I was redundant then I wasen't

getmore4less

Your union lied to you about having to fight a redundancy.

The requirement is to meaning full consultation.
You agreeing to the redundancy is meaningful and acceptable.

When the alternative was offered you should have consulted the union again.
They should have explained suitable alternatives and trial periods.

The company played it by the book you told them you wanted to stay and they bumped someone so you could.

They could have been more open about the alternative job and told you about suitable alternatives and trial periods but don't have to.

The union should have already briefed their members on all of this, as they didn't that's where you grievance should be.

lincroft1710

I'll repeat my previous post

Just move on !!

As has been said multiple times - your employer did nothing wrong. The more you keep harping on about the events of 5 yrs ago, the more unhappy you will be. Put it behind you once and for all.

renegadefm

Well the union certainly didnt advise of this. And the company obviously didnt.
So where did I go wrong if I wasent armed with this info?
Of course a lot of stuff I have found out too late. But how can I do anything about it?

renegadefm

My employer did nothing wrong, well all I can say is I hope you guys dont have to suffer a simular fate.
Its ruined my life in so many ways I cant describe.

What you dont remember in my original post was this company took over ours. Why would you buy a company to make most of the company you buy redundant? But then cant decide what do with half of them after.

Elinore

OP I appreciate you are looking for someone who shares and understands your feelings in this matter - being as it obviously affected you very deeply but here is something to think on....

There is a lot of outwards finger-pointing here methinks and less reflecting inwards.

Five years have passed and this is still such an issue for you that you feel it 'ruined your life' yet you still remain on the hope that a redundancy package will once again come your way so the 30K drops in your lap and you go to a job that doesn't has night shifts. You stay tethered to this imaginary sum that you will 'lose' if you leave, understandable but not really a constructive outlook.

I think rather than talking to your union you may wish to speak to your business employee assistance line - most do have one that offers counselling over the phone or if this is not available to you maybe have a chat to your GP as it seems you are caught in a cycle of very strong blame/victim mentality (being that you genuinely feel that this ruined your life) that maybe you may want to look at strategies with a professional to move on from.

Pushing this matter now may bring the issue to a head but I very much doubt tilling this barren ground 5 years after the fact will get you the only suitable outcome in your eyes - the ability to leave your job with the mythical 30K and another job lined up. In my opinion, it will just have you on the managements radar to manage you out as an undesirable.

Being you have such an entrenched view of the whole situation it looks like you have put your life on hold, suspended because of 'what could have been' - So the question is are you going to wait another 5 years in the hope that what you feel is due to you comes your way, or let go and finally move on and maybe find a job that you can enjoy?

(In answer to your question in your last post, companies do it all the time - they want the book, assets and area of the market not always the staff - I have been through a number of redundancies where this has been the case)

renegadefm

The company didnt really do their best to keep me. They simply saved roughly 27 thousand by letting someone from a non affected area go for 3 thousand instead of me for 30 thousand, thats what it boils down to. Even the union admits now quite a dirty thing to do, but of course I found all this out years too late. How could I contest this now? I certainly didnt knowingly fight for my job either, we were all lead to believe by the union dont leave without a fight but obviously knowing the outcone wont change cause the section closed down. In hindsight it was just the unions way of causing a stink.

eamon

To the OP. For your mental health and wellbeing you need to let this issue go as its unfixable for you. Hindsight is wonderful except that it changes nothing. Redundancy is a dreadful experience for many people, for you it offered the possibility of escaping the worst aspect of shift work (nights) and in that scenario it would have been positive for you. That didn't happen.

Not everyone is aware of their employment rights and the "counter notice" process. Your union at the time were possibly more interested/concerned in preserving as many jobs as possible and indeed preserved yours. Ending on a more positive note, should a redundancy situation arise again you are now more knowledgeable. Additionally you have gained another 5 years of service and that must be worth something to you.

getmore4less

renegadefm wrote: »

My employer did nothing wrong, well all I can say is I hope you guys dont have to suffer a simular fate.
Its ruined my life in so many ways I cant describe.

What you dont remember in my original post was this company took over ours. Why would you buy a company to make most of the company you buy redundant? But then cant decide what do with half of them after.

Companies come up for sale for a reason, often under performing, sometime it is for economies of scale, expand your markets.

Redundancies and consolidation of staff is very common and to be expected if bought out.

I think you got let down badly by your union, did they know at the time you wanted to leave or were they under the same impression you were giving the company you wanted to stay.

I understand your frustration been through a fare few rounds of redundancies some you win(stay) some you lose, but when you know its your time, you don't fight to stay you fight for the best exit package.

as the section was closing the unions should have been looking at ways to keep it open or finding suitable alternatives for everyone.

not sure why you were appealing the selection as an individual rather than just looking for alternatives.

lincroft1710

Elinore wrote: »

So the question is are you going to wait another 5 years in the hope that what you feel is due to you comes your way, or let go and finally move on and maybe find a job that you can enjoy?

By which time OP will be 60, and being realistic will find it hard to get another job.

lincroft1710

renegadefm wrote: »

My employer did nothing wrong, well all I can say is I hope you guys dont have to suffer a simular fate.

When I say wrong, I mean they did nothing that contravenes employment law. Employers will sail very close to the wind and won't always do what you want or expect them to do, but the majority will not act outside the law. If the company can save £27,000, by making someone else redundant, you cannot blame them or expect them to do otherwise