Statement on flexible working time arrangements
26th October 2009
The following statement has been agreed by Unite and BPIF
BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation) member companies
and Unite GPM Chapels are reminded that there are a number of
clauses within the BPIF/Unite GPM national agreement that provide
for flexible working time arrangements.
These set out provisions relating to hours of work, arrangements
of working hours, shift work and overtime and cover the
introduction of double, treble, four and five shift working and
permanent weekend working, banked hours arrangements, time off in
lieu of overtime premia, and flexibility to move between different
shift work patterns.
At a time of unprecedented trading difficulties affecting the
printing industry and the economy in general, companies and Chapels
will need to adjust to lower levels of demand and match manned
hours to reduced production capacity. The BPIF and Unite
encourage their respective members to fully utilise the flexible
working time provisions of the national agreement to achieve this,
as an alternative to redundancy.
In some cases companies will be able to use non-productive time
for training purposes, in particular where reskilling of employees
will assist the company to adapt to changing market
conditions. It may be possible to access government funding
to support such training and companies are encouraged to contact
the BPIF for assistance with this.
ENDS
