Need help with 'law' at work.

[Blackshear]

Hello all, just need a quick clarification. What follows will explain why I have not looked this up myself (other than my inability to read all of their inflated words on appropriate sites).

I am a metal fabricator, and have been for the past 3 months, thus the workshop is a tough love kind of deal.
The shop foreman, to put it bluntly, is a cocksucker. He sucks his own cock, as he seems to make up all the rules.

This Friday was the beginning of many weeks he has asked EVERYONE to start at 6. Asked nicely too, as in, 'You're all turning up at 6am from now on for a while, but still finishing at 4.30 :2thumbsup'.
I told him I could not possibly decrease my 6-odd hours of sleep to 5, as such a thing is 1. Bad to my health, and 2. Dangerous to myself in terms of safety. Yes, I have tried sleeping earlier, doesn't work.

So on Monday just passed, he informed me I was an hour late. I also had a problem, and was in dire need of a solution to it.
I didn't solve it ha ha, he can suck my balls.
"You aren't part of the team then?"
'Yes. Just not the 6am team.'
"Well then, you get all the shit jobs until you start at 6."
Empty threat, I get all the shit jobs anyway.

All was good up until today, where he asked me to work tomorrow from 7am, no excuses.
'I have plans, sorry. North head with my family.'
"Ok, right. You have refused to work overtime this whole week, and you are now refusing to work overtime tomorrow. If you don't come tomorrow, I will have to give you a written warning. It is under your contract something something Forlong and Macey (?).Got it?"
'Sure thing. How many writtens do I have?'
"Dunno."
'Well fucking add one to it then, mate. See you Tuesday.'

--------------------
TL;DR
--------------------

He not boss.
He force me work overtime.
He give me written warnings for not working overtime.

Does he hold this written warning power, and is it upheld by my contact, whether or not I have actually signed it? (I haven't).

Cheers all, I've never been a politics and law kind of person. There are so many clauses and loopholes, gaps and places to wiggle through.

[Blackshear]

Also, just to add, I will be having a big chat with the shop boss on Tuesday depending on the outcome of this faggots fat head.

[MIXONE]

I think they are breaking the law but not having you sign a contract.Good luck.

[Hitcher]

If you are a union member, I would be bringing this matter to their attention.

If not, I would raise this matter with the bullying pillock's immediate manager as a first step.

[Tank]

Thery is a 100% need for an employment contract.

You should have signed it. Then the 'rules' would have been set out in that contract. Then any changes have to be agreed by you both. If you dont agree they cannot force you and you have a stronger position.

May also pay to look at keeping your head down and looking for another job - there are a lot of people out there without one at the moment. A crap job with a crap boss is better than no job huh? (Skiddy may disagree - but meh).

Also - are you typing this at work?

[Scouse]

1/ He can not force you to work over time however he can change your start time with 48 hours notice so if he wants you to start at 06:00 he would have to let you Finnish at 14:30

2/ If you are a Monday to Friday worker and you have been employed as that he can not tell you that you are working overtime on Saturday.

3/ If he proceeds down the track of issuing a verbal or written warning on Tuesday you should call in your EMU rep if your not a union member now is a good time to think about joining as they will be able to start a personal grievance procedure against your employer.

4/ Keep a written record in a diary of all of your dealings with your Foreman / manager / HR department including any instances of belittlement harassment.

Good luck if you only do one of the thing I have advised you then make that the Joining the union thing and getting in the EMU Rep

PS I am in Management and would not ever treat my employees in this manner

[Max Preload]

You must have a written employment contract - it's the law - but don't just sign what they hand you - go through it with a fine tooth comb and make sure you understand all the implications of all the clauses and most importantly agree to them - and negotiate. Add in any clauses you feel you want or need. Certain aspects such as how annual leave is accrued are covered by law and your entitlements cannot be modified to be less than that required by the relevant law.

There are certain things I'd never agree to - that includes anyone being able to tell me when I must take my annual leave. Fuck that.

All that said, I'm a contractor and would never go back to wage or salary again.

As far as the prick foreman goes, throw the cunt a sack party! :rofl: Nah, just let his superiors know of his conduct IN WRITING.

