I’m on the ship! It’s great. Big ports, big boats, black oil on your
hands, real people, really real people, gritty town, hot weather, bumpy
seas. It’s real and it’s great.
Bought four cheap watches in Cambridge before leaving: two analogue, two digital.
Daft really; didn’t stop to think that the analogue will be only half helpful
where we’re headed. Two am or pm? Does it matter? There’s still night and day
here though… not even as far south as Britain is north. I have a cabin with
a porthole (that even opens) and our own shower and loo. Height of luxury.
Twenty-one of us travelled from Heathrow to Montevideo and we only managed
to lose two bags and a passport along the way. No-one went AWOL in Monte despite
the local attractions and we’re due to pick up another 10 or 20 in the Falklands.
This is on top of the crew who number about 20 as well I guess.
The men are fantastic,- really nice. Mandy (personnel), Penny (dentist), Jo
(senior scientist) and myself are the women aboard so far but that’s going to
increase too so it’s not as biased as people imagine. And I’ve seen albatrosses
(black browed), dolphins (or porpoises?), penguins and petrels already. Sunburn
and seasickness allowing, I could stand on that bow forever. Over.
PS: The Shackleton’s website
is updated weekly… with pictures! You can also email
me (make sure the subject line says ‘personal’) or leave a comment below.
As for books, I’ve been drawn to two that aren’t read-alongs, I’m afraid. Stupidly
left Magnus Mills’ latest
on the plane but will hopefully get a replacement soon so that’s the one to
start with. Unless you can get your hands on the latest by Dave Eggers. Hope
you’re all okay.
Why did you buy four watches? Where did you see the penguins? Do you really think you’ll get confused, during the long summer, as to whether it’s am or pm?
And as for the porpoises, penguins and petrels Ò I think it’s now time you found an animal beginning with the letter q…
four watches because cold+batteries=bad. penguins swimming like ducks by
the boat. ducked and paddled away but I’m worried might have got eaten up
by the boat. Sorry, ship. And it’s galley, foredeck and arse-end to you.
Yes, I’ll get confused but maybe that’s why I’m going… no quails yet but
I’ll keep you posted. Albatrosses are the most amazing. Don’t call them
seagulls, that’s bad too. Rh.
porpoises, penguins and petrels – I think it’s now time …
No, let her go on. She hasn’t mentioned the pigs, porcupines, possums or parrots yet !
I am sure someone will wake you during AM. Typical Mum question: What is the food like on board? Still real fruit and vegies left?
mum
Hey Rhian!
Sounds awesome there! Hope that after … (how long does journey take??)
days on the boat it’s still half as exciting as in the beginning…
I’d thought that most groups would fly in ANtarctica, but do you guys
have so much equipment that you’re goig by boat, or what’s the reason/ (I
think it’s great to go by boat; don’t get me wrong, just thought it was
less common in this hasty world). As for the time, I guess looking at the
place of the sun in the sky wouldn’t work there either?
It is awesome, yes. And I’d far rather the boat too but I know what you
mean about a world in haste. The jouney takes a few weeks…hope to arrive
around christmas or new year. The truth is, Halley is still a very remote
place and though you can fly in, it’s only possible by twin otter via
Rothera, a base on the antarctic peninsula. You have to land on skis so
only little planes are possible. This is expensive on fuel, often results
in being stranded in Rothera due to weather and also is expensive in money
and time. During the summer season, there will be abut 60 of us there so it
just wouldn’t be logistically possible to fly people in. The VIPS and most
important workers go in early to wake the base up but since all the cargo
is on the ship (for instance my lab and all the steel posts for raising
buildings) there’s not much point in arriving before the ship. Not to
mention all the years food and fuel that we’re carrying. So yeah, it’s a
coastal site for a reason. Last year was the first year since 1956 that the
ship hasn’t been able to get in (too much sea ice) and we’re all
desperately hoping that was an anomaly and not start of a trend.
To continue the questioning, here’s another one: First time since 56 that
ship couldn’t get to the coast due to sea-ice: More sea-ice could be due
to cooling (cool->more ice), but more likely it is actually due to warming
and the melting of ice-caps and huge sea’s of ice such as happened last
year; was the melting of that B_shelf something ice-shet indeed the reason
for the increase in sea-ice?
