going from casual to permanent

[templek]

how long does it normally take? If yr full time on a rolling 12 wk contract for a year, do they make u permanent after a certain time or is it dependent on vacancies? Cld the union help?

[coxie]

depends on the vacancies and your manager, if a vacancy comes up and he wants to make you permanent he might very well do that, i dont understand exactly what you do when you say casual do you mean part time? even if he made you permanent it doesnt mean you will get 40hr a week he could make you permanent on a 25 hr a week contract. If your not on a permanent contract but they keep you on for 4 years then you will be entitled to a pernanent contract.

[smokerjim]

Casual contract = working on an ad hoc basis ( managers call you in when they need you.....some weeks could be 40hrs, some weeks could only be a few - not much different from agency work)

Temporary contract = working on a fixed amount of hours ( could be 40hrs, but usually around 20-25hrs a week ) for a fixed term ( usually 12-13 weeks - but it can and often is extened for futher fixed terms - sounds good but no real security, temps at my office were bumped up to from 30hrs 35hrs a week about a year ago, but then the budget got squeezed, and as soon as their contracts ended, they were offered new contracts at 25hrs a week....ten less than some started with! )

Permanant contract = your first major goal, this means your total working hrs cannot be messed around with, and RM cannot make changes to suit them when they like.....imho, that makes it a rare beast amongst the newest OPGs - there are laws in place to ensure you cannot be kept off a perm contract forever....but can/should ordinary people be expected to work years before this happens ( and what's to stop a nasty DOM cooking up a conduct code to get rid of someone close to the time limit? )

With one of the above contract types you will also be classed as either

Full Time - 40hrs a week at present ( as rare as rocking horse sh*t, and if it's offered on a brand new perm contract, then Hell has frozen over, my mum tells me I was born in Holland, not Harrow & Peter Mandelson becomes president of the UK Communist Party )

Part Time - anything less than 40hrs at present ( a lot less than 40hrs, even half that amount )

All the above is only for OPGs and equivalent grades - have a look on the RM website & you'll find loads of management & non-jobs with 40hrs Mon-Fri, great salary, pension, and bonus ( but that is one for another day )

[cyclemech1]

They are laying off casuals AND people on temporary contracts at my office. I really feel sorry for some of them as they have been there a considerable time (even been issued with uniform!!).

[smokerjim]

They are laying off casuals AND people on temporary contracts at my office. I really feel sorry for some of them as they have been there a considerable time (even been issued with uniform!!).

In the forthcoming agreement ( whenever it turns up ) the Union might feel proud that they have maintained a covenant from RM to not use compulsory redundancy.....doesn't mean much if 1/3rd or 1/2th the office are all on temp contracts & RM just have to wait a few weeks or months to not renew contracts, and get shot of people ( especially if budgets continue to get squeezed ).