RANT WARNING: The following media is going to be long and winded.
To preface: A certain agricultural company my father works for’s workers’ contracts go up this spring, and the unions are going to negotiate for wage and benefits similar to others in the industry. One of their competitor’s union members have been striking for months and have hired scabs as far as I know. In response, my father’s company has assigned portions of its existing workforce to cover the striking workers in the event that the strike happens. They will then cover those reassigned employees with temporary workers. Basically, they are circumventing union laws to undermine their leverage. Originally, they planned to have three eight hour shifts that those contingency workers will be assigned to. Now, there are two 12 hour shifts. In regards to pay, they will be compensating the extra hours with 150% overtime pay.
The problems:
Some office workers have contingency in the metal forging plants. Our industry isn’t exactly known for worker safety in that area, so, justified, some employees with contingency work in the forge will just quit. For those with two parents working at said company with contingency work, they have no options for childcare as no center will be open for twelve hours, and you will not have time to sleep if you are taking care of a child when you get back from work. It might be able to be pulled off, but it will be a nightmare.
How will the employees be able to recoup after a day’s work? Their hours do not include travel to and from work, and so when it comes down to it, they will be sleeping less time than they will be working, and will probably have no free time. This doesn’t include the problem that there isn’t enough hotel space for all of the employees now working in another city, and so some commutes will be hours long. (They will be reimbursed for miles/rentals, and also lodging)
Another thing is, why are they so prepared to get through a strike? Surely they would just cave to demands and not treat their employees like this in order to save their profit margins? It has me concerned that my dad will almost very likely be working this contingency, and I don’t want that to happen.
Regardless, I am very annoyed at this mess. Dad probably doesn’t want to quit and potentially loose his handsome salary he’s worked very hard for all of these years. But he’s not going to be happy working like this either.
Anyways, end of rant. Thanks if you made it this far, and if anyone else wants to add feel free. I just feel like this whole contingency thing shows how willing corporations are to just circumvent the law to prevent having to appease unions. Their rights need to be expanded, namely getting rid of contingency.