I think my company is trying to constructively...

[growingvegetables]

ACAS are there to help before the situation gets beyond control

+1 .... and on the basis of one sole experience of them, easy to deal with.

 

[downfader]

ok, if you have a TUPE agreement then they should stick to this. How do you feel about your union bods? Would they be able to apply some pressure to get these conditions met? I certainly hope they aren't negotiating things down into a hole.

I can see how your colleagues would be worried and despondent. The issue is it seems like you guys have gone through a lot with the TUPE etc but one crux of the issue is if people lose their jobs - where does it leave them? Basically are people desperate and willing to fight or do you think people are more likely to leave? In a time like now,it may be the case as to not rolling over to unreasonable demands - the issues with the food storage sounds very dodgy- at the least you can check your local council to see if they have any environmental health guidelines etc...may be possible to get them in? If you thought it would help.

Don't do this alone- get some backing from the union and ACAS if needed.

Good luck

On a personal note - tried to join the union but they wanted direct debits. I was not prepared to do that (would mean changing account) and offered postal orders/cheque. They didnt want to know - though the local Union guy I spoke to still helped me out and was great. "Policies", again I think, this time from his superiors at the union.

The other problem with the union is the strikes. They wasted a lot of time on striking, and the company just would not budge. I and others said from the off - needs to be legal action, you've got a clear case (bank records etc) take it to tribuneral or something.

My Aunt has used ACAS, cheers for the reminder.

I'll be honest as a result of this I've been actively looking for other employment. Several people I know have too. Job prospects dont look too good around here though. Its all minimum wage and part time hours..

 

[classic33]

...dismiss myself and my colleagues.



Big, multinational company. Things have been said by a couple of the trusted managers that they're looking to sack people for not selling enough food (we work in a restaurant), for refusing body/property searches, etc.

A number of people have had some pretty serious accidents. They then struggled to get the bosses to record these appropriately and it has culminated this week in two very serious burns (the staff using them were not trained - they refused to move and sat down in the office until it had been properly documented).

Secure storage for food has been removed after renovations. Now some outside bosses have been moaning that we're in trouble for not locking the stock away. Something which we have no control over. Stock was placed in my work area too, inappropriate due to the lack of space, theres no air conditioning and with the washing machines on my room's temperature can get around the high 20s during the winter, and around 40 during the height of summer.

Now today the boss has said I have to lock my door. My door is my aircon.

With these searches how is that legal? My understanding is that a Police Officer doesnt have the right to search you unless they have reasonable suspician, you fit a description, or have been seen committing a crime etc. The bosses want to do random searches, remove shoes and socks. Everytime we've questioned this we've been told "it's policy!"

Policy included sacking everyone over 60 until the law was changed, and 65 until that one was changed.

What does the law say on employers searching their employees?

See
http://www.hse.gov.u...erature/faq.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/workers/whistleblowing.htm

However is the stock is food, what are the health implications. Consider local enviromental health department.

 

[DonnyDarko]

I worked in a call centre once and the air conditioning stopped working. And apparently they were considering sending us (about 750 people) home, however they managed to get the aircon fixed. There are temperatures that you are allowed to work in without PPE (personal protective equipment) and above and below those temperatures, the company has to take action and provide you with something. Be it a fan (or portable aircon) in hot conditions or huge jacket and gloves in fridge-type-food-factories (perhaps meat related or something).

Knowing me - I'd just leave the damn place and find something else and save them the hassle of 'working you out' which in my case would just stress me out. I totally understand the current economy and job situation though so clearly that's not a practical solution.

But I would take notes of everything and anything formal they say to you, get in writing too. And don't accept it has been said unless you have it in writing. At least with regards to changes in working practises etc.

Always worth have a good read of your employment contract at times like these too as if you can quote a paragraph when some smart arse manager is trying to blame something on you or put words in your mouth they often get that you understand your contact and might not be the easy one to push out.

Just my opinion. I'd seek professional advice on this myself if in your shoes. Employees are heavily protected in the UK and with the right backing you wont be bitchslapped around one bit.

 

[DonnyDarko]

See
http://www.hse.gov.u...erature/faq.htm

http://www.hse.gov.u...stleblowing.htm

However is the stock is food, what are the health implications. Consider local enviromental health department.

+1

(this forum needs a thanks button! - Keep looking for it I do! haha)

 

[bottombracket]

ACAS

tel 08457 47 47 47

8am-8pm weekdays

 

[Brains]

Unions have been involved, other people who work for this company have been on strike already due to not being payed and their conditions being messed with. I feel this is about to happen with us now.

From bitter experience the late payment/part payment/non payment of staff salary for whatever reasons given by management is a major indicator that the company has some very very serious problems.

Other than to start looking for a new job now, I can only suggest that you do your best, only stir the shoot where required, and ensure that your are paid for work done, if (when) thenfail to pay you, you fail to work.
And keep your eye on a large item of essential equipment that you may be able to hold to ransom if you don't get paid