PORTERS and security staff at the University of York are fuming over new contracts which they claim will mean a "complete change of lifestyle."

About 70 to 80 staff have been given 90 days notice of the new contracts, which will be issued in mid-November, said a spokesman for Unison.

He said there would be a range of new working practices, but one which had particularly upset many workers was a requirement to work flexibly, day or night.

He said while some staff already did this, some staff currently worked only days and some only nights. "This suits their family lives," he said. "For example, some night workers look after their families during the day when their wives are out at work, and vice versa."

He said some porters working eight-hour shifts would be required to be willing to work 12-hour shifts.

"They will also no longer receive a supplement for working at weekends, and that change will also affect cleaning and catering staff."

A worker who contacted The Press claimed: "Most are very unhappy, as it means a complete change of lifestyle etc."

The Unison spokesman said the changes had come about as result of a framework agreement, which was the university's response to a nationwide exercise called Higher Education Role Analysis (HERA), which aimed to introduce "equal pay for work of equal value" at higher education establishments.

He said some aspects of working practices would improve for some porters/ security staff under the changes. For example, they would all be entitled to 38 days holiday, including Bank Holidays, which was more than some currently got.

The working week would move to 37 hours for all, when some currently had a 38-hour week while others were on 35.5 hours.

A university spokesman said: "About 600 staff would gain improvements in leave, sick pay and working hours under the Framework Agreement, and nobody would lose their job.

"Basic pay will increase for most staff, particularly for cleaners, many of whom are part-time female workers. The cost of unsocial payments to all staff will remain unchanged.

"New rotas required to maintain service levels involve a number of variations and we believe the vast majority of staff will be able to adapt to those changes. For those staff facing genuine difficulties in making the adjustments, but who are prepared to be flexible, the university will try to find a mutually-acceptable solution."