[Blackshear]

I think they are breaking the law but not having you sign a contract.Good luck.
I was given a contract to read and sign if I agree to it, by the big big head honcho of the franchise. I have not yet read it, nor has anyone brought to my attention the lack of signature.


If you are a union member, I would be bringing this matter to their attention.

If not, I would raise this matter with the bullying pillock's immediate manager as a first step.
Not a member of a union. I have already had a word to the shops boss about it, but nothing seems to have been done.


Thery is a 100% need for an employment contract.

You should have signed it. Then the 'rules' would have been set out in that contract. Then any changes have to be agreed by you both. If you dont agree they cannot force you and you have a stronger position.

May also pay to look at keeping your head down and looking for another job - there are a lot of people out there without one at the moment. A crap job with a crap boss is better than no job huh? (Skiddy may disagree - but meh).

Also - are you typing this at work?
So are you saying that had I signed this contract, I would be in a stronger position to oppose his threat? He seems to be all up on the idea I have signed it. I must look for it over the weekend and read me some.

I am currently looking for a job right now, asking all of my mates and what not.
I may have nibble on a hook involving a fishing trawler, and maintenance. No guarantees at all, though.

And my workmates from New World said things could only go up from there.
Now I'm on the same $12.50 hourly rate and LOVING IT :sweatdrop

Currently sitting at home, quietly breathing and mellowing to music.

[Scouse]

Not a member of a union. I have already had a word to the shops boss about it, but nothing seems to have been done.
Dont sit on your arse waiting for your employer to get the union in for you PHONE THEM UP YOURSELF

[Blackshear]

1/ He can not force you to work over time however he can change your start time with 48 hours notice so if he wants you to start at 06:00 he would have to let you Finnish at 14:30

2/ If you are a Monday to Friday worker and you have been employed as that he can not tell you that you are working overtime on Saturday.

3/ If he proceeds down the track of issuing a verbal or written warning on Tuesday you should call in your EMU rep if your not a union member now is a good time to think about joining as they will be able to start a personal grievance procedure against your employer.

4/ Keep a written record in a diary of all of your dealings with your Foreman / manager / HR department including any instances of belittlement harassment.

Good luck if you only do one of the thing I have advised you then make that the Joining the union thing and getting in the EMU Rep

PS I am in Management and would not ever treat my employees in this manner
I am a Monday to Friday worker, from 7am - 4.30am.
Those days and times are the only ones in which I will work, unless he lets me go an hour earlier to compensate.

I shall give these EMU guys a call, should HE (Shop foreman, not manager) give me a written.

I should hope you treat your employees nicely ha ha, the foundations of the company are rather important.

New world found that out when The produce boss, me and another produce assistant quit on the exact same date.

You must have a written employment contract - it's the law - but don't just sign what they hand you - go through it with a fine tooth comb and make sure you understand all the implications of all the clauses and most importantly agree to them - and negotiate. Add in any clauses you feel you want or need. Certain aspects such as how annual leave is accrued are covered by law and your entitlements cannot be modified to be less than that required by the relevant law.

There are certain things I'd never agree to - that includes anyone being able to tell me when I must take my annual leave. Fuck that.

All that said, I'm a contractor and would never go back to wage or salary again.

As far as the prick foreman goes, throw the cunt a sack party! :rofl: Nah, just let his superiors know of his conduct IN WRITING.
Would it not be their fault for not following me up on my employment contract?
Believe me, when (and if, considering) I do finally read it, I will make damn sure I agree to everything.

As for the annual leave thing, does that not just scream out "NO PLANS FOR YOU BUDDY, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU ENOUGH TO GIVE YOU CHOICE."

[Ixion]

Three simple words. Join the union.

It's what they do


EPMU Union Support Centre on 0800 1 UNION (0800 186 466)

[Blackshear]

Dont sit on your arse waiting for your employer to get the union in for you PHONE THEM UP YOURSELF

Sorry, I meant I had a word to the boss about Ivans way of telling me i'm not part of the team.
The boss had nothing to with the starting at 6am party, it turned out.
Asked him to have a word to Ivan about it.


Is it possible that being 18 would play a part in this subordinating and belittlement?

[Blackshear]

Three simple words. Join the union.

It's what they do


EPMU Union Support Centre on 0800 1 UNION (0800 186 466)

I will be calling them up on Tuesday, after I run through a few things with the shop boss. The foreman is the only person I have a problem with in the whole company.

