TENSIONS are mounting between union members and management at South Marston Distribution Centre over compulsory overtime being imposed on workers.

Last month the Evening Advertiser reported that managers at SDC which supplies Honda with car parts were planning to enforce overtime on the early shift workers.

Now Amicus, the UK's largest manufacturing union, is gaining a strong foothold in the company and it could soon gain official union recognition.

If this happens, SDC management will be forced to consult with workers before making changes to their contracts a move they had previously hoped to avoid.

Any disruption to work patterns at SDC could cause Honda UK serious problems as they are reliant on SDC to supply them with car parts and operate a "just in time" manufacturing system.

Jim D'Avila, Amicus regional officer, said: "SDC management still intends to go through with the compulsory overtime plans.

"The union is now in the stages of recruiting enough members to formally make an application for official recognition.

"Once we have that the management has no choice but to negotiate any plans to introduce compulsory overtime.

"Good employers who value their employees consult them on such issues as compulsory overtime."

The company claims it has reached an agreement with employees over the issue. But the Evening Advertiser has received a number of reports from staff that would suggest this is not the case.

Following the publication of the article in the Advertiser last month, one employee said: "We (the workers) were shocked to read that SDC managers had said they had come to an agreement with their employees over the compulsory overtime.

"They have not discussed this with us at all, and will not, as they know if they do it will get rejected."

The employee also believes the management are trying to "bulldoze" new contracts through before union recognition is gained.

Another employee added: "The bullying and threatening tactics which SDC managers use is not uncommon, in fact, they are used on a daily basis. This is why a union is trying to be recognised.

"But the truth is people are scared to join that in case management find out."

The same employee claims 130 of 150 people affected by the possibility of compulsory overtime have signed a petition against it.

But some of the remaining 20 people yet to sign have been threatened with the sack if they add their names to it.

SDC was unavailable for comment on these issues when approached by the Evening Advertiser.

Emma-Kate LIdbury