Hmm, so in 1973 I started working for a nationalised industry, at that time we had 3 sets of T&Cs
one for the craftsmen
one for the office staff
one for the engineers and managers
Now they all had odd payments and rules
e.g. Craftsmen, if they were more than 15 minutes late having their lunch they got a payment.
Engineers if more than 5 miles from base for more than 5 hours could claim a lunch allowance.
Craftsmen if they worked overtime in an emergency and didn't get home until late could claim a spoiled meal allowance and a meal allowance
Engineers were expected to work up to one hour incidental overtime and received an annual payment.
Craftsmen were paid time & 1/2 or time & 1 for overtime
Engineers just got time off in lieu
And then we became a private company! (just like BA)
Within 2 years all the old agreements had been scrapped and a single agreement signed by all unions (including the forerunners of Unite)
All of the odd payments went out of the door, all the strange working practices went out of the door.
The only differences between the different groups were the payscales (though more senior managers ended up on personal contracts)
And there we are, apart from recently where expenses payable for overnight allowances were cut, no lunch allowances (we pay for lunch at own base so why get paid if somewhere else!)
Classes of travel were reduced for all staff
No free tea, coffee, biscuits or lunches at training courses or meetings!
WL