[Scouse]

Is it possible that being 18 would play a part in this subordinating and belittlement?well if it is that is also a reason for the EMU Rep to call in and say Hello to Ivan

[Blackshear]

well if it is that is also a reason for the EMU Rep to call in and say Hello to Ivan

I'm sure they'd like the idea. May just have to quietly ask them the same thing, in order to get the idea juices flowing :lol:







Cheers everyone, it seems my only option is an external judge of sorts.
And I like that idea.

Hope you all a good long weekend :headbang:

[Max Preload]

Would it not be their fault for not following me up on my employment contract?
Believe me, when (and if, considering) I do finally read it, I will make damn sure I agree to everything.

Not too sure on that - but I do know that the contract must now be in writing (http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2000/0024/latest/DLM59157.html), whereas under the Employment Contracts Act it didn't.


As for the annual leave thing, does that not just scream out "NO PLANS FOR YOU BUDDY, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU ENOUGH TO GIVE YOU CHOICE."

More "Your life must fit in around our business plans, to which you are not privy". It happens a lot more than you'd think so they can shut down over Christmas etc. (which is IMHO the absolute worst time to be taking holidays other than the statutorys).

[Owl]

Best of luck Blackshear! I know all too well what it's like to be at odds with the boss!:yes:
I nearly had words with him this week after he gave the apprentice a tune-up for turning up 5 minutes early and told him to get there 15 minutes early in future. However I'm a little sick of going into bat for everyone else and sticking my neck on the line for no thanks.:mad:

[HenryDorsetCase]

hello all, just need a quick clarification. What follows will explain why i have not looked this up myself (other than my inability to read all of their inflated words on appropriate sites).

I am a metal fabricator, and have been for the past 3 months, thus the workshop is a tough love kind of deal.
The shop foreman, to put it bluntly, is a cocksucker. He sucks his own cock, as he seems to make up all the rules.

This friday was the beginning of many weeks he has asked everyone to start at 6. Asked nicely too, as in, 'you're all turning up at 6am from now on for a while, but still finishing at 4.30 :2thumbsup'.
I told him i could not possibly decrease my 6-odd hours of sleep to 5, as such a thing is 1. Bad to my health, and 2. Dangerous to myself in terms of safety. Yes, i have tried sleeping earlier, doesn't work.

So on monday just passed, he informed me i was an hour late. I also had a problem, and was in dire need of a solution to it.
I didn't solve it ha ha, he can suck my balls.
"you aren't part of the team then?"
'yes. Just not the 6am team.'
"well then, you get all the shit jobs until you start at 6."
empty threat, i get all the shit jobs anyway.

All was good up until today, where he asked me to work tomorrow from 7am, no excuses.
'i have plans, sorry. North head with my family.'
"ok, right. You have refused to work overtime this whole week, and you are now refusing to work overtime tomorrow. If you don't come tomorrow, i will have to give you a written warning. It is under your contract something something forlong and macey (?).got it?"
'sure thing. How many writtens do i have?'
"dunno."
'well fucking add one to it then, mate. See you tuesday.'

--------------------
tl;dr
--------------------

he not boss.
He force me work overtime.
He give me written warnings for not working overtime.

Does he hold this written warning power, and is it upheld by my contact, whether or not i have actually signed it? (i haven't).

Cheers all, i've never been a politics and law kind of person. There are so many clauses and loopholes, gaps and places to wiggle through.

g e t l a w y e r e d u p.


Get your lawyer to deal with the owner of the business or this turkeys boss.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Sorry, I meant I had a word to the boss about Ivans way of telling me i'm not part of the team.
The boss had nothing to with the starting at 6am party, it turned out.
Asked him to have a word to Ivan about it.


Is it possible that being 18 would play a part in this subordinating and belittlement?

Yes. that doesnt mean you are entilted to be fucked over. get unioned up, get lawyered up, make it happen or you will continue to be screwed over.

[Blackshear]

Best of luck Blackshear! I know all too well what it's like to be at odds with the boss!:yes:
I nearly had words with him this week after he gave the apprentice a tune-up for turning up 5 minutes early and told him to get there 15 minutes early in future. However I'm a little sick of going into bat for everyone else and sticking my neck on the line for no thanks.:mad:
Oh don't worry about that. I was AT WORK BEFORE 7 ALL MY FIRST WEEK, and he still gave me grief about not being there at 6:45, in case plans changed before work started.

g e t l a w y e r e d u p.


