We got a new ‘contract’ at work agreed by the union, but a fuss was kicked up that members weren’t consulted and so its gone to a vote. The choice was as below.
a) The old way. 45 hours per week guaranteed, on a 5 from 7 basis. You have to be in attendence for all 45 hours. We’ve always done 9 and a quarter hours every day minimum (the 15 mins to get back the deducted lunch break). but on the vote it could be 7 hours one day and 11 the next. If you do a 6th shift, the OT rate starts after you have completed the 45.
b) The new way. Guaranteed 45 hour week, but can be stood down at any time if no work. If you do less than 8 hours you get paid for 8; and if the week is less than 45 hours worked it gets made up to 45 hours. Any 6th shift is paid entirely at OT rate regardless of how many hours you did in the week. No banking of hours.
We’ll see how the vote goes, some of the drivers are worried that its a way of sneaking in banked hours, but we’ve been assured its not.
spoke to the union rep from another depot, and he reckons its down to them having drivers finishing their run and then just messing about in the canteen having food fights, putting salt in the sugar and being abusive to people!
It won’t really affect us in our depot as we’re multi-drop and rarely back in less than 9 hours anyway!
Mind you I’m sure someone will mess themselves up seeing they can go home when they finish by speeding around and tipping on break etc!
Must admit it feels strange being offered something good in these poor economic times! !
Si
