Originally Posted by
2 sheds
Don't quite understand that, Keith - SRATCOH regulates the maximum hours. It sounds as if the previous "flexibility" was a management contrick! Also, I thought that the CI were part of the UK when it suited and not when it didn't! :-)
2 s
2sheds.
Let’s just say that we did not work the rostered hours , pre SRATCOH. When it came in, it meant we had to cover for regular breaks by introducing day duties, which were not popular because you spent the whole day at work (8 hrs) when, previously, you were never there for more than 5 hours in a morning or 6 in an afternoon ( & you had either a full morning or afternoon off into the bargain). As previously said, that was only IF you worked the rostered hours. Most of the time you got away with a lot less. My record was an actual nine & a half working hours in a 7 day period ! SRATCOH certainly ended all of that - we actually had to work close to what we were paid to work ! Another aspect of SRATCOH was that the duty cycle always ended on a late & started on an early ; so, you always started after a day off (or leave) on an early & you couldn’t get away on leave on the last day of your cycle. So, effectively, you lost two days of your leave entitlement.
The management’s flexibility came from being able to rely on the consequent goodwill of the ATCOS in covering for extensions & unplanned absences without them having to increase the complement.
The delicate relationship between the CI & the UK didn’t really cause any resentment towards the SRG “interfering” in local affairs.