Get your lawyer to deal with the owner of the business or this turkeys boss.
Worry yourself not, there may or may not be another person or two willing to back me up a little. I wouldn't count on them, as they've known him longer, but hey.
Problem is, he really knows his shit in the workshop, and I give him respect for that. Just a bad white South African egg, to me.

[Owl]

g e t l a w y e r e d u p.


Get your lawyer to deal with the owner of the business or this turkeys boss.

Yeah, just been through that exercise with my partner and her bullying boss. I was amazed how fast her employer went into damage control once a solicitor got involved. Possibly the best $500 we've spent!:yes:

[Scouse]

Oh don't worry about that. I was AT WORK BEFORE 7 ALL MY FIRST WEEK, and he still gave me grief about not being there at 6:45, in case plans changed before work started.

Worry yourself not, there may or may not be another person or two willing to back me up a little. I wouldn't count on them, as they've known him longer, but hey.
Problem is, he really knows his shit in the workshop, and I give him respect for that. Just a bad white South African egg, to me.He may very well be a great tin basher that does not nessacerily make him a suitable supervisor.

It sounds like he's treating you like one of his wipping Kaffer's from back home.

[Skyryder]

Start keeping a work diary and keep notes of all of his comments that that you find derogitory as well as the shit jobs that he gives you.


Skyryder

[McDuck]

I had a spat with my boss a few weeks ago regarding hearing protection. It lasted about 15 min, in the end i decided it was not worth my job plus i had made my point. The next day i came in and there were 10 new pairs of ear muffs on the table.


Just because the boss didnt seem to do anyhting dosnt mean he has done nothing.

[eelracing]

Three simple words. Join the union.

It's what they do


EPMU Union Support Centre on 0800 1 UNION (0800 186 466)



Can't stress enough that you should ring these guys and arrange to have a meeting with a union organiser.Take along any fellow workmates that feel the same way and discuss your grievences with them.There is power in numbers and any bad employer will shit themselves.

[FROSTY]

Dude have a good long hard think about this. -DONT take it wrong just think about it.
Is it possible the issue is actually YOU?
Think about this for a bit.
We are in pretty tough times economically.
You are in an industry where the boss and therefore ultimately YOU get paid based strictly on the ability to produce the goods on time.
Follow this through for a mo-- You ALL say fuckit nahh we start at 7.00 finish at 4.30 --Jobs dont get done on time -the boss doesn't get paid so moneys tight.
Who's gonna be the first job they hafta chop.?
What I'm saying is youve been workin for 3 months,The foreman is under pressure to perfom and needs you --the new boy to be a team player. Yea he aint exactly diplomatic about it but can ya see the point now?
I had my staff this week starting an hour early -we are pretty busy right now. Noone complained --except that I bought the wrong kinda beer this evening for em. Heres the thing.
My staff and outside workers are part of a TEAM. Can you say the same thing?
Re the contract Dude if you haven't sighned a contract youre ferked. ya need to get that sorted PDQ

[Headbanger]

I bully staff into moving on if they won't start at the specified times, or won't work the required hours.

They are always welcome to work elsewhere. Go find your dream job.

[McDuck]

Another thing to add, have you tryed starting at 6? Or have you just shoved it into the to hard basket? With work at the orchard i have been fine till 4.30-5 no matter when i start. And if you do the hours you get paid the hours, and extra cash is always good with gass and stuff.

[Blackshear]

Start keeping a work diary and keep notes of all of his comments that that you find derogitory as well as the shit jobs that he gives you.


Skyryder
Funfortunately, all the odds and ends jobs are given to me anyway. Bottom of the ladder, see. So basically I polish things to a mirror finish all day, or acid and then scotch brite the acid and weld marks off so it's all pretty like.
95% of the work done are handrails. Very expensive S/steel handrails.


I had a spat with my boss a few weeks ago regarding hearing protection. It lasted about 15 min, in the end i decided it was not worth my job plus i had made my point. The next day i came in and there were 10 new pairs of ear muffs on the table.


