Part-time status and demands to come into work on my 'days off'

[marcoma]

I am employed part time as a lecturer at a college. Originally the position offered was full time, and my contract is worded for a full time employee. I have since become part-time.

Already once recently it was demanded that I come into work on one of my 'days off' to work at an open evening. My contract does say I must work at an open evening but the college has made no attempt to timetable open evenings to occur on a wednesday - it is wednesdays where efforts have been made for all staff to be timetabled to do teaching work. I did attend the open evening despite my protests and the fact that a union rep described it to me as being an unreasonable demand.

Now I am in the position where again the college is expecting me to attend 'parents evenings' which again do not occur on days where I am timetabled to do teaching work. I should point out that my non attendance to parents evening does not result in another member of staff having to do my work, it simply means I am not available to speak with the parent's of students on that evening. I could request that I am simply given the opportunity to speak with parents over the phone on days that I am timetabled to work - does this sound reasonable?

Will it be unreasonable for my employer to demand I attend parents evenings which do not occur on a evening I am timetabled to work?

I currently feel being part time I am treated unfairly. What are my rights as a part-time employee?


Thanks

[LimeLegal]

It depends on the wording on your contract as if the purpose of open evenings is to speak to parents face to face then it may be a condition of your employment. Best to take your Union's solicitors advice on this one on the contract itself.

[marcoma]

OK, I guess that would be the best thing to do.

Thank you