I’m picturing Shackleton’s some what scary adventure alright! a room with your very own port hole* what extravegant lodgings! when you are back from this trip could I have you come into my classroom as a guest speaker??? teaching is going well…..doing lots of learning and doing the best I can with the teaching part! i’m sooo excited for you rhian and hold you in my thoughts always. be safe! love kelly.
Well, I know where I’d rather be! Even though Cornwall is nearly as wet…I am prone to exaggeration! How cool that we can contact you on board ship! Isn’t this world amazing….seen any quails yet?!! What’s your typical day like?
Sorry for the delay in replying..we’ve been having a jolly in Stanley for
the last few days and I thought I’d save (and savour) emails for the days
at sea. Bart, yes, I think most people agree it’s related to climate change
(and I much prefer the time ‘climate change’ to ‘global warming’ since it
is more accurate in its ambiguity). Last year the increased sea ice wasn’t
necessarily due to cooling or warming but rather wind direction. During the
winter, the sea ice around Antarctic increases as the water freezes. During
the Spring the sea ice melts which is why we go in now. However, the
melting/breaking up of sea ice such that we can get to Halley is also
dependent on winds from the South/East blowing that broken-up ice out into
the open water. Last year, the winds blew fairly consistently from the open
ocean towards the land and so compacted the ice into the bay. (If you look
on a map, Halley is located on the side of the Weddell sea…other bases
such as Neumayer further around the coast didn’t have this problem I don’t
think). So the ice stayed near the coast and, come winter, refroze. Now,
possibly for the first time, we have ‘multi-year ice’ to contend with. i.e.
ice from last year as well as this year. Hence the concern about getting
in….The plus side is that the ship is stocked with a lot more fuel than
she was last year so that we can stay in there and keep trying. Around New
Year last year they had to turn back to the Falklands in order to
refuel..and so had to leave the area around Halley for a few weeks. It’s
possible that a lead appeared and refroze during that time. As for the
Brunt Ice Shelf…the Antarctic Peninsula is one of the areas in the world
with greatest warming of late so, yes, that was climate change and will
have no doub t resulted in more sea ice and icebergs floating around. I
don’t think that was related to the Halley situation though. (Aside: I’m
typing this off the top of my head and not as an expert…there are others
at BAS I can check with if you want more reliable answers!)
Mum: food is actually great. There are three chefs on board since a couple
are going in for BAS to cook at Halley plus the one emplyed for the ship.
We had an amazing spread of salad today that I felt I should fill up on as
it’s splendour will no doubt decline with time. Plus, we’ve only just
started moving again so everyone’s tums were still fairly stable! On other
days, it’s more like school dinners but then we get nostalgic for custard
and chocolate sponge so that’s alright too. Three meals a day though and
not a lot of exercise means we’re all getting fat. So much for coming home
fit antarctic heroes!
As for fruit and veg..yup, we loaded up at Monte and now also at the
falklands so there’s lots. There was also a line of people wrapping fruit
and veg in paper this morning in an attempt to make it all last longer.
Apparrantly at Halley last year they even managed to have a few potatoes,
onions and oranges survive until mid-winter (June 21st).
Kels bells, I would love to talk to your kids but aren’t you somewhere in
the north west corner of canada? That sounds more remote than the
Falklands! If you would like, I’m happy to answer questions from them over
email though…but DON’T give them my email address…just send me a list
of questions you’ve compiled or send them to Felix to post here. What size
are they?
hmmm..typical day….haven’t really had one yet although routines are
starting to develop. Got thrown a bit while we were at the falklands though
as we had all the joys of LAND and ESCAPING to entartain us.
The day seems to be defined by food times I guess, and eating. And
drinking. Not surprisingly. Breakfast 7:45-8:30, lunch 11:45-12:30, dinner
5:45-6:30..mainly set so that crew can eat either before or after shift
changing times of 4, 8 and 12 (am and pm). The time in between is filled
variously. I love it on deck so spend quite a bit of time out there. Saw
dolphins playing around the ship this morning which was wonderful. In
rougher waters most people hole up in their beds as it definitely feels
better horizontal. Even sitting up in bed is a bit of a struggle on bad
days. There’s also a mini gym (exercise bike, rowing machine , weights
thing) that I’ve attempted..and email ofcourse. Haven’t yet sunk into any
of my many books, except the ‘Tibetan Art of Living and Dying’ which is
great for short bursts and contemplation durig the rest of the day. Music
has also been a godsend when stuck in bed. Saying that, I’ve generally not
been too bad though I hear the seas are going to get much worse. In the
evenings, most people sit around chatting and playing games. Backgammon and
cribbage seem to be the current faves. Didn’t take long for them to
discover my lack of numeracy skills. And momentary daydreamers have already
been known to be asked “gone to Rhianland have you?” Discovered again.
