Sunday Working Question

[SpacePhoenix]

There's a lot of different shift patterns across deliveries,seems the more militant offices are they get a better shift rotation,its time our union started fighting for all,if anything comes out of this i'd like to see fairer shift patterns for all,for the many not the few.

Based on what we've heard, RM will be going to standardise shift patterns across all offices

[2chorizon]

You guy’s are lucky you don’t work in the MC’s
All part-time contracts issued in the last 5 years have saturday in them, every saturday all year round unless you take annual leave or find someone to duty swap you.

The only way out of it is to get a temporary variation of contract to FT mon - fri
(but it remains temporary and they can drop you back down to PT)

N.B sundays in MC remain as optional OT unless you are on the dedicated weekend shift. Usually staffed by casuals at present.

[Woody Guthrie]

You guy’s are lucky you don’t work in the MC’s
All part-time contracts issued in the last 5 years have saturday in them, every saturday all year round unless you take annual leave or find someone to duty swap you.

We used to work 6 days a week on delivery including every Saturday but we fought for years for a 5 day week and eventually got it.

That wasn't luck.

[jessicarabbit]

Still amazes me that some offices don't have 1 in 4 Saturdays off. My office would literally walk if anyone even mentioned working another Saturday in a rotation. Horses for courses I guess. Everyone fights for what they see as most important. The CWU should start some proper comms to try and find out what all our red lines are before they negotiate them away to keep full release for the area H&S rep

[stoneybroke]

Would you be able to refuse Sunday working on religious grounds?

[2chorizon]

You guy’s are lucky you don’t work in the MC’s
All part-time contracts issued in the last 5 years have saturday in them, every saturday all year round unless you take annual leave or find someone to duty swap you.

We used to work 6 days a week on delivery including every Saturday but we fought for years for a 5 day week and eventually got it.

That wasn't luck.

So you still work saturday’s but get a day off during the week i take it?
i.e sunday off + one weekday?

[Woody Guthrie]

You guy’s are lucky you don’t work in the MC’s
All part-time contracts issued in the last 5 years have saturday in them, every saturday all year round unless you take annual leave or find someone to duty swap you.

We used to work 6 days a week on delivery including every Saturday but we fought for years for a 5 day week and eventually got it.

That wasn't luck.

So you still work saturday’s but get a day off during the week i take it?
i.e sunday off + one weekday?

Yes.
Usually rotated through 1 in 4 or 1 in 6 so you either work 3 out of four Saturdays or five out of six or if you're a reserve practically all of them.

[neviboss]

I'm a reserve, what's a Saturday off?

[HTPostman]

I'm a reserve, what's a Saturday off?

Snap, when I was a reserve the only Saturday I ever got off was bank holidays, could always guarantee that would be given as my day off.

As for my office we have a mix of contracts - 1 in 4 Saturdays (days off are Mon, then Tues, then Fri, then Sat). There are 4 day weeks (Mon/Tues/Fri/Sat). And also weekend only (Sat/Sun).

[HTPostman]

Would you be able to refuse Sunday working on religious grounds?

I’ve researched this as I play guitar in a band in church. I can’t find a clear answer. Perhaps someone else knows more?

What I can say is in the Q+A which was done last month a few people asked the very same question about being forced to work Sunday’s and at no point did RM say they could be forced to, it was very much along the lines of ‘we would like and expect our colleagues to make themselves available to work sundays’

[sindba]

Would you be able to refuse Sunday working on religious grounds?

I’ve researched this as I play guitar in a band in church. I can’t find a clear answer. Perhaps someone else knows more?

What I can say is in the Q+A which was done last month a few people asked the very same question about being forced to work Sunday’s and at no point did RM say they could be forced to, it was very much along the lines of ‘we would like and expect our colleagues to make themselves available to work sundays’

You'll have to work Sundays. Simple.

You could refuse, but be prepared for a court case to claim religious discrimination when you don't get paid, or get dismissed.

Because there will be little protection unless we / the CWU win our fight.

[Mick100]

Should still be voluntary or written into new contracts for any newcomers.

So it's ok for your new workmates to work sundays as long as you don't have to?

Yes because when I took the job Sundays wasn’t in the deal anyone now wants a job take it or leave it personally I’d leave it

[redrobbo]

No chance it's bad enough working on a Saturday we need more quality time with family, friends etc not frigging less

[Ragest]

Would you be able to refuse Sunday working on religious grounds?

It would be interesting if this was taken to court as a test case. Surely it could be compered to why a Sikh doesn't have to wear an helmet on a motorbike, because of religious beliefs. Thoughts?

[Wolf91]

I do 6 days a week every week (wallington) so don’t know how they accommodate it unless just a random weekday off then have to do Sunday