work breaks

[toonlad2]

seems angaard has changed the rest breaks we get when we are at work
from now on nightshift we only get 1 break of 30 mins on a 8 hour shift ,on 4 hour shifts there is no break same as 5 hour shifts ,,only get 1 hour break now if you do 12 hour shift
thing is tho angaard havnt instructed there workers it was left to rm manager to break the bad news that loss of 20 mins or 30 mins if you had nice manager will see more tired workers on the last hour of a nightshift imo

nightshift imho is a hard shift and a 30 minute break is inadequate for standing for 8 hours ,,thoughts ??

[Lockardian]

I wonder if there is a confusion between “breaks” and “paid breaks” or “unpaid breaks”?

We have been accustomed to anything between 40 minutes to a full hour for an 8-hour nightshift, but only 30 minutes are docked from our pay regardless. On a 5-hour shift or 6-hour shift we were docked 15 minutes but usually used to get a 30-minute break.

The breaks vary between Mail Centres (I have worked at more than one) although the rate of pay was the same.

I don’t buy this explanation that our rate of pay is higher than RM staff to compensate for unpaid breaks. As AWR staff we should get the same breaks as RM!

So.. what can Angard staff do to confirm that our breaks are being allocated correctly? The fact that they vary between Mail Centres implies that local management (not our direct line managers) interpret Angard policies as they see fit.

[Bagel25]

This is what happened last year at the MC I work at. Mangers would not defer from the letter that they said came from Angard. They would not listen to our quotes from the AWR. Their only response was to say “You need to speak to Angard as they set the times. It’s nothing to do with us”. Complained to Angard on the phone while on the shift that this first occurred on and was told to email them. Received zero response.

After Xmas had ended break times went back to normal.

To me, the break times apply to new Angard Starters under 12 weeks and not AWR qualified workers over 12 weeks.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I don’t buy this explanation that our rate of pay is higher than RM staff to compensate for unpaid breaks. As AWR staff we should get the same breaks as RM!

So.. what can Angard staff do to confirm that our breaks are being allocated correctly? The fact that they vary between Mail Centres implies that local management (not our direct line managers) interpret Angard policies as they see fit.

The AWR rules are law so it would be illegal for RM to not pay you the same as RM staff who work the same hours, the same should be said for breaks, they don't have to pay you for them, but if you do an 8 hour shift with a 40 minute break your pay should be the same as a member of RM staff.

I suppose the only way you can be certain of Angard and RM are interpretting the law and policies correctly and fairly is to get an employment lawyer involved. Perhaps a gofundmepage would help.

[toonlad2]

I don’t buy this explanation that our rate of pay is higher than RM staff to compensate for unpaid breaks. As AWR staff we should get the same breaks as RM!

So.. what can Angard staff do to confirm that our breaks are being allocated correctly? The fact that they vary between Mail Centres implies that local management (not our direct line managers) interpret Angard policies as they see fit.

The AWR rules are law so it would be illegal for RM to not pay you the same as RM staff who work the same hours, the same should be said for breaks, they don't have to pay you for them, but if you do an 8 hour shift with a 40 minute break your pay should be the same as a member of RM staff.

I suppose the only way you can be certain of Angard and RM are interpretting the law and policies correctly and fairly is to get an employment lawyer involved. Perhaps a gofundmepage would help.

last week we got the same break time as rm workers and on a 8 hour shift and we got paid for 7.5 hours this week we only get 30 mins break but still just get paid for 7.5 hours worked even if you are awr qualified and rm workers get 1 hour

[NW11851]

Late Shift at my RMC.

Employed on cutting and tipping from 17:15 for a 5-hour shift.

Sorters, (RM Staff went to break around 19:00. Spervisor would not let me go to break then or at any other time. "Too busy. Take it at the end of your shift and leave 30 minutes early."

All very pleasant but it's a killer on that job for 3.75 hours non-stop. I realise that the klast shift has time-scales to meet and I don't mind that but it does seem that we are (pleasantly) regarded as 'cannon fodder'.

There is never anyone in the CWU room when I am on lates and I have no idea who might be a Union Rep.

Been working there since February.