Darn. (Snap recollection of Elaine calling me spacy kasey on the Scilles).
Anyway, hope Cornwall dries up a bit..I think I know where I’d rather be
too!
I have just been to the official website, Rhian, just how many photos can you manage to sneak into?!!! The ice sounds very exciting, very exciting, oh, were you excited by the ice by any chance?!!! It snowed here (briefly) and I was very excited by a wee flurry, so I cannot possibly imagine what it must be like to crunch through acres of the white stuff! Keep writing, I like this excitement by proxy!!! xxx
Hey Rhian, on searching the BAS website trying to find the answer to my question: how far south-east (?) is the CASLab from the main station, I came across this site, so I hope it’s ok that I’ve left a message for you. Been thinking about you and Katie. Hope you are both ok. Have you met up with her yet? Keep imagining that I am coming too! Then remember, boo…
All sounds amazing. A few things I was wondering…how long were you in Uraguay for, what was it like? Are the Falklands a strange remote extension of England or do they feel more South American?
OK, take care, keep warm and eat your greens!
Sarah x
ON SATURDAY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CITIGROUP THANKING ME FOR MY FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE YET THEY JUST EXPLAINED TO THE DFEH WHY THEY FIRED ME
PLEASE HELP US GET TO THE TRUTH
GETTTING THIS LETTER WAS VERY DISTURBING SINCE I FEEL I WAS WRONGFULLY TERMINATED
I HAD NO PLANS TO LEAVE CITIBANK IN CARMEL
THE LETTER EVEN STATES TO ANOTHER 5 YEARS BUT THEY FIRED ME!!!!!
Subject: IS IT LEGAL TO LIE TO THE DFEH & US DEPT OF LABOR? CITIGROUP DID & THEY LIE TO CLIENTS IN CARMEL PLEASE READ THIS LETTER SENT TO THE MONTEREY HERALD
The Monterey County Herald
Attn: Herald Executive Editor, Carolina Garcia
8 Upper Ragsdale
Monterey, CA 93940
cgarcia@montereyherald.com
(831) 646-4306
Ms. Garcia,
I have attempted through several sources to clarify my
position regarding my unfair treatment by my previous
employer, Citibank. I had no previous plans to leave
my position as Head Teller at the Citibank branch in
Carmel. After 4 years of employment with the company,
the unfair and unequal treatment of employees led to
medically supervised work-related stress. The manager
of the branch then accused me of job abandonment which
led to my termination via UPS delivery on December 15,
2005, while I was at home on medical leave.
Subsequent to my termination, I received numerous
correspondences that referenced me as terminated, no
longer with the company, and as a former employee. My
401K and pension have both been forwarded to me.
However, when interviewed by the Department of Fair
Employment and Housing, Citibank representatives
reported that I was terminated due to not personally
reporting my absence, but rather having medical
documentation reported by my physician. When
interviewed by the U. S. Department Wage and Hours
Division, Citibank representatives reported on August
8, 2006, that I was still an employee of the company
and that a letter indicating such would be forwarded
to me. To date, this letter has not been received.
I have continued to be in contact with several clients
that have stated that Citibank representatives
indicated that I was either on vacation, or that I
voluntarily resigned in order to work with my husband
in his new business. This is absolutely untrue. It was
my intention to continue my employment as the benefits
were extremely important to me, as well as to my
family.
Clearly, there has been a gross misrepresentation by
Citibank, either to its clients or to the U. S.
Department Wage and Hours Division. It is my position
that I was unfairly terminated by Citibank. The
unscrupulous behavior of Citibank and its
representatives, locally and at the corporate level,
is unacceptable.
It is also my opinion that if a corporation as large
as Citibank is representing itself on a local level,
the local management and staff should act accordingly.
