I feel work are being unfair

[MumtoEri]

I work on a phone line for an important helpline. Occasionally some emergency calls (our workers work remotely and up heights and can run into danger for example) and a whole bunch of other quite serious issues come through the phone line, mostly not so important though.

The 'phone' is a system, a computer screen like any call centre I suppose.

Anyway a couple of weeks ago my phone system crashed. I was talking to a worker I know quite well and it just went. I could see the call there,(seconds ticking as if someone still on the call to me) but he had gone. All the 'buttons' were greyed out and wouldn't let me click them to end the call, log out of it, or ring anyone else or any other option.

I didn't want to leave my office to speak to management because if that call dropped and another call (a crucial one perhaps) came through, that could be detrimental. I messaged my manager on the internal system..on the camera could see her at her desk but talking, she sits within seconds walking distance but I was too worried about the system rectifying itself (maybe our worker had accidentally put me on hold and would hang up, or whatever had crashed righted itself for example!) And me leaving an unmanned line.

So I waited and tried to get her attention sent more msgs no avail.

I knew another manager was further away but nearby still so I messaged her and told her what had happened in detail. I also said it was almost my time to finish work. She told me to restart my whole system so I did.

I then messaged my manager (the first one) again and told her what I had done and who had advised me to, just in case.

Managers where I work always work an hour later than staff like me.
I shut down the system and went home.

Now,I am being subject to disciplinary. Upper management have seriously come down on me and said it will go on my record for not leaving my desk to see a manager face to face and not questioning what the manager said when she told me to restart.

This is because a lot of calls came thru to my system after I had gone home. This will look bad on our company.

I feel they're being unfair. I had valid reason to not leave my workstation. I did as I was advised by a senior. I stayed behind about 20 minutes trying to be advised because I wanted it resolved, making myself late picking my daughter up. I take work seriously. I'm upset.

Name changed regular..

Have they had any issues with you before this?

(justified or unjustified I mean)

Only very minor ones, the odd mistake I've made-I dont think anyone has never made a small mistake at work though.

One weird thing during the meeting with my manager was she brought up something that happened with me in the past, and that at the time, she'd discussed with me.

She said during the meeting, that this was a problem.

At the time, she'd said she totally understood, she'd have done the same, no harm done etc etc.

I didnt think this was fair either-sorry if this is a drip feeding, but it didn't seem relevant as the thing being discussed on this thread is just what they've done about this recent thing.

To answer someone's question above, no, manager 2 was not in the meeting, it was just me and her (manager 1).

Ah I just feel for you
I know what it's like when work is shit
Years ago (not like this situation and not as serious) I got feedback I'd done something wrong, when actually I'd done what the manager on that day told me to do but this manager had clearly denied it! And I've never forgotten that
So I can easily believe shit like this happens

I guess I felt quite at home there after so long and didn't think this would be the sort of thing they'd do. Manager was quite rude in the meeting too.
Yes very similar to that, Purple. Denial of any fault possibly being theirs.

Did you ask why that was being brought up now?

No I didn't. The only reason being I was talked at the entire meeting and every time I tried to speak, I was talked over.

Were notes taken by the manager or anyone else?

In the meeting? There was only me and manager and no notes.. she just talked at me about how big a problem I had caused and how bad I was for not going to her in person etc etc and that it will go on a negative record.

I am resurrecting an old thread here with an update and asking for advice again if possible. I left this job around the time of this thread, definitely influenced by the responses on it, and have a new, much nicer job now!

The reason I am asking for advice is, I was speaking to my supervisor from my new line of work and he suggested I put in a formal complaint about the organisation, and about the way the union handled it.

Rough timeline is, I handed my notice in,spoke to the union and they told me they'd definitely support me through this despite my being in notice period and that I definitely had a valid cause for concern/complaint.

I worked my notice period but when it came to the final week, Id have to work directly with the manager who'd curtly took me into this meeting and put the negative mark on my record, and the thought of it made me extremely stressed and anxious. I spoke to the union who suggested I rang in sick, and the GP signed me off for that final week with work related stress.

Union contacted me and said that as I was pending leaving, I had to cancel my membership and rejoin as an unuemployed member.

They told me to do this on the website. I went on the website and no option for rejoining as an unemployed member at all. I rang the main union office and was told that the actual branch dealing had to join me as an unemployed member, it wasn't possible for them to do it, so I emailed the rep I had been in touch with and she replied saying that unfortunately they couldnt help me as I would be no longer working for them so she didnt feel it fair to take the fee from me but good luck with my future yadda yadda.

To add insult to injury I lookedat my bank yesterday and the union have still been taking my fee (£12 a month, not cheap!) despite my having cancelled my membershuip.

Do you think it is worth me complaining about how work handled what happened?

Is it worth complaining about the conduct of the union?
Neither? Both?

Thanks in advance :)

Only bumping once then I'll leave it and decide some other way. MN is usually so helpful though so just want to make sure first.