Making America Work for Working People: IOW fuck "flexibility"

[eridani]

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/09/02/making-america-work-working-people

In a survey my organization conducted this spring, nearly half of the Washington, D.C. restaurant, retail, and other service-industry employees we talked to reported first learning about their work schedules less than one week in advance. A third of them got less than three days’ notice.

Many employers — including corporations like McDonald’s and Wal-Mart — use these unfair scheduling systems to keep their employees on part-time schedules so they can avoid paying benefits. If that weren’t bad enough, it also puts these men and women in a constant state of uncertainty.

When you don’t know when you’re going to be called into work or for how long, scheduling a doctor’s appointment, taking the car in for repairs, or going to church often has to be put on hold. And life’s day-to-day activities — commuting, arranging for child care, preparing meals ­— become overly complicated.

Thankfully, people are starting to recognize and address these abusive practices.

Last year, a coalition of working people, labor unions, and community groups persuaded the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to enact the first meaningful standards in the nation to ensure that more people get fair and consistent schedules.

The new rule, which could impact as many as 40,000 individuals, requires highly profitable chain stores to post schedules two weeks in advance. And it ensures that people are compensated if last-minute changes like shift cancelations are made by their employers.

Who’s next? Communities from Minneapolis and Indianapolis to Washington, D.C. are considering similar reforms to make sure more people have reliable schedules with enough hours to plan their lives and take care of their loved ones.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

1. Over time pay for any schedule change without two weeks notice

one of many things workers should have

[SoLeftIAmRight]

2. half pay for canceled shifts

this would slow down the abuse

[JDPriestly]

3. Thanks. How about nurses in hospitals?

Do they generally have regular schedules?

I'd like to hear from some of them on this.

I don't know the answer to my question. I am just asking.

[eridani]

4. National Nurses United is always a good source for this kind of info

They've endorsed Sanders to boot.

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/entry/olympia-medical-center-rns-speak-out-against-hospital-schedule-changes/

Management did not consult with the OMC nurses before proposing the shift changes, which would take place May 10 if implemented—disrupting the schedule many of the RNs have worked for years.

“The changes that Olympia Medical Center is planning are a gross violation of the CNA contract. It disrespects the voice and experience of the nursing staff and will lead to a mass exodus of experienced, trained nurses that will undoubtedly jeopardize safe patient care at our hospital,” says Belma Hartono, RN, who as worked at OMC for over 30 years.

Nurses say they hope the vigil will bring public awareness to their advocacy for retention of their current shifts, in order to protect their own family lives.

“Olympia Medical Center’s attempt to force schedule changes on its nursing staff is a thinly veiled attempt to pad the hospital’s financial coffers without regard to the mission of health and safety of the patients and the community that it claims to serve,” says OMC RN Marvia Miller.