Change of contract and my concerns

[iD]

Hey everyone.

I work for a security company to which I was Tupe'd over in April 2011. Before that I was Tupe'd over to the current company in January 2010. My initial employment started in May 2006.

I work as a security officer and was employed by Company A in May 2006 as a security officer with no permanent site or hours.
Then my company assign me this site in 2008, I started working 56 hours a week since then and have always worked here.

In 2010 a Company B took over this site and Tupe'd us all over. I can't find contract I signed with them but remember it being the same as original one due to Tupe.

In 2011 Company C (current company) took over this site and tupe'd us over. Though this time the contract we signed said we work at this place but no mention of minimum number of hours we'll work. As mentioned above I've always worked 56 hours a week and it hasn't changed for last 5 year.

Yesterday, on friday the 15th of feb, my company gave us all new contracts to sign (no consultation or hint beforehand). The new contract has start date on Monday the 18th of Feb. This contract is different to our last contract and takes away some of the perks. It doesn't talk about double pay we get on bank holidays or treble on Christmas, Boxing and New years day. It also says that company reserves the right to change the terms at any time. But most importantly it says that we will have no fix hours or site and can be sent to work wherever they want us to.

Some of us who worked in days have refused to sign the contract and asked for a meeting and our manager would be coming to see us on Wednesday.

I have no idea what to do and where do I stand in the eyes of law when it comes to minimum hours of work? Their reason for coming out with new contract is that some of us have different contracts as we were tupe'd over from other companies and they want everyone to have one contract.

Any help and suggestion would be much appreciated.
Thanks

getmore4less

raise the issues.

loss of enhanced rates and lack of contracted hours are significant changes

Go through with fine tooth comb.


Flexability on location has significat advantages and disadvantages

[iD]

Thanks for the reply.

I am looking into it and only thing that worries me is the fact that my last contract had no minimum number of hours. All it says is that my working week would be Monday-Sunday and I will be working according to my roster. Since I have been working 56 hours/week with same shift pattern for last 5 years on this site, does it now form the part of my contract at all? I can totally see them trying to reduce my hours or at worst stop giving me any work since my current contract looks like a zero hours contract.

Only thing they can legally do here (from what I've read) is to dismiss my current contract and re-employ me for the new one and if they do that then they'd leave themselves wide open for unfair dismissal.

If it helps, my manager is pretty cocky and rude and sees us as just a bunch of bloody security officers... (not making this up)

[iD]

My hours of work column states
*Your working week will be Monday-Sunday as roistered. The employee will be required to work day and night shifts as instructed by the Employer in accordance with duty roster. You may be required to work overtime if and when this to be necessary to complete your duties and you will be paid your basic hourly rate for such overtime.
*You will not get paid for any time you do not work, for instance any unauthorised days absent due to illness or otherwise.
*You agree that the limit on your working hours of no more than an average of 48 hours over a 17-week period shall not apply to your employment.