Contract Changes

dannyrst

Hi all,

Looking for some advice about a potential contract change.

The company I work for has been taken over within the last 2 years and we are "aligning our terms and conditions" with the staff who do the same jobs for the parent company as we all start to work together.

As part of this, our weekly hours are increasing from 35 hours to 37.5 hours and we are being offered a 6-8% pay rise (to cover the increase in hours and in place of an annual review). We are also no longer being paid for overtime, we will receive time in lieu instead at a decreased rate (we currently get time and a half on hours over 35 through the week and double time on a Sunday or bank holiday).

We have entered a 45 day consultation period and our company has union representation. From what I have read online, because we have a union, we cannot disagree to the contract changes if the union accepts them (regardless of whether we are a member of the union or not). Is this correct? I assume we cannot do anything about stopping the contract changes other than find a new job?

sangie595

dannyrst wrote: »

Hi all,

Looking for some advice about a potential contract change.

The company I work for has been taken over within the last 2 years and we are "aligning our terms and conditions" with the staff who do the same jobs for the parent company as we all start to work together.

As part of this, our weekly hours are increasing from 35 hours to 37.5 hours and we are being offered a 6-8% pay rise (to cover the increase in hours and in place of an annual review). We are also no longer being paid for overtime, we will receive time in lieu instead at a decreased rate (we currently get time and a half on hours over 35 through the week and double time on a Sunday or bank holiday).

We have entered a 45 day consultation period and our company has union representation. From what I have read online, because we have a union, we cannot disagree to the contract changes if the union accepts them (regardless of whether we are a member of the union or not). Is this correct? I assume we cannot do anything about stopping the contract changes other than find a new job?

Assuming you mean union recognition (somewhat different from representation), then you are correct on both counts. If the union members agree the changes then the contract changes for everyone, union member or not. And unless the union refuses the changes (and possibly not even then) then there is nothing you can do to stop the changes being enforced. You could attempt to resign and claim unfair dismissal, but your chances of a claim succeeding would be very low.