digger;2229216; said:
This IS the short version.
The full soap opera was pretty intense.
-Industry here controlled by Alberta Funeral Regulatory Board.
-AFRB sounds official to public, not really tied directly to government.
-AFRB created by Funeral Home owners to self regulate and supersede former formal government regulation.
-AFRB not elected or appointed by public nor required to act in public interest.
-AFRB members comprised of 6 members, 3 who supposedly represent the public, 3 who absolutely represent funeral businesses.
-AFRB 3 public interest members appointed by government Minister.
-Minister has no knowledge of nor concern for industry.
-Minister pads portfolio the easy way, appoint what members the elbow rubbing industry leaders say. Step back, allow self regulation, job done for next 3yrs.
-Minister represents business.
-AFRB business interest members "elected". From and by business interest.
-AFRB business interest members represent business.
-AFRB public interest members must not be owners or embalmers, theoretically unbiased members of public.
-AFRB public interest members, selected by AFRB through Minister, represent business.
-AFRB usually comprised of 3 business owners and 3 business owners wives, brothers, fishing buddies, club pals etc.
-AFRB comprised of 3 business members and 3 friends of business.
-AFRB 6 members represent business only.
-Basically it went down like this...
-AFRB terminally unresponsive to formal complaints by workers regarding conditions or practices.
-AFRB conducts "surprise" self inspections that are known of and prepared for days or weeks in advance.
-Inspections pass equipment and conditions that are clear violations of health and building code.
-Inspections do include book keeping, financial actions, permits. But I don't know how much they read in the five minutes they are there.
-Industry workers and equipment are sometimes shared between businesses. Though they are competitive it is better to hire a competitors funeral car and experienced driver, rather than a limo from the phone book. We know the competition is trained to control the crowed, carry caskets, and generally behave properly.
-Workers know each other, workers talk.
-Cemeteries often have multiple services, workers who know each other talk some more.
-Workers start hanging out after work and really talk.
-AFRB receives multiple complaints.
-Workers simply want a return to proper conduct and safe practices. They do not want an official public inquiry. They do not want to shut down the business they work for. They do not want to be branded trouble makers and be blacklisted. They want to pay the mortgage.
-AFRB ignores complaints.
-Complaints increase to allegations of technically illegal if not just distasteful practices.
-AFRB ignores complaints.
-Complaints increase to allegations of assuredly illegal practices. Bending rules has become breaking rules.
-AFRB ignores complaints.
-AFRB is advised some information may be passed to official government enforcement to trigger a public inquiry. This inquiry would include why AFRB took no action.
-AFRB conducts "surprise" inspections. Including documentation.
-AFRB ignores discrepancies. Ignores lack of provincial and interprovincial transport permits. Ignores permits acquired after the fact. Ignores prepaid service contracts not fully fulfilled or filled by lesser value product, or nonexistent product and services. Ignores health concerns. Ignores building code. Ignores improper disposal of medical waste. Ignores etc.
-Worker #1 questions business owner directly concerning book keeping, prepaid service contracts not fully fulfilled and incorrect, delayed or nonexistent transport permits and documentation.
-Worker #1 terminated immediately with no compensation, removed by police.
-Worker #1 sues owner for compensation citing wrongful dismissal.
-Owner counters citing justifiable termination, as worker #1 was responsible for record keeping and any document discrepancies.
-Owner is successful.
-Worker #1 has limited resources resulting from resent divorce, sudden loss of income, legal fees, blacklist, depression, threats of further legal action citing damage to business and reputation, more legal fees, worker #1 eventually defaults mortgage and is ruined financially and emotionally.
-Worker #2 (Spankbelly) questions owner directly regarding high volume high speed cremation practices that do not allow the process to be entirely completed. (I can take a 200lb man from casket to urn in record time, just need to stir the pot.
) And regarding what is done with remains that are not yet cremains. And how would the public feel about that?-Other workers question owners directly regarding areas of their expertise.
-AFRB receives documents and copies of documents from multiple sources supporting allegations. And supporting worker #1.
-Low level worker #3 receives promotion and increase in salary despite being unlicensed and unqualified to do anything besides wash limousines.
-Worker #2 is terminated and arrested for theft under $500. Evidence submitted, witness statement from #3 that #2 stole computer backup tapes.
-Police request statement from #2 against #1 in exchange for owner dropping charges and reinstating employment of #2. Said statement would include witnessing #1 illegally removing documents. And include #1 requesting #2 illegally remove documents.
-#2 refuses.
-Police increase charge. Citing under $500 was the physical value of storage device. The information has added monetary value. Offers of reinstatement are rescinded. #2 advised that any conviction would end career.
-#2 refuses.
-Police increase charge. Citing information theft.
-#2 refuses.
-Police increase charge citing electronic information theft. Advising that this is a subtle but gigantic step from paper to electronic and carries serious punishments. Including financial liability for loss of business and any needed upgrades to repair the leak. Basically.
-#2 refuses.
-Police increase charge to "produces, manufactures, repairs electronic devises for the purposes of credit card fraud." citing files contain information that could be used in such ways. #2 advised this carries punishment of minimum 3yrs imprisonment, max 10yrs federal.
-#2 refuses.
-#2 released with hearing date. Employment terminated. Restraining order restricting distance to funeral home at 2 city blocks. No contact with any employee current or former.
-Former golden boy #2 lived in funeral home suite while being groomed for management and is homeless and unemployed.
-All colleagues take no contact order seriously after threats of inclusion and punishment.
-AFRB receives no further complaints.
-#2 pleads not guilty. Receives trial date 5 months away.
-#2 acquitted. Judge cites no evidence.
-Young crown prosecutor admits he only played the case for practice. Otherwise it would have been dropped.
-Arresting officer chuckles and admits he wasn't worried. No way a ridiculously excessive charge like that would result in conviction with no evidence. No harm done.
-#2 does not work enough hours this year to remain current, director/embalmer license forfeit.
-#2 could regain license by retaking school program.
-#2 can only enter program if currently employed by funeral home.
-#2 blacklisted.
-The End.
