Change of contract

[sattyb]

Hi,
Apologies in advance for the slightly long post.
My employer wants to change my contract (change some terms and conditions as well as lower my salary).
We have a recognised Union at our workplace and they have been in talks for the last couple of months with regards to coming to an agreement over this. No agreement has been reached and the Union has been balloting its members for a strike. This still has a couple of weeks to run until the outcome is known.
However, during this time, and despite the Union issuing a "Failure To Agree", my employer has sent out letters informing us of what our new salary will be and said we would be receiving Informal 1:2:1 meetings to discuss our options. We would then have 5 days to respond with our chosen option. If we don't respond we would be called to a Formal meeting whereby a possible outcome could be terminating our contract. If we don't agree to the new terms and condition the employer is saying they would regard this as us not wanting to work for them anymore.
Can my employer do these consultations despite a Failure To Agree being in force and result of a ballot still pending?
Our Union has advised us to not attend the Informal consultations.
Any help advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks.

[magpie215]

I would assume that you could attend the meeting with a union rep present.

[sattyb]

Thanks you for your response.
Yes, we can ask for Union representation in these meetings. I'm more wanting to find out whether the company can try to force through these new contracts whilst there is a Failure To Agree in motion and no side has agreed an outcome from the meetings?

[Ussrcossack]

I doubt it.
The best person to ask is your union.