is my company acting illegal to force me to work every weekend n work only eve n nights

[wickedread]

I am rota to work every weekend and do only evening and night shifts dispite my contract saying i am required to work a rotating shifts been 08-1600; 1600-2400; 0000-0800 and from time to time to suit the needs of the company. the other staff refuse to work certain shifts claiming they have family issues and hence or allowed to work only days or nights but when they are off i gotta cover for them. i tried to complain as this is affecting my personal life between my partner and i and also my kids who are grown up but i cant see nor spend time or quality time with them as in xmas, birthdays etc. my partner tried to compalin to the head office on my behalf also an they threatened me in writing that if i love my job then to choose between my partner / family or the job. i work as security officer and is now doing my sia training on my own as the company has many others who are not certified either and these jobs were never advertised either. it also seems they only want females who they can control and not complain. the place is a international school caled bellerbys college also known as embassy cs i work at greenwich london...please help as i am waiting my certificate from my course that my fiance encourage dme to pursue then to look for anothe rjob but i dont feel it is right that i should be force to leave my job like that to save my family as i think they ar ebreaking th elaw. i ave been working with them since july 2007. please help (personal details removed by AB) i cannot afford any solicitors
thaks for any help

[buildersmate]

Firstly you are unwise to put personal contact details on a public website - suggest you get AB to remove these.

The cop-out for the company is in the clause 'from time-to-time to suit the company'. If this clause is in there, it is legal for your employer to do this. Unless you are being required to work more hours than is in the Working Time Directive, there is nothing to stop this.
You can try discussing with your employer that you cannot do this volume of unsocial shifts and use the same argument as those who are managing to get out of it. Sounds like you are being treated as the soft touch. The alternative is to find another job.

[thugulike]

The Working Time Regulations 1997 will tell you anything you need to know about what hours and days you can be required to work. If you approach your employer with such a complaint the likelihood is you will be dismissed as you haven't enough service to protect you from unfair dismissal. But, you may be able to claim unfair dismissal for making a protected disclosure (complaining about failure to adhere to the WTR)

[unacahuna]

Definitely, make an appointment with Citizen's Advice.They have solictors who work there on a voluntary basis.
They will give you proper legal advice for free.
If the others are able to have variation in their working hours then so can you.If you all have the same contract , then you are being treated unfairly.

It might be an idea to join a union.It doesn't cost much and then you will have someone official to act on your behalf.
Don't lose that letter - they cannot tell you to choose.

Good luck with everything.