Amicus Bans Compulsory Overtime at Honda

LONDON, December 1 -- Amicus, Britain's biggest private sector union has put a stop to excessive overtime at Honda in an industrial relations breakthrough for 4,000 workers at the Swindon plant.

Overtime at Honda is contractual and has only been limited to come within the 48 hour week maximum, permitted under the Working Time Directive. This has regularly resulted in 'excessive' compulsory overtime at the end of the late shift for tired and angry staff.

After a year-long campaign to highlight the unpopularity of this Honda practice, Amicus has secured an agreement for the first time in the history of Honda in Swindon that has 'changed company policy'. Amicus are recommending their members endorse the new negotiated settlement in a ballot which is under way.

A New Overtime Policy and Procedure restricts compulsory production overtime to just one hour, with provisions for this to be relaxed for the launch of new models.

Jim D'Avila, Amicus Regional Officer says,

"This is a breakthrough that bodes well for future relations between Amicus and Honda. Only 12 months ago Honda were saying Amicus was in breach of contract now Honda are hailing the deal as a breakthrough."

The Amicus ballot closes on 6 December 2004