A large part of the attraction of the Monterey area is
the sense of community that is felt here on a day to
day basis. If Citibank is allowed to misrepresent its
actions to clients and government agencies, where will
the corporate takeover end?
Sincerely,
Damari Stratford
dcsbears@aol.com
dcsbears@aol.com wrote:
Subject: Re: Your message to the governor was received
THE GOVERNOR HAS WRITTEN ME TWICE AND SAID HE WOULD
HELP,, CITIBANK HAS LIED TO THE DFEH AND US LABOR DEPT
WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION AND TO THEIR CLIENTS ABOUT MY
STATUS, I NEED HELP, HOW CAN I FIGHT WHEN THIS
CORPORATION IS TELLING LIES AND HAS ALL THE LAWYERS
THEY NEED AND I CAN’T AFFORD ONE. HOW MANY TIMES ARE
THEY GOING TO GET AWAY WITH MISTREATING EMPLOYEES
ON 8/8/06 RONAN FROM THE US DEPT OF LABOR WAS TOLD BY
A CITIBANK ATTORNEY THAT THEY WOULD SEND ME A LETTER
EXPLAINING MY STATUS AS STILL AN EMPLOYEE, I HAVE YET
TO GET THIS LETTER, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PUT A
LETTER TOGETHER IF THEY ARE TELLING THE TRUTH?
YOUR OFFICE AS WELL AS THE FIRST LADY’S OFFICE HAS
CALLED ME BUT WE AREN’T GETTING ANYWHERE. IT HAS BEEN
7 MONTHS SINCE I FIRST WROTE THE GOVERNOR. CITIBANK
ATTORNEYS HAVE CANCELLED 2 DEPOSITIONS AT THE LAST
MINUTE THE LAST INE THEY CANCELLED WAS AFTER TALKING
TO THE US LABOR DEPARTMENT,WHY?
MY JOB WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO MY FAMILY AND I PLEASE
HELP ME AND MY FAMILY AND ALL THOSE BEFORE ME THAT
HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY TERMINATED BY CITIBANK FOR NO
GOOD REASON
WHY IS EVERYONE SO AFRAID OF CITIGROUP? WHY CAN’T I
FIND AN ATTORNEY WILLING TO STAND UP TO THEM ON A
CONTINGENCY BASIS? I VOTED FOR THE GOVERNOR AND I NEED
HIM NOW
PLEASE CALL ANN FROM THE DFEH AT 408-277-1916 THEY
TOLD HER THAT I HAD CALLED IN ILL ON 11/15/05 AND THAT
I TOLD THEM I WOULDN’T BE IN, THIS IS A LIE I WORKED
THAT DAY AND I CAN PROVE THIS WITH MY IME CARD, THEN
THEY SAY THEY MADE AN ERROR
PLEASE CALL RONAN AT 415-744-5590 EXT 226 FROM THE US
LABOR DEPT TO VERIFY WHAT CITIBANK ATTORNEYS SAID. THE
ONLY REASON THEY OFFERED ME FMLA IS BECAUSE I FILED
FOR DISABILITY, BEFORE THAT THEY HAD PAID OUT MY FINAL
PAYCHECK, FIRED ME VIA UPS, SENT ME COBRA INFORMATION.
