Days before the Ottawa Senators first preseason game I received a phone call, not even a minute long, from a junior person in the team’s Human Resources department. I was told that I will not be offered a contract for the upcoming season for the 50/50 program I have been working at for 8-10 years. The Senators 50/50 program is run by the Ottawa Community Foundation.
I asked “why” of course? She responded that she doesn’t have to tell me. Less than two minutes after I hung up, my wife received the same phone call. We were both startled and confused. Why were we fired? How did we deserve this after so many years of dedication to the team and its fans? Through all the tough times the team has endured. The Senators are an organization which has help many people, including disabled people like my wife and me. It didn’t make sense.
After a few days, I sent an email to a relative who is a retired lawyer. He told us the “Ottawa Senators can’t do this, and they can’t replace” us. He recommended we speak to an employment lawyer, which we did.
The Senators replied to our lawyers’ letter denying the Senators owe us an explanation nor compensation for firing us without cause. Our jobs were part-time minimum wage jobs, but we loved being a part of the team. As a disabled person, there have not been many times in my life where I have felt like a member of a ‘team’. It was, by far, the most fun job I’ve ever had. It still burns me that they would do this without providing any explanation. It feels disrespectful.
Our lawyer explained that we can still pursue a settlement if we wish but said his fee would probably negate any compensation we might receive. So, it appears our only recourse now is to share our story, so the public is aware of what has been transpiring, because it appears we are not the only victims.
It seems the Senators organization has been removing long standing staff over the last year since the new owners took over. Replacing them with new college and university graduates. One person who was let go had 22 years of experience and won a business award before working for the Senators.
One can understand the new Senators ownership wanting to add new blood into the team, but employees of the team who have stuck with them through thick and thin deserve better. Loyal employees, even if let go, need to be treated better. Every one of us could be an ambassador for the team whether we’re officially employed or not. If we still held the team in our hearts…
John Redins,
Former Sens 50/50 ticket seller
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