This is an account of how Saker Shop Rite turned my suspension in to a termination without allowing me a Union Meeting to prove they were wrong, Before you mention the social media paper they wanted everyone to sign that would prevent you from talking about them online let me just say I declined to sign that paper therefore it does not apply to me.
I worked at this location on Night Crew in the Grocery Department, It was a normal day at work most of us the few that worked on that shift had to do two aisles because we didn't have enough guys on the shift, Towards the end of my shift I was packing out Water and had a sharp pain go through my shoulder was brief so I did not think anything of it, Finished the aisle, Punched out and went home, On the way home my shoulder started to get real sore, I just thought it was from overwork so after I slept I thought it would be fine.
I was wrong, Woke up around 4:15 PM and my arm was killing me to the point I could hardly raise it without pain, It was at that point I decided to call out of my shift, I finally called out at 4:33 PM spoke to John Hobbs the Night Manager explained to him while I was calling out and he said "Not a problem hope you feel better and He would let the Night Crew Chief know" I was not scheduled the next day so that day came and went and we moved on to the day after and I was scheduled.
I wake up the next day and I feel ok good enough to work, I notice I have a message on Facebook from another Night Crew Part Timer, I start reading this message and he's telling me I'm suspended pending termination for a No Call / No Show, I thought he was playing a joke on me, But he told me if I didn't believe him to call the store and ask, So I did and the Store Manage Ruth Honauer confirmed I was indeed suspended and had to have a meeting with the VP of HR Kevin Moroney with my Union Rep, I told her I did call out and could back that up with the records from my phone service provider, She said bring that with me then and it shouldn't be an issue.
I called my union rep and left a message, and another message and another message for 3 days straight with no call backs, I went it to work that Friday to get my paycheck and was talking to my fellow night crew guys and they all told me on the day I was suspended that Kenny Morris another Manager was telling everyone my business about being suspended for not showing up or calling out (Note this was way before I was even informed of it and I'm yet to see how it was the entire store's business before it was my business) So I get my check and see Carol who at that time was the Grocery Manager in talking to her she didn't even know I was suspended at least that's what she said, I asked her for a copy of my write up and she responded that she did not know where they kept them.
I spent the next 3 weeks calling my union to no avail, I even emailed/left messages for Kevin Moroney to try and secure my meeting myself, he never called me back either, Over a month went by and I was forced to file Unemployment, I lost my claim due to Shop Rite telling them I violated company policy with my no call / no show, They gave me a window of time I forget exactly how long it was to file my appeal with the appeals tribunal, Which I did, I gave my account of what happened and included a copy of my phone service records that show I called the store on the day in question, I won my appeal, At this point I would think Shop Rite would know they made a mistake..But no.
I filled out several applications for other jobs and Had one company call me back one day and I was told based on my last employers report on me he couldn't hire me because I no did a no call / no show, So shop rite is still telling companies I apply for that I no call / no show, I guess they are pissed they got beat in unemployment, I don't think it's fair at all, I cannot not put the job down in my job history because once they do a background check on me they will see I worked there and contact them to find out why I didn't disclose that I worked there.
Not only did I comply with company policy but I gave my all to Shop Rite just as I would do with any company, Heck I even came in an hour early every single day I was scheduled on my own dime and that's how they thanked me.
I've been working for a long time and until I worked here at Shop Rite I never once in over 20 years had a single discipline problem at any job, None of my past employers could say I ever did a no call / no show or bad mouth my work ethic, What gives Shop Rite? Why did you violate my rights according to my Union Contract?
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