Employer takes my hours and gives them to someone else

Smodlet

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

From my union's website:

When you’re covered
A member must have joined at least four weeks before the incident or occurrence that leads them to seek that assistance. Subscription payments must be up to date. You must continue to be a UNISON member while your case is ongoing.

It is important that you contact the union
 as soon as possible as legal rights often have time limits. For example, a claim for unfair dismissal must be lodged within three months (less one day) of the date of dismissal.

All legal support is granted at the discretion of the union’s national executive council.

I'm not going to look at any other unions, suffice to say that the example you gave of taking out insurance AFTER an adverse event is relevant. And Martin talks regularly about taking out travel insurance when you book, NOT just before you travel. It's the same scenario.

Mind you, I'm surprised it's as little as four weeks before they will help!

I did say it was frowned upon. Been so long since I was eligible to join a union and I never claimed to be an expert. Thank you for the explanation, Savvy Sue.

Les79

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

No, it's not.

I think you are mostly right, but Unions are very much motivated towards helping the workers and they *may* be interested in helping as a one-off here if it piques their interest.

There's no harm in asking the question to the relevant Union.

One thing I'd like to add here, OP, is that I briefly worked in Poland in the past. I earned a fraction of a wage compared to the UK, but I loved it Any "redundancy" I received over there would have been more in line with £200 (1k zloty). Probably more like 2k zloty.

If you have written evidence that £200 was offered for redundancy then I feel you could form a surprisingly good case for "race discrimination" to be honest.... Race includes "nationality", and if the people involved come from a "poorer" country (ie where similar jobs earn much less, or the redundancy terms are less favourable), then it sounds good!

BUT that also depends on the hours that they were working! Might fit in if it was 1-2 days a week but not if it was 4-7 days a week.

John156iiii

Thanks everyone for the input. They will try and get some legal advice today, i did think there are some free 30minute consultations available as i heard about that before so I'll try and sort it out today.

With regards to the working hours all 3 of them have been working 2 hours a day for 5 days a week. Each one of them will have lost over £350 a month due to the change of working hours.

Comms69

Smodlet wrote: »

They definitely need legal advice. Some law firms offer free half hour consultations (try the yellow pages for that and make some calls if this information is not given) Another avenue might be the Citizens' Advice Bureau, another free legal advice included with an insurance policy if you or any of your relatives have it (it is an optional add-on which you pay for when you take out the policy); this could be car, house, contents, pet insurance, any kind.

I really don't know but is it possible they could join a union, pay their subs and obtain representation at this late stage? I know this is frowned upon for obvious reasons as it is like taking out insurance after your house has been robbed but perhaps someone else can advise whether it might be possible.

One thing I am reasonably sure of is that, if the roles are not redundant, neither are your relatives, not after 11 years in the job and redundancy pay is not at the discretion of the employer; there are laws about it.

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

No, it's not.

It can be if the union decides that it is an issue which would affect a significant number of members and therefore it's worth setting a precedent.


It's very rare.

Manxman_in_exile

What sort of school is this? State, independent? Obviously don't identify them.


I'm surprised that either would think they could get away with this. Where I live state schools have access to LA legal advice and I don't think they'd be happy with the school's approach.


Suppose it could be an academy in which case they probably won't have a clue what they can and can't do.