Can a company suddenly (within 3 days) cut your hours, change your shift and cut your wage?

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

DH works for a big company and a job came up that was Mon - Fri, day shifts which is what he really needed due to college etc. His line manager found it for him and put him forward. As soon as he started he heard rumors the site would be changing hands etc. and no one knew what was happening. This was mid Nov. Feb 28th he got a letter saying basically hours may be reduced, and then as of March 1st he has lost 1/3 of his hours, been put onto a 4 on 4 off shift and checking his online work account his pay has been cut too. He only seems to have a contract for his old position, we don't know much about employment stuff and feel really shafted He is losing up to £700 if not more a month which we cannot afford, losing his set work pattern which at least would have meant scope for a 2nd job and now they have even cut his wage. Anyone know much about this - if there is no contract can there legally be no contract? Do they have to honour the old one at least? He seems to have gone from the frying pan into the fire with this one

[GetOrfMoiLand]

This seems odd.

As I understood if a company changes hands the employees terms and conditions automatically get transferred to the new company under a rule called TUPE (transfer of undertakings for the protection of employment).

Is your DH in a union?

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

No union. It's hard to explain without saying exactly what it all is - basically he works for a security company X. They supply company Y on a certain site. That site is changing hands and allegedly have asked to downscale the security and have requested this certain pattern. He still works for the same company though, directly. Can he join the union now or is it too late with regards to this issue? THanks

[GetOrfMoiLand]

God knows. Does he work for Serco or a similar company?

The site where I work employs Serco to do thier security. The contractor used to be another company. The original t&cs were transferred from the other company to Serco. If I am correct they have to maintain those t&cs for a fixed period of time. There should also be a consultation period where employees are told all thier rights.

I do not know enough about it but if I were you I would get your DH to at least speak to the union rep. Also can you contact ACAS to ask for guidance?

[GetOrfMoiLand]

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1410 ACAS helpline - hope they can help you

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

I have not heard of that company but I guess it would be similar - I don't want to mention names but it's the main big one. He is just talking to his line manager now - it appears he has also been demoted from supervisor and no shifts as of the first week in April. After he talks to his line manager I will get him to ring the Union. So stressful

[flowerybeanbag]

They have to retain his existing terms and conditions when his employment is transferred. How long has he been working for them altogether, before and after it changed hands? If it's less than a year there's very little he can do about it.

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

He has worked for them since August '08. She talked to his line manager who has made a complaint against him now and the area manager has taken over Even the area manager said "well, lets be honest, you weren't coming in 5 days a week anyway" (!!!) I feel like getting my scan write up and shoving it up his arse. (he had to take a few days off due to problems with ante natal scan) (and suspected swine flu - a damned if you do, damned if you dont scenario because no doubt someone would complain he infected them) (and the snow when we were snowed in and no way literally for him to get in, after he had slept at work during the previous donwfall to make sure he didn't miss work)

Oh, DH has messaged that the area manager is trying to argue down the phone at him

[flowerybeanbag]

What does he want to do?

Have a read here and here about changes to terms and conditions.