working time directive 48hr max night shift

Post by **mistheword** » 14 Sep 2018, 16:07

Heard that Royal Mail are trying to enforce the working time directive rule that night workers are not allowed to work over 48 hours in one week. I believe under the way forward agreement Royal Mail did not enforce this rule. Has anybody heard similar story and how likely are they to bring this rule in or is this another false rumor.

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 14 Sep 2018, 18:43

mistheword wrote:Heard that Royal Mail are trying to enforce the working time directive rule that night workers are not allowed to work over 48 hours in one week. I believe under the way forward agreement Royal Mail did not enforce this rule. Has anybody heard similar story and how likely are they to bring this rule in or is this another false rumor.

When this first came into force I am sure that RM had to get you to sign a document giving you the oportunity to " OPT OUT" from the 48 hour week.

DGH · Post by **DGH** » 14 Sep 2018, 19:07

https://www.gov.uk/night-working-hours" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Night workers must not work more than an average of 8 hours in a 24-hour period.

Couple that with the need to have one day a week off and you get a maximum 48 hour week (granted, a bit '-ish' but if you did 50 hours one week then you'd need to have a 46 hour one shortly afterwards to balance out).

These are legal requirements, so non-negotiable [Edit: I notice in fact there is an exception for collective agreements, so it's possible that the union have agreed to longer hours, in which case 78 hours would appear to be the cap).

Post by **mistheword** » 17 Sep 2018, 14:12

We have people who regularly to a 60-70 hr week on night shift in our mail center so at the moment Royal Mail do not enforce the rule but the story I heard was that the union are pushing for a average pay to be paid when on leave.The 48hr rule is a way for Royal Mail to counteract this proposal and if the union are successful in there claim to get us average pay including overtime when we are on leave . It would make sense on there part to cut overtime everywhere they can and enforce this rule.
I suppose we will have to wait and see if anything comes of this.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 17 Sep 2018, 19:40

mistheword wrote:We have people who regularly to a 60-70 hr week on night shift in our mail center so at the moment Royal Mail do not enforce the rule but the story I heard was that the union are pushing for a average pay to be paid when on leave.The 48hr rule is a way for Royal Mail to counteract this proposal and if the union are successful in there claim to get us average pay including overtime when we are on leave . It would make sense on there part to cut overtime everywhere they can and enforce this rule.
I suppose we will have to wait and see if anything comes of this.

All that would happen is that they'd need more casuals. RM relies on people doing ot and casuals/agency