Advise

[GoldenGaze]

I've recently arrived at my 2 year period being employed with Royal Mail and during those 2 years I've had, 6 month, 3 month even 1 month fixed term contracts with the promise from my manager that at the 2 year point I must be made permanent due to Royal Mail agreements. Well I haven't been made permanent instead I've been given another 3 month extension and told that after this period my services will no longer be required within my office although they shall be looking for vacancies that arise within the region and I along with 5 others shall be given the choice of accepting any other vacancies.

What I would like to know is what has happened regarding the 2 year period then permanent deal, I had it in writing but cannot find the letter, it's crazy and it goes on seniorority of which I'm 5th out of the 6 as I started a week later than the others so some of them have already accepted jobs elsewhere with terribe hours (25 hrs mon-fri 2-7 sat 9-2 no rota week, floating day off) I currently work 25 hrs mon-fri 10-3 sat 8-1 and I get a rota week off every 6th week but I've also been starting 1.5 hrs early everyday for the past year taking me up to a minimum of 34 hrs so there's no way I'd accept this other job.

[scirocco'r']

Hi, very much in the same boat. Once you cross the two year threshold the company is bound by the redundancy laws. Most importantly RM cannot treat you and your colleagues differently because you are fixed term temporary employees. If there are too be number reductions in your office the selection process must be explained to you and it must not be discriminatory otherwise it constitutes an unfair dismissal.
In my current experience you must initially include your office rep and then bypass him immediately. You must escalate the redundancy consultation process to you area rep at the very least.
Do not be put off if they say by offering you a job elsewhere they have fulfilled there obligations.
The simple fact is a permanent member of staff with attendance stages or conduct code issues should be in the redundancy mix just the same as a short service fixed term contract member of staff.
This is the law.
If you do not want the contract offered proceed through the company greivance procedure and then escalate the matter to an employment tribunal citing unfair dismissal, the failure to consult properly and the unfair discriminatory selection process.
Keep records.
You will win but you will not be popular.
Good luck.

[Stella102]

i was made permanent after 1 year, all depends on the office, and its 4 years by law.

[fishtank]

3.2 Royal Mail employees will be employed on permanent contracts, except where there is a genuine short term need identified. CWU will be consulted in advance where there is any such requirement. Temporary contracts will not exceed two years unless it has been jointly agreed that there are very exceptional circumstances. The position of temporary contract employees will be kept under regular review by the local parties, with a view to converting to permanent contracts where and when possible. Additionally, where change programmes have been completed and bedded in, the status of temporary contract employees will be reviewed and converted to permanent contracts unless there is no need for this additional resourcing or where there is an identified and agreed need to continue with a fixed term contract. Royal Mail confirms that as part of the review of this agreement, it is the aspiration to reduce the length of temporary contracts to no more than one year.

[dvbuk55]

Ah yes "aspirations" I remember when I had those! They never amounted to FA but I had them. As for the two year agreement - looks like one of those weasel worded ones - you know the sort "overarching, aspirational but at the end of the day we'll do whatever suits us" sort of agreement.

[whisperstar24]

Unfortunately 4 years is the legal maximum for being kept on a temporary contract.There is an agreement with the cwu and royal mail that anybody exceeding the 2 years should have their contract turned into a permananet one.It is however very woolly and dependent on availability of hours and local agreement and a good rep
However once you reach the 2 years of employment you come under the terms of mtsf.This basically means you are entitled to redundancy if your employer no longer wants you

i think this is correct

thanks