machine trained reserve discrimination?

[rattigan]

Hey all. New to the site but I'm after a little bit of advice...

First of all I want to explain my "role" I am a full time reserve that can cover all 3 shifts and whatever job in the office.... there are about 7 or 8 other full time reserves who are also meant to do the same.

A while back I had css training being a reserve so I can pick up css duties when people are on leave.

A period of about 8 months has passed and I'm still the only reserve that has been trained.

This means that every single week I have to work a Sunday night have a Monday off then work Tuesday to Friday midnight - 08:00 ( or a slight variation)
Meanwhile the other 6/7 reserves are picking up lovely 9-5 10-6 Monday to Friday etc etc.

I have been to the union several times and they keep saying "reserves are getting trained" but it's getting to the point now where I feel I'm at a loose end. Union doesn't seem to be helping me and I seem to be stuck on this shift till 8 am which affects my personal life towards melting point!

There must be some way out of this as at the moment I'm feeling discriminated against because I am trained on a machine!

I can't remember what it feels like to have 2 days off in a row other than when I'm on annual leave...

This can't be right surely? I'm open to any methods to see if I can try and resolve this nightmare situation

Thanks all

[whisperstar24]

raise a formal grievance at stage 2 , your union should help you with it

[rattigan]

So you would agree that it's a good case for being discriminated against?

[whisperstar24]

very hard to prove that it is discrimination . More like laziness on management's part not to train the other staff.
You could argue that It seems unfair on yourself . Some of the other staff may have other legitimate reasons for not being put on the machines .
Maybe they have medical reasons or family pressures outside of work .

[rattigan]

So the stage 2 form is more or less a more official approach to dealing with the problem? I get the response "your a reserve" everytime I bring it to a managers attention

[whisperstar24]

yes a formal approach that your union rep can help you with . It may be enough to remind the managers that they should be training the others and rotating your role

[rattigan]

Ok then this is the approach I shall take. Thanks for your help

[coxie]

Who covers you if you're on annual leave can't that person do some too?

[rattigan]

No one covers the job. They simply lapse it. There are enough operators in the morning to cover the 5-8 this is why I can't see why it's such a big problem

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I agree the discrimination accusation will be difficult to prove. But there may be a chance under fairness or breach of local agreement/promise or processes/ You will probably need the CWU at branch level or above to advise.