Just When I Was Having Fun

I'm back to work, Ms J. Well, nearly.

When I got home from my walk with Carolyn yesterday, I found a message on my phone. It was Mr. V., the union boss.

"I spoke with the VP for Eastern Canada and he says he's willing to bring you back to work. Your discipline will be 'time served' but you have to agree that there will be no union grievance on the issue. We can still grieve it if you want, but I imagine they'll hold you out until the matter is settled. It's up to you what you want to do. Call me tomorrow. I'll be in the office at 9:00."

I waited until 10:00 this morning and while I waited, I composed a list of questions to ask Mr. V.

Will I be back on my old job on Monday, then?

Will my work record still show that I suffered a dismissal? I want that expunged.

Will this lapse in employment affect my 2007 vacation allotment?

What about my pension account? Will it now show a deficiency? Who will pay that?

And when can I expect to receive my back pay?


I spoke with V’s secretary.

"Oh he's at a doctor's appointment this morning. He won't be in until 11:00. Shall I have him call you?"

It's never easy, is it?

I'll phone him again later and let you know how things turn out.

---

I just spoke with Paul V. I listened again while he prattled on about how arrogant and intractable the company is and how the union really can’t do much to change things, and blah blah blah

Whatever.

When I could get a word in, I asked him my questions. His answers were not encouraging. I asked him anyway to take my concerns to the vice president who will decide my fate.

“And tell him I’m disappointed in the way I’ve been treated, Paul. Tell him of course I’d like to be re-instated, but I would like to be assured of the right to an appeal. I feel I’ve been treated unfairly.”

I’m waiting now for him to call me back with the company’s response.

I think I’ll have my lunch.

---

It’s 3:00 and I’ve just now spoken with Paul. Here’s the deal:

Fourteen day suspension, shown that way on my record. I’ve been off a month and the company agrees to pay me for the first two weeks. Full salary. That means I only lose two weeks pay instead of four. I’ll lose a few days of vacation time next year. And I’ll have to pay my pension deficiency. I’ll go back to work on Monday, hopefully, unless someone neglects to make the required phone calls.

"That's it," said V. "That's their final offer. Take it or leave it. What should I tell them?"

Any way I look at it, Ms J, it still stinks. Even if they agreed to pay me everything they owe me, even if they agreed to pay me EXTRA – it still stinks.

"Tell them OK, Paul. Tell them I accept. And tell them I hope they rot in hell, the pricks."

I despise the company I work for. But I’ll do my best to suck it up for seven more years.

Seven long years.

***