Termy
Member
- Joined
- 29 May 2013
- Messages
- 226
I've done the online SJT in the last few days. Just waiting for that email with the results to come through sometime. Definitely waiting on tenderhooks...
Sunset route said:12hr roster is a dirty word in some parts of the world lol
...even those that might like the idea of a 12hr roster don't go much on those computer thingies or the sterile environment of the building to even consider dropping grades.
TomBoyd said:I waited for a Grade 8 Station to open up before applying to a ROC. 12 hour roster. half the commute. I can't wait to be released!
Really? Why?
Is that a sideways move, grade-wise, or did you downgrade to get a 12 hour roster? (PM me if I'm being too nosy!).
Presume you'll be across the way from Sunset?
I've heard the same, my current box is fighting for a 12 Hour roster at the moment as has encountered huge resistance from the top. god knows why.
Cost apparently.
Yes. Apparently those on a 12 hour roster receive 32 hours' more pay/holidays per year than those on 8s (no, I haven't done the maths). Also, overtime is more expensive.
I was just interested by Sunset's comment about 12s being "a dirty word". The vast majority of signallers I've met prefer 12s.
Go on...
Not much to say, just 12hr shifts (15hr day including travelling) are not universally liked within the signalling grade.
I see there a few jobs advertised on the NR website today. Out of interest some are fixed term until Jan '17 - just wondered how this worked as surely once you've been through application stages and then 9 weeks training it will almost take you to Jan 2017?!
Also what's meant with fixed salary? Presumably no OT or Sunday pay?
The end dates of these fixed term contracts can be quite 'flexible' - once you're in though it's relatively easy (if you aren't totally useless) to move into a permanent position using the internal jobs list (which contain a lot more/better signaller vacancies...)
Nope, means that you can't negotiate your base salary (each box is graded 1-9 and that's that) - your base salary doesn't include RDW/Sundays/Night Rate/SE allowance etc...which is added on top.
I see there a few jobs advertised on the NR website today. Out of interest some are fixed term until Jan '17 - just wondered how this worked as surely once you've been through application stages and then 9 weeks training it will almost take you to Jan 2017?!
Also what's meant with fixed salary? Presumably no OT or Sunday pay?
contrad!ction said:you can't negotiate your base salary (each box is graded 1-9 and that's that)
Under what circumstances can you negotiate your base salary? The only time I've heard of it happening around here was following a resignalling balls-up (when jobs that were supposed to disappear, didn't).
Ah, I get ya.
We're applying for a regrade at our place later this year. A fair amount of admin involved, by all accounts.
Logs of all telephone calls, cross workstation messages, timetables, STP schedules, infrastructure complexity, shunting moves blah blah blah...all averaged across a 3-6 week period.
I don't know in detail how it works but there's a 'score' that needs to be met for each grade apparently. Not an easy process by any means.
Can anyone tell me what kind of notice you get for your shifts and a rough idea of how a rota would look?
I'm applying for Motherwell, I have 2 kids who are both at school and my wife works as a nurse on 12 hour shifts and she self rosters so would like to reassure her that this is a career option I can go for that won't affect our family life.
There is an advert for signallers in "Halifax and 1 hours travel time surrounding" at the moment. Just wondered what this exactly means e.g I live 55miles from Halifax and about 1 hour 10 mins in the car on a good day so I'm thinking if there's anything my side of Halifax then surely it is worth going for?
Thanks for the reply. The advert doesn't mention about relief position in fact it seems to mention multiple opportunities. Just strangely worded as 1 hour from Halifax takes in many other towns and cities so why not just advertise them as such?
Can anyone tell me what kind of notice you get for your shifts and a rough idea of how a rota would look?
I'm applying for Motherwell, I have 2 kids who are both at school and my wife works as a nurse on 12 hour shifts and she self rosters so would like to reassure her that this is a career option I can go for that won't affect our family life.
As Sunset says, rosters are on a fixed rotation - of anything up for 32 weeks+, so in theory you know what you're working ad infinitum, especially given the advent of shift apps on mobile phones. You simply teach it the pattern and a start date and it will repeat it forever. Even a 32 week rotation is *usually* a simple 4 or 8 week pattern with tweaks every few months (usually an extra day off).
Two things to note though. Base rosters can and do change, usually at the request of staff (in theory management can't alter a base roster without negotiation) so it might not stay the way it is forever. Also, some boxes, usually larger power boxes or IECCs have "GPR" turns including in the base roster as opposed to a standalone GPR signallers. This means that you can be given any shift with 2 weeks notice on that day, although some boxes have local agreements that certain GPR turns will be for earlies, lates, nights etc.
If you want absolute certainty of every shift you're working then you need a "resident" signallers job, that does not have GPR turns. There are plenty of them, but it will hinder your job prospects if you make it clear that's all you will accept.