Just because the boss didnt seem to do anyhting dosnt mean he has done nothing.
My last boss was the man. Got along really well with him. Enough to let him have a rip on my bike. He might be getting a cibby soon, if he sells up his RS200 'tezza. My work had been done :laugh:


Can't stress enough that you should ring these guys and arrange to have a meeting with a union organiser.Take along any fellow workmates that feel the same way and discuss your grievences with them.There is power in numbers and any bad employer will shit themselves.


Dude have a good long hard think about this. -DONT take it wrong just think about it.
Is it possible the issue is actually YOU?
Think about this for a bit.
We are in pretty tough times economically.
You are in an industry where the boss and therefore ultimately YOU get paid based strictly on the ability to produce the goods on time.
Follow this through for a mo-- You ALL say fuckit nahh we start at 7.00 finish at 4.30 --Jobs dont get done on time -the boss doesn't get paid so moneys tight.
Who's gonna be the first job they hafta chop.?
What I'm saying is youve been workin for 3 months,The foreman is under pressure to perfom and needs you --the new boy to be a team player. Yea he aint exactly diplomatic about it but can ya see the point now?
I had my staff this week starting an hour early -we are pretty busy right now.
I don't mean to shoot you down right off the line, but I can assure you that our branch of the company is doing very well. We already have about 1.8 million worth of jobs to complete by this year, and yes, we are a little busy.
Just the way this guy is being a cocksucker about his position.
And for the record, I am the only one starting at 7, everyone else started at 6. This was all Mr. Foremans idea, and the big boss had no part of it. Stressed that he didn't care I started at 7, in fact.
I am performing rather well, I'd thought. I little bit slower than the others in terms of turning out a finished product, but I've had many say it was an awesome finish. Unless being told to my face, I wont cut corners on quality just to speed things up. It's either a perfect mirror finish or not.
I do see your point, know that. I just cannot sacrifice an hours sleep. I get sweet FA as it is, waking up maybe 6 times each night, for no reason. I'd take sleeping pills, but I'm sure it would fuck up my ride to work.
I'll take your advice into consideration when I have a chat with the boss.

I bully staff into moving on if they won't start at the specified times, or won't work the required hours.

They are always welcome to work elsewhere. Go find your dream job.
To each their own. You make it sound like you're telling me to move on :msn-wink:

[Scouse]

Dude have a good long hard think about this. -DONT take it wrong just think about it.
Is it possible the issue is actually YOU?
Think about this for a bit.
We are in pretty tough times economically.
You are in an industry where the boss and therefore ultimately YOU get paid based strictly on the ability to produce the goods on time.
Follow this through for a mo-- You ALL say fuckit nahh we start at 7.00 finish at 4.30 --Jobs dont get done on time -the boss doesn't get paid so moneys tight.
Who's gonna be the first job they hafta chop.?
What I'm saying is youve been workin for 3 months,The foreman is under pressure to perfom and needs you --the new boy to be a team player. Yea he aint exactly diplomatic about it but can ya see the point now?
I had my staff this week starting an hour early -we are pretty busy right now.Fuck off frosty so your saying he should let himself be bullied and pushed around by some idiot cos times are tough. You are the one that should have a think about it. workers rights do not go out the door just because we are in a recession.

[McDuck]

I ended up saying 7-5 week days and no weekends.


try that?

[Blackshear]

Another thing to add, have you tryed starting at 6? Or have you just shoved it into the to hard basket? With work at the orchard i have been fine till 4.30-5 no matter when i start. And if you do the hours you get paid the hours, and extra cash is always good with gass and stuff.

Yeah I've done it before, and hated it.
At NW though. It wasn't rare for me to fill in an evening shift.
On top of 7-4, I'd soldier right on to 9-9.30.
But goddamn did I love the odd apple. What orchard are you working at?

[McDuck]

Yeah I've done it before, and hated it.
At NW though. It wasn't rare for me to fill in an evening shift.
On top of 7-4, I'd soldier right on to 9-9.30.
But goddamn did I love the odd apple. What orchard are you working at?

A no shit big kiwifruit orchard down here....

