Unite calls time on long hours culture of pub managers
12th August 2009
Unite, the largest union in the country, is calling ‘time’ on
the excessive hours culture in the UK’s 9,000 managed pubs.
Pub managers who are working up to 70 hours a week have been
forced to retire early because of ill-health.
Unite, which represents 35,000 members in the brewery and pub
industry has launched the ‘pub industry manifesto’ to limit the
working week of managers to a maximum 48 hour week in line with the
European Working Time Directive, and receive a minimum of 25 days
annual holiday (in addition to bank holidays).
Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for the hospitality
sector, said: “Working excessive hours is the norm in the industry,
and pub managers now have the dubious honour of working longer
hours than any other group of employees in the UK.
“Working 60-70 hours a week is just not acceptable and the
health of our members is suffering.
“Unite officials have reported a significant increase in cases
of retirement due to ill health over recent years as PubCos (a
group of pubs owned by a single company) cut costs forcing managers
to operate with fewer staff.
“But this doesn’t have to be the case and Unite is proud of its
record of supporting managers challenging this issue.”
Dave Daly, Licensees Unite national committee member, who has
represented many managers facing these circumstances, said: “I
recently supported a Lancashire couple in taking a case to tribunal
over the long hours they were expected to work, using the Working
Time Directive regulations, which state you cannot be forced to
work longer than 48 hours per week. We won a substantial award for
our members and this is just one case out of many.”
While Unite is willing to continue to take such cases to
tribunal, the union believes it should not be necessary. PubCos
should adopt stringent minimum standards within the industry for
all their employees, including other health and safety issues, in
particular violence at work.
Jennie Formby added: “We believe the only way forward for pub
managers and staff is for the PubCos to work with Unite and our
members and negotiate on all these important issues.
“There has quite rightly been a strong focus in recent months on
the massive problems facing tenants, but we must not forget the
many thousands of workers in the 9,000 plus pubs in the UK who need
us today more than ever before.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Jennie Formby on 07702
206 436 or Mark Di-Toro in the Unite press office on 07918 640
579.
Notes for Editors:
- The Unite Manifesto for managers calls for:
Maximum 48 hour week
- Minimum 25 days holiday (on top of 8 days bank holidays)
- Comprehensive review of safety of all staff, particularly
violence related issues
- Union recognition and collective bargaining rights for all
workers in the industry
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