blkdragon

grounded
2003-12-10 03:25:12 (UTC)

Discriminitations and Incriminations II

I asked Chris, today, if his pay had been adjusted yet, he
said no and he has no bonus attached. I asked Jeff if he
remembered Jack coming to him and telling him that Chris
and I would be watching him when our press was down, to
learn it's operations and he told me he did. Now Chris
operates the Didi and the Sid, from time to time. Whenever
I took the time to watch Jeff, Jack would come and get me
to assist on the stitcher, binder or in the bindry.
I seem never to have or get the opportunity to learn to
operate any of the presses and it's beginning to appear
deliberate.
I got the owner to ok training time on the Harris, 3years
ago and never got my turn at bat, I allowed Darryl the
first opportunity and when I should have followed suit;
the trainer was no longer available. I spoke to Larry
Lamarque, then Production Mgr, about this and he told me
not to worry; no one would graduate to the Harris before
me, the opposite became the fact.
Chris went on to run the Harris in Kenny's absence and in
the interim, I've been reduced to unskilled labor status.
When I was hired, I was brought into the company as a 2nd
pressman/apprentice and I also did the roll tending and
the bundling/stacking positions. Now my access to the
press is limited to applying and removing plates, filling
chemistry and ink fountains, as well as assisting in the
set-up for different jobs.
I've yet to set color or type, I've yet to learn the
various (intricacies involved in the) breakdown procedures
going from printing 8 1/2 x 11 inch work to Double
Parallel work or particular folder procedures for those
changes, I'm always needed elsewhere.
Running the press is a simple procedure, but the measure
of a good pressman is in the troubleshooting and I'm
seldom involved in that aspect of the operation. I've been
working at this press longer than any of the staff
currently working it and I still seem to be the lowest man
on the pole, guess seniority has no status.
I'll be bringing the issue to my Production Mgr and the
Owner with the start of the new year, I don't expect any
changes and after that I'll be dropping the ball in the
lap of the Dept. of Human Rights and they can determine
whether or not I'm the victim of discriminatory employment
practices.
Unlike the blatant suit with TGI Fridays, 17 years ago,
this issue will not be settled out of court; should it go
the distance. I will want remuneration for possible wages
lost, emotional and mental anguish. I stand on my
principles, it's definitely not about the money, but I
won't turn down any awards offered by the adjudicating
officer. We'll see what we shall see.
You'd think such situations would be a thing of the past,
they're not! So many people are placed in compromising
positions, while trying to earn a living for themselves
and they're families and I've put up with this shit for
long enough. As far as I'm concerned, I've nothing to
lose, they've already taken some of the money I worked my
ass off to earn. The kid gloves will come off and then,
IT'S ON!




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