[FROSTY]

Fuck off frosty so your saying he should let himself be bullied and pushed around by some idiot cos times are tough. You are the one that should have a think about it. workers rights do not go out the door just because we are in a recession.
When did i say he should do anything. --Im saying look at the other side of the story.
Dunno what you do for a living dude Maybee you have 100% job security. Me I know for a fact that if my team doesn't produce results WE will all be unemployed.My staff know this and react accordingly.
Its not a threat its economic reality.
Isn't it possible that all but one of this guys staff know this ?
Could also be a case of a fucken good metal worker not well suited to being a supervisor.
Heres a thought -OK you can't start early cos ya can't sleep --why not say "hey Im with the team thing I see the jobs need to get out -Why dont I work an hour LATER"
Don't get me wrong --the guy could very well be as ya say --a total asshole but just concider alternatives.
Someone said to me once "hey I don't want problems --I want posssible solutions"

[Dean]

the shop foreman is a cocksucker he likes to suck on his own cock and other guys cocks while youre doing the hard work earning the money for the buisness,hes doing the "hard work on deepthroats" bloody sick and stupid.you deserve to work the proper hours instead of the foreman telling you otherwise

[slowpoke]

I was given a contract to read and sign if I agree to it, by the big big head honcho of the franchise. I have not yet read it, nor has anyone brought to my attention the lack of signature.


Not a member of a union. I have already had a word to the shops boss about it, but nothing seems to have been done.


Sure your boss sounds like a real Mike Hunt but you have to take some responsibility for the predicament you are in. Mike Hunt has dropped you in the shit but you've made things difficult for yourself now that you are in it. How can you cry "FOUL!" to the ref if you don't know the rules of the game (contract) and there is no ref (union)?

Why didn't you sign the contract? You expect them to keep track of Christ knows how many contracts and you can't even look after one.

Why didn't you join the union? You are talking about potential earnings of $100's of thousands of dollars which you've left almost totally unprotected.

For what it's worth if I was the shop steward I wouldn't be too keen on helping you out, you've contributed nothing to the union now you expect them to help bail you out. You can't expect the all for 1 part without doing the 1 for all side of the equation.

Your foreman sounds like a right tugger, but you have left yourself wide open. Hopefully it's a valuable lesson that doesn't cost you too much: cover your arse. It's too late once you are already fucked.

[fatzx10r]

cant be fucked reading all the post's so not sure what has been said already.

1. check your contract

2. tell him to go fuck himself

3. TELL HIM TO GO FUCK HIMSELF

[SixPackBack]

FROSTY is correct blackshear it is you who has the problem, not your boss.
Your boss treats you badly with good reason-your attitude is SHIT. Oh and a word on the following:

Employing a lawyer=He/she will be laughing all the way to the bank while stroking your forehead and taking all your money.
Joining the EMU=Do it!......they work at the pace of the slowest worker and are the last bastion for those that posses few skills, are slow or generally bone idle. Remember tho' you will be #1 target when the work drops off and when pay increases are handed out.
In the words of JFK 'ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country'..........merely being gracious enough to turn up at work everyday is not enough!.......sort your sleeping out, get to work when the boss asks you to, spend some of your own time and money increasing your skill base, increase your speed and sort your attitude out.

[Ms Piggy]

Hey Blackshear,
I would suggest you contact Employment Relations: http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/help/index.html & http://dolworkplace.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/dolworkplace.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_page=1&p_pv=1.24&p_prods=24&p_cats=&p_hidden_prods=&prod_lvl1=24&prod_lvl2=0&p_search_text=&p_new_search=1

I'm pretty sure it's who my Mum got help from a few years back when he employer cut her hours without notice and my Mum ended up getting a payout.

It's very difficult when employees allow themselves to be bullied by their employer and don't speak out but just comply.

Btw - my understanding is, that even if you haven't signed your contract you are still covered by employment law, because at the end of the day the law has the final say.

[oldrider]

FROSTY is correct blackshear it is you who has the problem, not your boss.
Your boss treats you badly with good reason-your attitude is SHIT. Oh and a word on the following:

Employing a lawyer=He/she will be laughing all the way to the bank while stroking your forehead and taking all your money.
Joining the EMU=Do it!......they work at the pace of the slowest worker and are the last bastion for those that posses few skills, are slow or generally bone idle. Remember tho' you will be #1 target when the work drops off and when pay increases are handed out.
In the words of JFK 'ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country'..........merely being gracious enough to turn up at work everyday is not enough!.......sort your sleeping out, get to work when the boss asks you to, spend some of your own time and money increasing your skill base, increase your speed and sort your attitude out.

