Sainsbury's staff at a distribution centre in Essex are continuing their ongoing strike action against management attempts to impose a new sick-leave policy.
After years of negotiations aimed at reducing the current safeguards for staff when they are sick, Sainsbury's management ordered each member of staff to sign a new contract. Every warehouse distribution employee signed it under threat of dismissal. Lots signed under protest, paving the way for industrial action in the form of strikes.
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One-day rolling strikes have been going on now for a few months. This month, strikes were ramped up, marking the midway point of the agreed six-month period of strike action.
A supermarket chain has slashed absenteeism by not paying its employees for the first three days they are off sick. Sainsbury's has stopped sick pay for almost a third of its 115,000-strong.
Members of USDAW - the UK's biggest retail and distribution union - will be balloted again soon for a further six months of action. The union is particularly looking to hit the company during its very busy Christmas shopping season later this year.
It’s another day on strike for workers at @sainsburys Waltham Point Depot 24 hour stoppage due to imposed absence policy @UsdawUnion@UsdawCDivision@PaddyLillisGS@DaveMccrossen@DaveBlacklist@jeremycorbyn#ComeToTheTable#Strikepic.twitter.com/aQhqk6TllD
— Usdaw Eastern (@UsdawCDivision) August 25, 2019Mood of confidence
Socialist Appeal supporters spoke with people on the picket. On the ground, union representatives remain steadfast. They are confident that their action will get the company to reverse the imposed sickness policy.
One representative stated how significant the strike action had been. Apparently Sainsbury's hasn't experienced a strike of its workers anywhere in the country since the 1970s.
It can be seen that support for the workers amongst the local community is high. There was a constant beeping of horns, for example, as passing drivers showed solidarity with the workers on the picket line. There was also a good natured atmosphere on the picket.
What is needed going forward is for unified action between the different unions that represent workers in the same workplace. All the truck drivers we saw, for example, drove through the picket line. Many of them were members of Unite the Union. This is despite Unite officials saying that they would support the strike by asking drivers not to cross picket lines.
Unity is strength. Without solidarity from other unions, there is a heightened risk that this strike will be broken. This is especially the case given that precarious agency workers - who make up a big chunk of the workforce - are in a difficult position to join in and take strike action.
Militancy pays
This initiative by USDAW members and their representatives is a big achievement, setting an example for other unions to follow.
This recent strike activity follows on from similar action in other big supermarket companies. At Asda, for example, workers have responded to at attempt by managers to impose a harsh new contract.
At the Tesco distribution centre in Dagenham last year, meanwhile, workers also took strike - again, for the first time in several decades. This strike action was highly successful, with Tesco bosses giving into the workers’ demands after just the first wave of strikes.
All of these examples indicate the way forward. Organisation and action yields results. Militancy pays.
The next round of strikes at the Sainsbury's distribution centre is set to take place in October at the same place: Waltham Point, Waltham Abbey.
Leave Policy
Objective & Scope
This Policy shall define the Leaves entitlement and shall cover rules & regulations regarding leaves, and shall be applicable to all the Permanent Employees.
Types & Number of Leaves
- 00 Sick Leaves
- 00 Casual Leaves
- 00 Annual Leaves
- Sandwich Process
Encashment
All types of leaves will be en-cashable at the end of years if not availed OR while leaving the Company. However the company may ask any employee to avail his balance leaves during OR at the end of year instead of the encashment of leaves.
Entitlement of Sick leave / Casual Leaves & Annual Leaves
![Sainsburys sick policy 2019 2018 Sainsburys sick policy 2019 2018](https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/~/media/Images/S/Sainsburys/ATM banner imageed.jpg?h=566&la=en&w=920)
Sick leave & Casual Leaves on pro-rata basis. The annual leaves shall be entitled after completion of one year service.
Leave Rules
The following leave rules for employees shall be followed while availing the leaves.
Prior Approval in case of Planned Activity
The employee who wants to avail leave/short leave shall apply leave/Short leave on leave/short leave application form well in time in case of planned activity and get prior approval before proceeding on leave. Some examples of planned activities are elaborated for better understanding i.e. to attend the marriage/other Ceremonies, Exams, to visit the Government offices, visit out of city, Medical Test/check up etc. Such leave application can be moved when you come to know about the activity/occasion date for which you have to avail leave.
No Split Applications:
Secondly, employee should apply for leave in one go wherein include your expected leave days as well instead of splitting the leave period into two parts for example got approval for 04 days but availed 06 days and later on apply for approval of remaining two days leaves.
In case of availing Leave in emergency
Employees should inform to the Company regarding his casual leaves and later on supposed to submit their approved leave application in HR Department on very next day. No Late leave applications shall be entertained.
Submission of Leave application is Mandatory
In case of non-submission and / or non approval of leave application, the employee shall be marked absent and 1.5 days salary amount shall be deducted from his salary irrespective of leaves are in Balance. No automatically leave adjustment shall be made by H.R against the absent days.
Elaborate the reason for Leave/short leave
Please elaborate the reason for leave/short leave clearly on leave application form for taking easy & quick decision by approving authority.
No Late leave applications shall be entertained after 2 days.
Short Leaves (Rules for Office staff)
In case of any serious justified problem, you can leave premises with the prior permission of person in charge/concerned & approval authority on Leave / Short Leave application form. If you are leaving your work without permission and approval as prescribe above, it will be considered misconduct on your part and action may be taken against you accordingly. All employees are bound to follow the rules for short leave.
Accumulated Short leaves shall be adjusted against Leave balance of casual and earned leave respectively as per following criteria and in case of leave balance is Nil then the deductions shall be made from salary accordingly. No Short leaves are exempted in a month.
- The maximum duration of a short leave shall be Two (2) hours.
- Short leave between 02 hours to 04 hours shall be considered as HALF DAY.
- More than 04 Hours leave shall be considered asFULL DAY.
Leave With Out Pay
If an employee has no leave in his credit and the Management has sole discretion to grant leave without pay .In such case although deduction shall be made from his salary but employee will not be considered absent but on Leave without pay.
Absent
- The employee will be considered absent when he will have no leave in his credit and fails to attend his duty.
- In second case, if an employee avails unauthorized leave and his leave application is not approved by the Management.
Sainsburys Sick Policy 2019 2018
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