Hello. I was recently fired from my employment due to my authorship of a small newsletter and blog that had articles critical of my employer. It was printed and distributed by my union as well as being vetted through their legal department, and was done completely on my own time. I was accused of violating several of my employer’s PPM (Policy and Procedures Manual) policies including “harassment”. The story is a bit more complex than stated here but the crux of my argument is that dismissal, and the loss of my livelihood, was excessive, punitive and possibly discriminatory. I am 61 years old. I have worked for my employer for 17 years, full-time for most of them. I have lost the possibility of future earnings, lump sum payments, RRSP employer-shared contributions and wage increases. The matter is currently being forwarded by my union for arbitration, so contacting an employment lawyer may be premature, but I am not confident that my union will carry my case to arbitration or that they will mount a vigorous defense (part of the added complexity I mentioned earlier). It’s Saturday night; I have been unemployed for 13 days. I know this is probably a computer-generated advice program, but what the heck; maybe it’s more sympathetic and honest than my employer (and possibly my union). Thanks D