When my contract was not renewed for my job I was a tad upset. Actually I was very upset. Not that they didn't renew the contract because the working conditions had become impossible but because of some of the crap that was going on.
- They didn't want to give me my termination notice (aka pink slip/record of employment) which I needed to be able to get unemployment insurance. After a month of fighting and emails back and forth I got the record and am now getting my UI benefits. I WON round 1
- They didn't want to give me my vacation pay stating "We don't do that" Huh. Basically they expected the counselor to do intensive counseling with abused women and never get a holiday. They said it was because I was a contract worker rather than a staff worker they did not have to pay for vacation. Talk about a set-up for PTSD. Well I went to Labor Standards and they saw that I was being paid as if I was a staff worker. My hours were set by them. They paid my taxes and deducted my benefits (contract workers pay their own taxes and benefits) and I had to ask permission to take time off. They fought with labor standards saying I had one week off last summer and took some time off at Xmas so I had my vacation and shouldn't complain. I told Labor Standards that I didn't get paid when I took the time off last summer and they gave me permission to take the time and the time I took off at Xmas was sick time so could not be counted as vacation. Well Labor Standards went back to them and told them if they didn't pay it would go to an investigation and they agreed to pay. I WON round 2
- I reported one of the bosses to their funding orgainzation. They were already investigating her and what went on there. They are meeting today to discuss some of the problems - good enough for me. I WON round 3
- I do have a complaint in to the Human Rights Commission for basically being told I was too old for the job. Human Rights keeps calling me. They want to follow up but I was putting things on hold until I saw the results of the other 3 issues. Think I will go for round 4 - next up.
This has been so good to stand up for my rights and have people listen to me and take me seriously enough to follow up and do something. I feel so much better that the system CAN work and damn I keep coming out on top.
I spent a lifetime being a doormat for anyone who wanted to take advantage of me.
My time has come and it stops here and now in every part of my life