Help! Employer bullying staff into new contracts

[Countdown]

Mojooo said:

There is a big thing going on in some Councils with this at the moment.

Some of my mates are having pay cuts and some other stuff taken away.

I dare say if a Council is doing it then 'hams' are probably within the law.

Of course the majority of people are too scared not to sign.

Is this related to Job Evaluation aka Pay & grading aka Single Status ??

[SteveS Cup]

Sorry but a company as big as a certain dept store ending with 'hams is not going to risk multiple employee law suits from doing something like this unlawfully.

This process has happened an awful lot recently to "get rid" of part time staff.

[Mojooo]

Countdown said:

Is this related to Job Evaluation aka Pay & grading aka Single Status ??

Nope - it is puely to save money.

In Southampton they have had lots of strikes. At the end of the day they may get the savings but they will ahve annoyed every single worker.

[davevw]

Sounds exactly what has just happend in another majour department store ending in sparks,wasn't received very well and alot of people have left but there's not alot we could about.

[Deva Link]

Tonberry said:

Globs said:

Don't employers need a reason to dismiss people?
Otherwise surely it's breach of contract by the company?

They won't be dismissing you.

YOU will be terminating your contract by not signing the new one.

If they do not sign but turn up at work during the new contract period, this will be taken as an effetual signing of the new contract.

The contact can't just end. The employer has to dismiss the employee and give notice (as has happened in the Shropshire Council example).

Whether a tribunal would find the dismissal was unfair or not, depends on how the original contract was worded. Chances are it might allow for such changes.

[JonRB]

Globs said:

Now the interesting bit - apparently this is also going on in another store and people who have not signed by the 11th get letters telling them to sign it or their employment will be terminated. So we are now fully expecting one of these threat letters next week.

I believe that this is Economic Duress and Undue Influence.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconscionability_in_...

[Tonberry]

Deva Link said:

The contact can't just end. The employer has to dismiss the employee and give notice (as has happened in the Shropshire Council example).

Whether a tribunal would find the dismissal was unfair or not, depends on how the original contract was worded. Chances are it might allow for such changes.

You're probably right.

Not really sure if I really want to find out though so we've all signed our new contracts like good little employees.

I really can't be arsed with the agro.

A lot of us stand to lose money but I don't see any alternatives. The Unions haven't come up with any useful suggestions and to be honest, I'd rather be with a job than without.

[Globs]

Tonberry said:

Deva Link said:

The contact can't just end. The employer has to dismiss the employee and give notice (as has happened in the Shropshire Council example).

Whether a tribunal would find the dismissal was unfair or not, depends on how the original contract was worded. Chances are it might allow for such changes.

You're probably right.

Not really sure if I really want to find out though so we've all signed our new contracts like good little employees.

What I do not understand is that the whole exercise demonstrates that the original contracts are not (readily) enforceable.
So why do they bother forcing people to sign new ones???