The financial statements highlighted on the 'Credit Crunch' and 'Industry News' pages demonstrate that the major bookmakers are not being adversely affected by the current economic downturn. Some bookmakers are justifying changes to contracts and long established working practices by referring to the ‘difficult trading environment’ and the credit crunch. The facts and figures though, simply don’t add up.
Betting shop workers continue to deliver huge profits for bookmakers yet some are now being told that their salaries are not in line with other ‘retail’ workers. Some bookmakers have compared the skills, duties and responsibilities of shop managers with workers employed at KFC, WH Smith, Thorntons Chocolates, and Clinton Cards. With respect to colleagues at these retail outlets our members do not believe the roles are comparable.
Consider William Hill, Community is being inundated with calls from members who are disappointed at the companies decision to leave the FOBT switched on until 21:30.
Members are effectively working for nothing after shop closing as there is still work to be completed before closing staff can leave!
If it takes15 minutes to empty the machines, count and check cash then it would mean anyone doing this would be working for
· 1 hour and 15 minutes unpaid work per week!
· 5 hours unpaid work per month!
· 60 hours unpaid work per year!
Across the Wm Hills retail estate this equates to a significant financial saving for the company at your expense.
This illustrates why betting shop workers need to join Community and why being unionised is the only guarantee at getting a fairer deal at work. Good employers recognise the positive benefit that unions bring to the workplace. In a unionised workplace management recognise that the employees are stakeholders in the company and as such deserve a voice in how the business is run.
Join up with thousands of your colleagues today!