The conflict at work is finally over it would seem. For what must be close on to two months now the companies management and union have not been able to see eye to eye. New working hours have been the stumbling block, 8 extra hours are to be added to the monthly cycle, something that the union were less than chuffed about. So they tore up the local agreement allowing us to work the nightshift in an attempt to force the company’s hand. A move that was to backfire on them somewhat.

However like I said its all over now. Yesterday the company’s managing director was quoted as saying that the new agreement was in placed and it was a “win win situation for everybody”. So how do you work that out then? Did you still sack 5 people? Are we still going to have to work the extra hours? Are you still refusing to increase anyone’s pay despite the extra hours? And finally when are due to leave cloud cuckoo land? If the staff have won maybe Sunderland FC should get the folks at the premier league to do a recount, I think they may just be champions after all.

At least now I should be able to get scheduled work once again. For the rest of the summer I shouldn’t have to rely on working as sickness cover. So in that way I have “won”. Being paid by the hour instead of on a salary I will also get paid for the extra hours they have added. So it’s not all bad, as long as I can make it though the new shift they have added to the night shift. 6 of the extra hours have been dumped on the first day of the night shift. So instead of working from 11.45pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday they will have us starting at 4.45pm instead. I cant wait…..