Why not use the law to make conditions better?

[jeffrey.cyr]

Just a thought.

AMO's are regulated under the Canadian Labour Code. As much as they may like to make some of us work crazy hours, effectively destroying most of our lives outside of work, it's actually against that law to make us work more then 8 hours of overtime in a week without written permission from the federal minister of labour.

I know that most employers like to intimidate us by saying that when you attract legal attention, like TC for instance, that they will make it that you never work in this industry again. Personally, I don't think they are likely to treat it as harshly as that. If they did fire you, it would look like it was as a result of your complaint and that too could then be fought. Furthermore, as AME's are getting hard to find both the employer and future employers would be less likely to take following the law as a barrier to there employment.

[citation75]

Jeffrey,
Shh some things you just don't do in aviation
You don't talk to reporters
Hit on the bosses daughter
Take tools from the hangar
Leave boxes marked AOG in the terminal
Surrender your OC
And you sure as hell don't offer info to any gov agency

[citation75]

Now go coil up the flight line neatly and hang it up in the hangar and get some prop wash the boss wants all the girls looking neat when he gets home from las Vegas or where ever they went this time

[KISS_MY_TCAS]

Wait, isn't this what the SMS system is for?

[jeffrey.cyr]

So, can we then assume that the general consensus is that in order to best effect change to our benefit we should do nothing?

Or is just whining about it from behind a pseudonym in a forum good enough for everyone.

When the company has had its way with you, I think the only thing that will make them think twice about doing it again is to have the government have its way with the company as the direct result of its actions.

Anyone happen to have another good idea?

[The Weasel]

When the company has had its way with you, I think the only thing that will make them think twice about doing it again is to have the government have its way with the company as the direct result of its actions.

Personally I would avoid 'revenge', if that is what you're getting at.

I would thouroughly educate myself about the labour code, put my foot down, and say "No, I'm not working XX hours, and here's why...", using the labour code as a basis. If your employer insists on being a **** by threatening you, then by all means take them to the labour board. At that point, it's probably best to start looking for another job (at the same time as going to the labour board). Do you really want to work for a company that treats it's employees like that?

Not much one can do really. If enough people put their foot down, things will slowly change.

[jeffrey.cyr]

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Well, going to the law when you've been wronged I believe is what is considered to be just revenge, but that is a moot detail. I was referring more to classical conditioning as applied to a group acting as an individual.

But your advice is a perfect example of what I suggested! Part 3 of the Canadian Labour Code, section 171 says that they cannot allow you to work over 48 hours a week. Section 169 says that regular hours are 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. If you are being forced to work 17 hour days, don't take it. If you get a new job and go to the labour board, they not only loose the employee they obviously feel they need so much, but they also get the sting of legal backlash. It's obviously better to just hire another guy have them work closer to 8 hour a day each, save the overtime rates, save the legal fees.

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[sled]

[quote]I was referring more to classical conditioning as applied to a group acting as an individual.
[/quote]


Well Jeffery what you are talking about is called a union and if you don't have one your boss won't like that talk. On the other hand it seems that you do not like working long hours, as per the labour code you have the right to refuse working excessive OT, they can ask but you do not have to stay or go in whatever the case may be. Don't worry about the guilt trip they will get over it, and may realize they need more employees. I do not like to work much overtime and routinely turn it down, but will sometimes go on the out of town jobs as I can get more in a shorter time (80 hours OT last time). My company is happy with that as there are other guys that do not want to travel but will stay late any time. It is obvious you do not like where you are working so it may be time to pull the chute.

[jeffrey.cyr]

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I'm thinking along the same lines. A union makes a huge difference, and when you don't have one they really don't like you talking about them. Where I've been there has been a lot of fear about what happens to you when you bring the subject up. It's happened three times that I know about where someone starts talking about it and with in a week they are let go for some reason or another. What they seem to not know is that the labour board will take them to court for them, get them compensation for their troubles, and get them their jobs back. They also have been known to write you up for refusing the OT, they can only get away with that for the first 8 hours of OT in a week, but again no one seems to know that the labour board will back them up when they say no.

The bottom line in what I'm suggesting, before you "pull the chute" look to see what else you can do. It's a lame excuse to take to the government that they want to drop the standards because everyone wants to follow the governments rules.

As for myself, I think you're right about my being unhappy. However, I would be a hypocrite if I did not follow my own advice. Also, adding that the labour market has dried up with the current economy, it would be unwise to just leave at the moment.
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[Heliian]

Employers have already figured out how to shaft you into working long hours for no overtime, it's called a federal hour averaging system. Because aviation companies are federally regulated, they usually apply for the system. The system was basically designed for seasonal businesses but aviation companies have found the it fits nicely with their nickel and dimeing.

As for the revenge part, some people/companies need to be reminded occasionally that they aren't the centre of the universe and that breaking the law in the quest for profits has it's consequences.

[sled]

I don't think that the market is that dried up, my un-updated resume has been on monster for a few years and I still get calls. Also I work for the biggest MRO in the country and due to us being sold off to the highest bidder and guys refusing to come to work for the new employer we have many openings that cannot be filled, thus I am working overtime more now.