contracts

[royalmailemp]

Hi, 2 years ago when i was given a full time duty i was given a contract which says i am now employed on a full time permanent temporary basis(doesn't make sense i know). I have been told that i may have to go back to part time hours, can this be right when the contract states full time permanent. HR admitted that there was a mistake with the contract and it should not have said permanent. As it does can they legally reduce my hours back to part time?

[doorstepped]

I joined 4 years ago, and after 6 months I was offered and signed a permanent full time contract.

6 months later I was informed that I be reduced down to 25 hours and I was given 28 days notice if I remember correctly, there is a clause in newer contracts that say that they can reduce your hours as long as they give you the correct notice to do so.

I was pissed off when they first did it, I now take home £200 a week which is a bloody good wage for 25 hours of work and it is probably the best thing RM have ever done for me in all honesty.

I went to the union as soon as I found out that I was going to have my hours reduced and there was nothing I could do as it was a clause in my contract.

[royalmailemp]

Unfortunately for me part time is not enough, with the mortgage and 4 kids(one of whom is disabled) it isn't enough. Speaking to citizens advice and ACAS at the moment so hopefully i will get some help. Thanks for your reply!

[keithposty]

Hi, 2 years ago when i was given a full time duty i was given a contract which says i am now employed on a full time permanent temporary basis(doesn't make sense i know). I have been told that i may have to go back to part time hours, can this be right when the contract states full time permanent. HR admitted that there was a mistake with the contract and it should not have said permanent. As it does can they legally reduce my hours back to part time?

as far as i am concerned

if the contract states permanent then its HR problem, not yours

if you have been in the job for 2 years then custom and practice with implied terms kick in

i honestly believe there is SFA that royal mail can do except buy you out or renegotiate that contract

[dvbuk55]

Very apt that this appears in the Union room because they profess to be the protector of full time employment BUT haven't once made any attempt to have RM justify their stance on downgrading contracts and increasingly employing on part time contracts.

In his recent tv appearance on facing 2012 Dave Ward made reference to the dutch model of contracts of only 9 hours without explaining how the union are facing the problem of RM employing on fewer hours contracts - our latest recruit on monday, 24 hours - he will of course be expected to work many more than that. That is where the union needs to address the issue - part time contracts, full time hours.