Hi, help would be greatly appreciated with this issue: I work for a company A who lost a contract which went to company B. A small group of us are being TUPE'd over to B. All of us work f/t and are permanently employed. we met the new employer last week who told us that there would not be enough work for all of us, and also that their people work on a self employed basis, and are paid an hourly rate.
As a group we are concerned that we will be either forced to accept a self-employment contract or be made redundant. The talks we had were preliminary so nothing is definitive and not in writing. I have spoken with ACAS who advised that the new employer could terminate my old contract and issue me a self employmnet one on the basis of economic reasons. All they need to do is give me a months notice for change of contract. Can they really do that?
My colleagues and I would accept reduced hours if necessary but we don't want to lose our permanent employment position. The redundancy pay would be statutary so not worth bothering with.
None of us is a member of a union. Not sure where to get legal representation and whether we need to pay for it.
Also how important is it that we act as a group rather than individuals?
any ideas? thanks