Anyone been successful with a union?

[Dragula333]

Currently fighting for a day off in my job. I get 2 days off every 12 days and that is it, I work 12 day stretches each time and it’s too much for me.

They are short-staffed, but that’s not my fault. Today I was told by the manager that I would be able to get a day off ‘when they get some extra staff’.

The thing is, there is no guarantee of that.

A new starter joined recently and I was told that she would ‘take over some of my days’ so I would get days off.

After the training she quit the job, so I am still with no day off.

It’s on my rota, so there’s nothing I can do apart from come in.

I’ve just joined Unison, I’m not sure if anyone has much experience with them or has had this sort of experience?

It’s wrong what they are doing and I’m hoping the union can help me to get a day off.

I think often the only thing you can do if you agreed to this in your contract when joining is to vote with feet and leave

True, I didn’t agree to it however, I requested that if I’m working that weekend I would like 1-2 days off during the week.
It’s a zero hours contract and there is nothing in the contract about working days sadly

If it's a zero hour contract you don't need to agree to any days!

I don't think the union can help you if you only joined after the issues started.

But you have started so many threads about your job I think you should leave and find a better one.

What field of work are you in?
Do you have a nominated union rep? Point of contact?
What are your weekly hours? Do they breech 48h p/w?

It’s care work, I don’t yet have a nominated union rep. They do sometimes breech the 48h week and certainly the 11h rest break

I'm a unison member, my local rep is amazing. She's helped me as a practitioner and for advice as a line manager. I think it can depend on who your rep is though..

Look on your union's website for the regional rep if you can't get hold of your own rep. My union rep was brilliant, she fought to get me full severance pay when I was dismissed from my job due to ill health & won, my manager only wanted me to get 50%.

Go to www.gov.uk and search for zero hours contracts - assuming you are in UK.
It will tell you what your employers obligations are to you.
As PP says, you do not have to agree to work 6 days per week.
If all else fails, tell them you have a second job so you can't work on Wednesdays and Thursdays or whatever combination you want.
You are entitled to have a second job.
If they are so desperate for staff, they will want to keep you but you are under no obligation to kill yourself from overwork to plug their shortages.

If it is zero hours just say no. Call their bluff they nee me you more than you need them in care work.

I don't think you need a union, you can say no without breaching your contract.

Have you said 'I can only work on five days in a seven day period' (or whatever) in writing?

In care you could leave tomorrow for an alternative role, vacancies nationally are more than double what they were pre-covid.

Will you ignore the union like you ignore all previous advice?

How many times are you going to post about the same thing? It's ridiculous.

Do something about it if you're so unhappy.

@DeepaBeesKit

If it is zero hours just say no. Call their bluff they nee me you more than you need them in care work.

I was going to suggest the same.

Just tell them that you won't be available on X or Y day and stick to it. There's a real shortage of care staff at the moment, there's no way they can afford to let you go.

Employers tend to forget that ZHCs work both ways.

Employment rights apply to everyone not just people in unions. A majority of working people are not in a union. You need to assert yourself and your working rights and as suggested simply turn down shifts so that you get proper rest.

Given you’re on a low wage, would save the money.

you will be a ‘worker’ under employment law so the working time directive etc applies. A lot of crap employers don’t comply and there is limited practical recourse if you’re fired.

As others say you have some bargaining power as an individual. Since replacing you would take the organisation time and money and hassle, at a time when filling vacancies is difficult. So an option is just to refuse to work more than X shifts.