Fixed Term contract?

[resperin]

i started in november 08, and got my contract renewed jan 09. its expiring this november (five months time)
by that point i would of worked for rm for 1 year 51 weeks
but how long do you have to work at RM to get a permanent contract; or will they continuously update it for x length until the day they dont need you i.e. after changes being made

thanks

[hantsman]

i started in november 08, and got my contract renewed jan 09. its expiring this november (five months time)
by that point i would of worked for rm for 1 year 51 weeks
but how long do you have to work at RM to get a permanent contract; or will they continuously update it for x length until the day they dont need you i.e. after changes being made

thanks

I believe the employment law states 4 years for fixed term contracts then they must let you go or take you on.

[resperin]

thanks m8. does anyone know of anyone who's contract has expired at rm i.e. not extended?
also there was something about "2 years" cant remember what though

[andy2007]

The rule in RM, used to be that if you'd been on FTCs for 2 years, they'd automatically give you a permanent contract. But sadly, that went out the window some time ago, because they want to hang onto the option of getting rid of staff on the cheap. Just in case they need to cut the staffing levels. And sadly, the Employment Law allows this.

Now don't worry. This will only become an issue, if RM decide to cut staffing levels at your site (no EVR to pay, if they let a contract expire!). And although I don't know what the time limit is. There will be one, after which they'll have to take you on permanently.

[hampshireman]

The rule in RM, used to be that if you'd been on FTCs for 2 years, they'd automatically give you a permanent contract. But sadly, that went out the window some time ago, because they want to hang onto the option of getting rid of staff on the cheap. Just in case they need to cut the staffing levels. And sadly, the Employment Law allows this.

Now don't worry. This will only become an issue, if RM decide to cut staffing levels at your site (no EVR to pay, if they let a contract expire!). And although I don't know what the time limit is. There will be one, after which they'll have to take you on permanently.

Does not some sort of employment law kick in after one year? Basic rights only?

They would have at least pay you (and me) off with the minimum

[hantsman]

The rule in RM, used to be that if you'd been on FTCs for 2 years, they'd automatically give you a permanent contract. But sadly, that went out the window some time ago, because they want to hang onto the option of getting rid of staff on the cheap. Just in case they need to cut the staffing levels. And sadly, the Employment Law allows this.

Now don't worry. This will only become an issue, if RM decide to cut staffing levels at your site (no EVR to pay, if they let a contract expire!). And although I don't know what the time limit is. There will be one, after which they'll have to take you on permanently.

Does not some sort of employment law kick in after one year? Basic rights only?

They would have at least pay you (and me) off with the minimum

Nope, thats the idea of a fixed term contract. But I bet some peoples RM fixed term contract has expired but they are still working at RM.

[resperin]

thanks for the responses!

is there anything in the forthcoming months / this year though that could effect the possibility of my fixed contract from being further extended. whats the likely length of the fixed contract they give after doing 3 months, and completion of a further 21 (24months) does it get higher? or is it based on forecasted resourcing

WSM /pegasus: i've overheard my rep saying that it'll take alot of time for the pegasus review i.e. 2 weeks to a month to do one walk, so could take a year considering every walk will get reviewed when WSM comes in ; not sure if anyone could confirm this. could this buy me time

[drb]

From The Manage The Surplus Framework Agreement 2007.......

Tempory Contracts

Royal Mail & The CWU recognise and agree that there must be a consistent and equitable approach on the employment of all specific event and time contracts.

The key principle covering all aspects of temporary employment are as follows :

Royal Mail Group employees will be employed on substansive contracts except where there is genuine short term need identified.CWU will be consulted in advance when there is any such requirment.
Where there is such a need identified specific event and time contracts may be issues for more or less then 12 months with the period of event being the determining factor.Such contracts will not exceed 2 years unless it has been jointly agreed that there are exceptional circumstances.

The joint commitment will be to reduce the current number of temporary contracts by effective resource planning and joint cooperation in securing and implementing operational change covered by national agreements to the required timescales.Individual business units/recovery programmes will agree with the CWU how they plan to substantiate temporary contract employees ,giving priority to those with more
then 2 years service and reviewing progress with the CWU on a regular basis.

Following the completion of the major change programmes ,all remaining temporary contract staff within the resourcing area will be offered substansive contracts where vacancies exist.

This has been passed up to HQ via our branch.I suggest you do the same.

[resperin]

thanks mate so generally speaking they will always try and attempt to offer a contract when an exsisting one expires even if its at a different office, as opposed to parting ways.

[drb]

Yes.I am pretty sure that there are vacancies at every office now,(hence the absorptions).

[andy2007]

Yes, the only time you should have to worry about them not renewing your contract. Is if your office is closing, or removing duties, and there aren't enough vacancies elsewhere, after the permanent staff have had first pick. Not because you're considered to be less important. But simply because of the cost of giving out EVRs.

As far as I'm aware (although I could be wrong). It's only MC/RDC Posties who need to worry about that for the time being. As Drb said: There are shortages of staff at a lot of DOs.

[cyclemech1]

Two guys in our office didn't have their contracts renewed and shown the door.
Both been there for about two years. This was just before Xmas too.

[andy2007]

Why?

[drb]

You need to get your divisional rep on issues such as the two guys gone.This was when the Interim Agreement "held the field".Copy and paste the MTFS extract that I previously posted and email it to your branch/Area rep