The usual ham fisted approach from EI Human Resources to its best asset...the staff. Back in the old days the Engineers marshaled in the aircraft and on departure walked the aircraft off the stand using a headset to communicate with the crew. I spoke to an aircraft dispatcher friend of mine who said that Industrial Relations are taking a bit of a hammering as EI now want to the aircraft dispatchers to perform these duties. No agreement has been reached with the unions but EI have gone ahead and advertised internally for new aircraft dispatchers and listed the contentious extra duties as part of the job description.