All legal eagles out there Can you help??
We have just lost a contract at a school (contract cleaning) to a larger company (London based but a satellite office in this area)basically on price.
I have performed all the requirements for TUPE so that my old staff can be taken on by them.
Contract was taken over on the 1st of Sept.
The new company has not contacted my old staff - as advised by me they reported for work and have handed over their P45's etc.
Have just had a deputation from some of them as they are requesting work with us and b) complaining that the new company has made them get on their hands and knees to clean ( against all H and S guidelines) - if they don't they will be docked on their wages.
The staff have asked when they will receive their CRB forms to complete (it's a school therefore a requirement of the contract) and they have been told that they will have arrange their own and pay for them!
Furthermore this company is bussing in Eastern Europeans and paying them £3.50 per hour ( hence the reason they bid so low methinks)
So please some advice on:
A)they cannot MAKE people work without the correct training and equipment and dock their pay if they refuse can they?
and
B) Surely as members of the EEC minimum wage guidelines should still be maintained for the Eastern Europeans ( mainly Poles)?
I know it is no longer my responsibility but this is really hacking me off - our cleaners are good, well trained and for an industry such as ours well paid - I hate to see them being exploited like this - including the poor Poles the new company has employed.