Under the national guarantee agreement of 22 December 1964 all hourly-rated manual workers continuously employed for not less than four weeks are guaranteed five days' employment per week or earnings equivalent to 39 hours (or such reduced hours as have been negotiated) at time rate. Employees must be capable of, available for and willing to perform their usual or reasonable alternative work. In certain specific and limited circumstances the guarantee may be reduced proportionately or suspended altogether. Further advice can be obtained from EEF Associations (EEF Associations).
Where the lack of work is caused by a dislocation of production due to an industrial dispute in the federated establishment or any other federated establishment, the operation of the guarantee is automatically suspended. In all other cases, the guarantee of employment will apply.
Where approved short time is worked as an alternative to redundancy the guarantee is reduced proportionately. Employers seeking to rely on this provision should seek the advice of their EEF Association (EEF Associations).
While the agreement does not expressly cover part-time workers, they should receive a guarantee in proportion to the relationship their working hours bear to the full working hours in the establishment.