This might be a tough question to answer, but I have a question about full time, and if the union can do anything about the situation I'm in. I've worked for Kroger 2 years. The first year I was a bagger/cashier, I am now in the grocery department (night stock). I don't know if the contracts vary from store to store, but in my union book I have it says a part time employe is considered full time after 16 weeks, if he/she has worked an average of 36 hours over that period (exluding vacations). About 2-3 months ago I reached that average, and even was getting 40 hours a week for about a month after. Keep in mind there was only 1 vacation on night crew during that time. Thinking I must be getting full time, I talked to my union reps in the store and they said they'd take care of it. I figured it'd be quick and easy. Well a month or so went by, and I still hadn't heard anything from anybody, no phone calls, no talks with my union reps or managers. Nothing. I decided to be patient, and not make a big deal out of anything. Anyway, a few weeks ago another person on grocery (days) got full time. I figured I had to have been getting mine too. I went back and talked to my union rep (who acted like she forgot about the whole thing) and said she'd take care of it...again. Few days later, come to find out 2 more people had gotten full time. Not in my department, but regardless, people we're getting full time but I wasn't. My union rep I had talked to finally got back to me and said even though I did infact average the hours, without any vacations involved, I was denied. When I asked why, she said it was because If you average the 16 weeks at 36 hours, management can deny it, but if you work longer than that (something like 30 weeks) at 36 hours average, they can't do anything. I've read my union book over and over again. And unless I'm missing something, I don't see anything about management denying full time based on the ammount of weeks with that average. My question is, can the union do anything about this? Number 1: I don't read anything in the book about managment 'denying' full time. And Number 2: I guess I don't see how it's fair that 3 people in my store got full time, and I didn't. Like I said, not sure if anyone knows an answer for this, but figured I'd ask. Thanks.
Your steward doesn't seem to be doing their job. Tell the union rep that you need to see this in writing to make sure they're doing their duty to represent you. If it's not in the contract, tell them you need to see a Letter Of Understanding that verifies what they are saying. Be polite, but firm. If they can't produce it, tell them you don't feel you're being represented fairly and will pursue other options if need be. I'd also ask your manager to let you see your KERMIT or SOMETHING that says whether you are considered full time or part time. If you maintain the average, Kroger's computers should just kick you over into being considered full time. Keep in mind, in some contracts, summer months don't count. And they say that time covering vacations doesn't count, but in my case, there is a Letter of Understanding that says that only covers department heads. Good luck, and here's hoping you have a decent rep. If they won't cooperate, call your local office and go over their head. Go to a quarterly meeting and raise hell if you have to.
Unless you are given full time management cannot take your full time away from you. If you you work 36 hours in 16 weeks you should audimatically get full time.
My contract states that if a part time employee averages a certain amount of hours over a set amount of weeks ( I don't remember the amount), that a full time position is to be put up for bid amongst all the stores in the zone. So I can bust my ass for 12 weeks or what ever it is here, and someone else could get a full time job out of it. Our union is useless!
My contract states that if a part time employee averages a certain amount of hours over a set amount of weeks ( I don't remember the amount), that a full time position is to be put up for bid amongst all the stores in the zone. So I can bust my ass for 12 weeks or what ever it is here, and someone else could get a full time job out of it. Our union is useless!
Wow. That is friggin awful. I would be piiiiiissed.
My contract states that if a part time employee averages a certain amount of hours over a set amount of weeks ( I don't remember the amount), that a full time position is to be put up for bid amongst all the stores in the zone. So I can bust my ass for 12 weeks or what ever it is here, and someone else could get a full time job out of it. Our union is useless!
My contract says something similar to that but it's only within each individual store. The first line says, "Promotions from part-time shall be on an individual store basis based on the principles of seniority."
i guess the idea is that having someone work that many hours means there is a need for a full time person there. you wouldn't be complaining if you were the one benefitting from it.
and when you say the union is useless, remember that the union is EVERYBODY. someone has to vote on these contracts.
