Date: 201902
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZMP.ARTCC, MN
Aircraft: A321
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZDV
ATC / advisory: Center ZDV
Second aircraft: B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Contributing factors: Procedure; Human Factors; Company Policy; Airspace Structure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: ZMP called ZDV and alerted them to the fact that Aircraft X and Aircraft Y are going to lose separation and that Aircraft Y has a lot of speed on Aircraft X. The ZDV person says he'll take care of it. ZMP suggests that maybe one of them can take higher. ZMP Controller calls ZDV Controller and calmly asks: 'What's your plan with Aircraft Y?' ZDV responds: 'Ahhh; looks like he's going to fall behind him ahhhhh just fine.' ZMP tells ZDV that Aircraft Y has 100 knots on him. ZDV replies: 'Looks good over here; but if you want us to do something let us know.' ZMP responds: Yes; I do.' ZDV calls back and asks: 'What do you want us to do with that Aircraft Y?' ZMP replies: 'Turn him behind Aircraft X or change his altitude.' ZDV replies: 'You want us to turn him left? How much?' ZMP replies: 'Do you still have Aircraft X? ZDV: 'Yep.' Why don't you change his altitude then?' ZDV: 'You want him higher or lower?'. ZMP: 'Whatever he'll take.' ZDV: 'Roger. A mysterious voice come on the line; which we now assume is the trainer; 'Those were not control instructions.' ZMP: 'Say again?' ZDV: 'None of them were control instructions. You have to issue control instructions.' ZMP: 'Aircraft X; climb him to FL330.' There was no reply from either 'Controller' from ZDV.  A full minute and 15 seconds goes by and Aircraft Y has not started a turn and Aircraft X has not started his climb! ZDV calls and advises that Aircraft X is climbing to FL330. ZMP replies: 'Thank you;' 50 seconds later; ZDV calls and says: 'Change of plans; Aircraft X doesn't want FL330; he's going back to FL310.' ZMP replies: You're turning Aircraft Y behind him then?' ZDV: 'Yep.' The two aircraft passed 7 miles in trail with the second aircraft; same altitude; over 110 knots faster than the front! Without a turn; the two aircraft would have been 3 miles apart at the same altitude!The Supervisor was made aware of this situation and it was immediately brought up to the Operations Manager (OM). The OM's response to this scenario after reviewing it is that the ZMP Controller should have done more; that he should have reached out earlier to resolve this situation! Clearly; the OM's first priority is not safety! I have brought several [of these situations] to [personnel] and he always replies that we at ZMP should have done more. We did reach out to ZDV in ample time for them to correct their separation error and we gave them several suggestions on how to fix it in their airspace! Every phone call made to ZDV was combative; argumentative and unprofessional which could have resulted in an air disaster! We at ZMP have always protected ZDV and their incompetence! The aggression showed by the unprofessional 'Controllers' at ZDV are going to one day result in injured passengers or worse. Their job is to separate known traffic! They purposely tried to provoke and antagonize the controller at ZMP in an attempt to draw him into a defensive argument which would have resulted in two unprofessional controllers with neither one of them doing their job! Luckily; we stayed calm and professional and spoon fed ZDV basic control instructions in how to separate two aircraft in their airspace! Sadly; our OM stands firm that we should have done more. The other startling thing is that clearly the person working the 'Radar side' at ZDV was a trainee. The person training this individual was coaching him to act in an unprofessional and argumentative nature! The Trainer should be held accountable and relieved of his training duties.




Synopsis: A Center Controller reported the adjacent Center handed them off two aircraft on converging courses.