I want a holiday

I too would expect a big pay raise if you are required to work a day more.  But at the end of the day, it really isn't a pay rise, its called getting paid for the hours that have been added on.  If you work it hour-to-hour, I bet it remains the same, so no pay rise.  Talk about going back to the Victorian days

So now you get to work on a rota basis, so the farm's biomass generator is 'monitored'. Good luck but , as with any shift system, you should still be able to get your holidays in. Can you not book a holiday and then tell the boss who would have to allow for it?

we will lose out we normally do ,that is if it happens we will no doubt find out at the end of the month 

Not a solution however, imagine how nice it would be if you 'pitched up' close enough to work for a few weeks to be able to slip into holiday mode the minute you left work; in the evenings and days off. I did this once, and it made working almost a pleasure knowing I was going 'home' to holiday.

Golly.....you are entitled (by law) to 28 days holiday per year (unless your contract gives you more).

Take a look at the Citizens Advice web site under "Work" and it will tell you your rights when asking for holiday and also your rights if your employer wants to change your conditions of employment.

Good luck!