Forced to change branch

Affynity

Southend1 wrote: »

Good for you! It takes guts to stand up for yourself and your colleagues but it is very rewarding. I met a really inspirational woman a few months ago who had become a rep and begun organising her colleagues despite no previous union presence and management hostility. She was finding it tough but said she wouldn't have it any way as she and her colleagues deserved to be treated with respect.

Give USDAW a call, they will be able to put you in touch with a local organiser so you can get the ball rolling.

Good luck!

Well I was involved with the Student Union for four years and I found that very rewarding. There's nothing quite so satisfying as helping someone out with a problem.

Anyhow, an update. I am no wiser. There was still no information available about my shift pattern.
To add insult to injury, I literally got home 15 mins ago and my existing branch have called me and asked me to swap shifts tomorrow.
They have more front than Brighton. lol

Affynity

A little update:

So, I spoke with the employee relations team, confidentially, and apparently I have no employee rights because I haven't been with the company for two years.

I should not seek union representation because you "need to have been a member for a long time".

I'm very disappointed because, while she accepted the specifics weren't acceptable, they are legal.

So, am I to take from this that only I, the employee, can breach this contract within my first two years of employment?
I have two clearly worded clauses in my contract:

When changing location:

"Your individual and domestic circumstances will always be carefully considered"

When changing working hours:

"In such cases you will be given reasonable notice."

In this case, "reasonable" is when I arrive at the new workplace...

I must admit, I know less about my legal rights than I should, but to me this sounds completely dodgy and made up. Those terms aren't ambiguous.
Nobody even asked me how a change would impact me and my notice has been:

Told I was moving and changing hours on the 28th (five weekdays 11am-3pm) with three weekday evenings added onto those shifts.)

I was told nothing more until the 31st, when I was told the evenings would change between two weekly patterns, but not when they are.

Today I was told I have no legal rights.
I'll find out when I'm working when I get there...

sniggings

first of all the HR or employee relations are 100% there to protect the employer from the employee, it is not there to help the employee, getting help from them was never going to happen.

The advice they have given you is both correct and not, the 2 years thing is correct but that you have no rights is not.

The thing is, for them to get round those rights all they have to do is sack you, which they can do within two years with no reason given.

They have to abide by the contract, but if they choose not to all they have to do is sack you, which stops the contract which in effect means the contract means nothing.

What she/he should have done was make your employer stick to the contract, but as they are there to support the managers and not the employee then that was never going to happen.

Bad local managers normally means the top managers are worse.

Homecooker

If you want impartial advice I would contact ACAS. They are really helpful and give lots of information HR departments usually don't

It may be that what you have been advised is correct - no harm in taking further advice though

Good luck x

Southend1

What you actually want is advice from someone who's on your side. Join USDAW sharpish.

lincroft1710

Affynity wrote: »

I have two clearly worded clauses in my contract:

When changing location:

"Your individual and domestic circumstances will always be carefully considered"- but will be completely disregarded if they conflict with our needs.

When changing working hours:

"In such cases you will be given reasonable notice." reasonable in the sense of not being excessive.

Perhaps these "clearly worded clauses" now make more sense.