Took the words right out of my mouth SPB.

Employment is about a relationship between the company and yourself.

The law says you have a contract signed or not.

Despite the foreman (some sympathy with you regards his origins) I would say that you are an excellent reason for the new 90 day law.

You may even be an early victim of it, I suggest you take another read of Frosty's posts.

If I was a Union official, I wouldn't be too keen on taking you on as member either, they have enough problems without you!

Look in the mirror and ask the guy in there what your problem is, "he" knows because it is written all through his posts on here.

Good luck with your future, I think you are going to need all the help you can get. :shifty: Cheers, John.

[Teflon]

Funfortunately, all the odds and ends jobs are given to me anyway. Bottom of the ladder, see. So basically I polish things to a mirror finish all day, or acid and then scotch brite the acid and weld marks off so it's all pretty like.
95% of the work done are handrails. Very expensive S/steel handrails.


My last boss was the man. Got along really well with him. Enough to let him have a rip on my bike. He might be getting a cibby soon, if he sells up his RS200 'tezza. My work had been done :laugh:




I don't mean to shoot you down right off the line, but I can assure you that our branch of the company is doing very well. We already have about 1.8 million worth of jobs to complete by this year, and yes, we are a little busy.
Just the way this guy is being a cocksucker about his position.
And for the record, I am the only one starting at 7, everyone else started at 6. This was all Mr. Foremans idea, and the big boss had no part of it. Stressed that he didn't care I started at 7, in fact.
I am performing rather well, I'd thought. I little bit slower than the others in terms of turning out a finished product, but I've had many say it was an awesome finish. Unless being told to my face, I wont cut corners on quality just to speed things up. It's either a perfect mirror finish or not.
I do see your point, know that. I just cannot sacrifice an hours sleep. I get sweet FA as it is, waking up maybe 6 times each night, for no reason. I'd take sleeping pills, but I'm sure it would fuck up my ride to work.
I'll take your advice into consideration when I have a chat with the boss.

To each their own. You make it sound like you're telling me to move on :msn-wink:

Polishing is a big part of being a Tradesman,, if you don't know how to polish you can't finish a job. Good polishing skills will make you a better fabricator and welder - it will teach you how important a nice fit-up and weld is..

Engineering may not be for you. Wait to you get asked to to work 60 to 70hr weeks to meet a contract deadline.. It's a fucking hard industry,, i'd say get out now

Remember, it's not a hair dressing salon.. it's a eng work shop,, and you will get talk to like shit for a few years.. It will change you

[Yossarian]

Your boss is obviously a bully...

Can't give you much advice other than stick with what your doing, there is nothing better than having a formal trade under your belt which you can take anywhere in the world. Do your time and once you have your ticket leave the crowd your working for as you will always be ' the boy '.
There is nothing sweeter than picking up your last pay packet after serving a four year apprenticship and telling your boss to " take my job, and stick it up your arse".

See your time through matey, you won't regret it.

[davereid]

Fuck off frosty so your saying he should let himself be bullied and pushed around by some idiot cos times are tough. You are the one that should have a think about it. workers rights do not go out the door just because we are in a recession.

Sadly, while your employer may agree with you, it it may well be that his customers have a different view.

A good employer will never abuse or treat his staff in this way. But although to the best of your knowledge the company has millions of dollars of forward orders, there may be immense stress in the boardroom.

Those handrails you make may be destined for the booming building industry, to be paid for by plentiful bank credit.

Then again, your employer may be wondering "will I ever get paid for these ?" - "Will there be another order if I do ?"

There is no excuse for treating you poorly, and you should consult your union.

You can legally say "I have rights, I won't work overtime, clean the toilets or help with anything I am not obligated to do"

But, your employer has NO RIGHTS with his customer. He needs to keep them happy, provide a quality product, on-time at a price the customer can afford.

Your assistance in helping him meet these goals helps him keep employing you.

[Pixie]

You won't get me I'm part of the union
You won't get me I'm part of the union
You won't get me I'm part of the union
Till the day I die...





...Watta ya mean FIRED?!!!!:laugh::laugh::laugh: