Finally some good news... well kinda.... maybe......
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
July 22, 2009 7:59pm CST
SOme of you might remember my rambling about loosing my position at work. I was upset for many things, but specially by Employee services telling me I didn't have the right for some things that I believed I did. I read the collective agreement from top to bottom. Nowhere did I find any exception for my position. That kind of stuff upsets me.
Oh well.. making a few waves seems to pay off. Or maybe sending emails with cc to the union.
Either way, I received a call from the Continuing Ed. Department today. Because of my seniority and because they don't want to loose me - yeah right! - they are offering me a position in another school.Yeay!!!!!!
Wait! DOn't start clapping yet. I haven't accepted yet. I have until friday and I will use the time I have to the last minute the check everything in every detail and see what the catch is.
You see this will be an acting position. For one year. Sure a job for one year is better than no job at all. But, I really need to check it carefully. I have unfortunately seen how they work.
Will I loose anything with this acting job? Will my seniority be lost since I will be agreeing to a one year contract? My right for severance pay when that year is past?
SO, yes, I'm kind of happy and relieved, in a way. But cautious because I have seem many things happening that aren't fair.
My question? Have you ever been in a position that you are both happy and worried for being offered a job? Some way where you feel the need to check every single detail and possibility of what can be perceived as a good thing jobwise, but you have a nagging feeling that there might be a catch?
DO share.
4 people like this
6 responses
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
26 Jul 09
Hello, my friend. Well, I haven't been here much after I posted the discussion. But I did talk to my union rep, I also re-read the collective agreement, and asked them to send me the job offer in written form. They often change things once they have to put it in writing.
On Friday I accepted it, in the condition that all the details we discussed appear in that paper and are clear.
This because there are still a few things here and there that need to be clarified.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
23 Jul 09
Heartiest Congratulations to you on your ahchievements
. Hope you will progress leaps and bounds in future. My best wishes are with you.
. Hope you will progress leaps and bounds in future. My best wishes are with you.
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
23 Jul 09
My job is that way, in a way. I agreed to a lot of responsibility, and there is no guarantee that I will be left in the program I am in.I put in lots of hours, for a salary. My point of view, when I took this job, was that if I find I do not like this position I can step down.I am hanging on to it for now, while I pay off a second mortgage, and a first mortgage, and some old debts. When those things are done, I should be able to quit if I want to, or take a less responsible job. I am exploring the different self employment options. You do have the plus that this may help make sure you get your mortgage.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
23 Jul 09
It is good that you feel that you have the choice. That way you are in control of what you choose.
My case is more like: I had a permanent position. Now I don't. ANd they are offering me an acting position that is only for one school year. That means that after that school year ends I am without a job again.
Now, if I wait and let the union finish the negotiations, I might be able to get a permanent position - my own but at another school. That is what is written on the collective agreement. That higher seniority employees when their position is lost will bump out less seniority employees that keep permanent positions.
I don't like the idea of bumping someone else, but hey .. I was bumped myself a few times, loosing not only schools were I had been for many years but also hours.
I will wait until friday while I study the whole situation.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
23 Jul 09
And that is different, because it is a position of seniority. I hope you get something comparable, and permanent.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
23 Jul 09
i would go over the paper work. read it and then read it agin. i would make sure you are going to get all you are suppose to get. I would make sure all the T's are crossed and the I's have dots on them!! once you see all is well, then i would jump for joy that i got a second chance and still have a job
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
26 Jul 09
Yes, that's basically what I have been doing. I accepted the position conditionally. This because there are still a few things that need to be made very clear.
They will need to send me the offer in writing and with all the details discussed clearly.
Then I'll sign it, if I am sure that there are no more unclear details.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
24 Jul 09
There are no guarantees in employment anymore, not for most people, so you might just have to take a deep breath and follow your intuition. Sure it could be a trap, but all of life is a test. Good luck with whatever you choose. At least you have a choice...sort of.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
26 Jul 09
You're right,unfortunately.
But there is a collective agreement to be followed, and it covers my position. If it says there that I have the right for this or that. I expect to have it instead of having them try to turn things this way or that so they can wiggle out of it.
I know what they want, and understand it even, but they are way too used to people that are not really sure of what their rights are and give in to their pressure. It's time they stop thinking that just because someone comes from another country, it doesn't mean that their brain fell off the plane before arriving. Or that they don't know how to defend themselves. It seems to be an habit in the international languages department.
@jedijo (33)
• United States
23 Jul 09
It sounds like they know they have errored in some way and this is a way to make it right but with the underhanded plan that you will not be able to make the grade. They probably feel as though this is a way to make sure you are out of their hair. I say this because I have seen it done so often as a government employee. Be sure you talk with your union rep ... fully and completely before you say yay or nay. If the rep is any good, they can steer you in the right direction.
Don't forget about your own gut feeling. When they offered you this opportunity to go back to work, did you feel as tho you could trust them or did you feel like there was an underlying purpose?
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
23 Jul 09
You got it exactly right. My gut feeling...a mix, but pretty much that there is something there that I wasn't too excited about. That's why I didn't accept yet.
I will have to check and , as you say, talk to my union rep.
Thanks for answering you just complemented my way of thinking and allowed me not to feel like I was crazy or something for feeling that there might be something behind.
