AT ZFW; IN OTHER AREAS RULES SUCH AS NO MORE THAN 2 CTLRS ON BREAK AT A TIME ARE APPLIED. THESE ACTIONS ARE GREATLY IMPACTING THE MARGIN OF SAFETY IN OUR AREA AND FACILITY. THERE ARE NOW MANY MORE PEOPLE IN THE AREA AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND CONVERSATIONS AND NOISE ARE UP. THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE FACT THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE PRESENT IN THE AREA HAVE NOTHING TO DO. PEOPLE ARE GETTING TIRED AND RUN DOWN FROM SITTING ON A D-SIDE THAT WAS STAFFED; ON AVERAGE; ONCE A WEEK FOR ABOUT 30 MINS OR SO AND NOW IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR 12 HRS. WE ARE EFFECTIVELY BEING GROUND DOWN; MORALE IS SINKING RAPIDLY; TEMPERS ARE FRAYING; AND PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT AS ABLE TO CONCENTRATE WHEN THEY ARE PUSHED LIKE THIS DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY. SOONER OR LATER SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN; AND I HAVE STATED THIS TO FRONT LINE MGMNT AT ZFW; BUT THEY DON'T CARE.