Christmas Working 2020

Below is a copy of the letter you will be receiving in the next couple of days regarding our response to Thirteen’s Christmas working proposal. With this letter you will receive a ballot paper.

From the feedback we have received from many of you, we believe that our membership are not in favour of this. We are therefore balloting our membership to fully understand your feelings towards the Christmas working plans.

Please read the letter and return your ballot paper in the pre-paid envelope to ensure it is received by Monday 26th October.

If you have any questions please contact your shop stewards.

Our Ref: MS/SC/13

14 October 2020

TO: UNITE MEMBERS AT THIRTEEN GROUP

Dear Unite Member

You will be aware that management changed the working provisions for 2019 during the Christmas period. There were discussions in Jan/Feb 2020 whereby your Unite Shop Stewards raised concerns of members being forced to work during that period.

Your Shop Stewards did not object to volunteers, but objected to members being forced via names from a hat to work.

The management have again set things in motion to apply the same working provision. This was challenged by contacting the Chief Exec Ian Wardle. He responded that he was informed that the Stewards had agreed to this practice for Christmas 2020 and was surprised by the contact. His view was that it was to continue as planned. For fullness and transparency I have included the 2 emails with this letter.

The Shop Stewards want to fully understand the member’s feelings towards these plans.

As part of the Unite process, we need to run a membership consultative ballot. This is not a ballot to go on strike, or to start an overtime ban, it is a ballot to ask if you want to move to a formal ERS (Electoral Reform Society) ballot to take some form of industrial action which may include full strike action.

It is vital that you take part in the ballot and cast your vote and return the ballot paper in the pre-paid envelope provided. A low return of ballot papers will not give us a true picture of the membership’s feelings.

There are two questions on the ballot paper attached.

Question 1: Are you in agreement with the company proposal for Christmas working 2020? Yes or No.

If the majority outcome is Yes to Question 1

Then the membership are in agreement and there will be no further action on this issue.

If the majority outcome is No to Question 1

This is stating that you are not in agreement.

Question 2 Would you be willing to support industrial action up to and including strike action on this issue? Yes or No.

If the majority outcome is Yes to Question 2

Then the membership may be balloted formally for industrial action on this issue at a later date but as soon as possible.

If the majority outcome is No to question 2.

There will be no further action on this issue.

If you are not prepared to take any action on this issue then you should vote No to question two.

During this process we will remain available for negotiations with the employer should they wish to review the current position.

This ballot will close noon Monday 26 Oct 2020; any ballot papers received after this date will not be counted.

This ballot is open to Unite the Union members only. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact your local Unite Shop Stewards.

Yours sincerely

MARK SANDERSON

Regional Co-ordinating Officer

Sharon Bailey

Senior Shop Steward, Equalities Rep, Union Learning Rep, Branch Equalities Officer.

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