Support an Unjustly Fired Labor Activist and Librarian

Hi everyone,

I didn't expect to be here, and I'm not happy about it.

I'm raising money after I was unjustly fired from my job as a library technician. My employers ignored pressing mental health concerns and our collective bargaining agreement in order to do so. BOTH MY UNION AND MYSELF THINK THIS WAS ALSO A CASE OF UNION BUSTING.

During an interaction with a patron who was verbally harassing me, I had to leave because I started having a trauma response. During my time at the library, I began exhibiting more intense signs of PTSD (which I already had) due to instances of harassment by patrons and fellow employees, as well as being threatened and cornered on more than one occasion while doing my job. While I left, I ended up arguing with the patron. There was a security guard on the scene who did nothing (and arguably made it worse). I ended up taking mental health leave for the next two days at my therapist's recommendation.

I was given no indication what happened was an issue and even met with my supervisor about the incident, who only gave me generic advice. A week later, I was placed on leave. I was given access to an incident report by the security guard who lied about several things:

My employer did not take any of the evidence I presented into light. Not only did they fail to present my conversation with my supervisor as part of an investigation (which would have allowed me to delay the meeting until a steward could be there), my employers also refused to move up the date when the steward I was working with couldn't make it.

Up until this point, I had no documented disciplinary actions. Admin regulations give multiple ways to work around this and I was willing to admit what I could have done better. The library took the opportunity to fire me, even trying to invent a verbal warning from the past. I can attest they've also been harassing another active union member at my job. I was also one of the workers spearheading an effort to meet with admin about several work issues. I was training to become a steward as well. I don't believe in coincidences.

My job was already deeply traumatizing me, and the initial incident was traumatizing as well. My employers made this infinitely worse. I've been at a bit of a loss and that's why I'm asking for help. I just want some peace while I figure out next steps. My labor union wants to do an intake about the action, so we may not even be done yet. There will be updates.

I've already began a job hunt, and am going to be applying for benefits tomorrow. In the past Virginia unemployment has been very difficult to work with, so I want to make sure I'm covered in case of the worst.