PLEASE HELP US PLEASE SEE THAT THE GOVERNOR GETS THIS
EMAIL AND ASK HIM TO MAKE A CALL ON MY BEHALF
CORPORATE AMERICA NEEDS TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEIR
GOOD EMPLOYEES AND NOT ALLOW A MANAGER WITH BAD SKILLS
TO FIRE SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE HE WANTS TO
SINCERELY DAMARI STARTFROD
MOTHER WIFE HUMAN BEING AND I VOTED FOR THE GOVERNOR
I MATTER TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CITIBANK IN CARMEL LIES TO CLIENTS ABOUT WHY I AM NOT
THERE. THEY TELL PEOPLE THAT I AM ON VACATION OR THAT
I LEFT TO WORK FOR MY HUSBAND INSTEAD OF TELLING THEM
HAT THEY FIRED ME AFTER MY DOCTOR FAXED IN A NOTE AND
CALLED IN FOR ME TO PROTECT ME FROM HAVING MY BLOOD
PRESSRE RISE. JEFF URSINO AND KATHLEEN MUNOZ LIES TO
ANN AT THE DFEH AND THEIR LAWYERS LIED TO THE US DEPT
OF LABOR. KATHLEN WAS DOING THE OVERDRAFT ON HER
DAUGHTERS ACCOUNTS AND REFUNDED HER OWN DAUHGTER MONEY
WHILE THE MANAGER WAS ON VACATION. SHE LIES ABOUT
BEING FIRED FROM WELLS FARGO, SHE LIED TO THE WORKERS
COMP PEOPLE AND WILL LIE TO ANYONE. KATHLEEN HAD
INSTUCTED THE OTHER TELLERS TO COOK THE BOOKS BY
HAVING THEM PUT IN FALSE REFEERALS AND JEFF URSINO DID
NOTHING ABOUT IT BUT I GOT WRITTEN UP FOR MISSING WORK
WITH A DOCTORS NOTE. THEY STATE TO ONE AGENCY THAT I
WAS FIRED AND TO THE OTHER THAT I AM STILL EMPLOYED,
THEY STATE I WAS FIRED FOR NOT CALLING IN YET I WAS
RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO HAVE MY DOCTOEOR CALL IN AND FAX
MY NOTE IN DUE TO THE STRESS AND HARRASSMENT BROUGHT
ON BY JEFF AND CITIBANK, WHERE ARE THE ETHICS IN THIS
COMPANY
NOW THEY ARE TELLING MORE LIES TO THE DEPT OF FAIR
EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING JEFF TELLS THEM WHY I WAS FIRED
AND THEIR LAWYERS TELL THE US DEPT OF LABOR THAT I AM
STILL EMPLOYEED
PLEASE HELP US GET THIS STORY OUT TO THE WORLD IF IT
ISN’T TOO MUCH TO ASK:) HOW DO YOU FIGHT LIARS, HOW DO
THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT
CITIBANK IN CARMEL 831-624-8258 CALL AND ASK THEM
WHERE I AM ASK FOR KATHLEEN AND ASK HER WHY SHE LIES
THIS WOMAN WAS HAVING CITIBANK PAY FOR HER DAUGHTER
OVERDRAFTS AND HER A TELLER REFUND HER OWN DAUGHTER
MONEY WHILE THE MANAGER WAS OUT ON VACATION SO WHY
SHOULD ANYONE BELEIVE THIS UNETHICAL PERSON JUST AS
JEFF URSINO THE MANAGER OF THE CAPITOLA BRANCH LIES TO
HIS BOSSES TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK BETTER PLEASE HELP US
WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME
HOW DO YOU FIGHT A CORPORATION LIKE THIS
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
DAMARI AND CITIBANK HERE IS THE TRUTH!!
To set the record straight!
Damari was fired by Citibank in Carmel!
Damari did not leave the bank to go work for her
husband!!!!
DAMARI HAD NO PLANS TO LEAVE CITIBANK!
DAMARI PLANNED ON STAYING FOR ANOTHER 16YRS.
THE BENEFITS WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO HER FAMILY!!
DAMARI WAS FIRED VIA UPS WHILE AT HOME ILL DUE TO WORK
RELATED STRESS BROUGHT ON BY THE MANAGER AND THE
UNFAIR AND UNEQUAL TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES
ALONG WITH BEING THREATEN AND HARASSED
BY THE MANAGER FOR JOB ABANDOMENT.
SEVERAL OF
Citibank clients have TOLD HER that they have been
told by the staff at the Carmel branch :
THAT SHE LEFT TO GO WORK FOR HER HUSBAND!
THIS IS AN OUTRIGHT LIE!!!!
What else will they lie about?
Are they ashamed of what was done??
WHY DO THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO SAY SHE LEFT TO GO WORK
WITH HER HUSBAND
( I DO NOT WORK FOR MY HUSBAND)
( I DO NOT WORK FOR JND PLUMBING)
(NOR AM I ON VACATION)
INSTEAD OF JUST TELLING THE TRUTH ?
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE CARMEL BRANCH THAT COULD SWEAR
TO THIS? NO!
You can reach Damari at dcsbears@aol.com
ENOUGH WITH THE LIES CITIBANK!!!
IF YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS PLEASE SEND HER AN EMAIL
CITIBANK TOLD
THE US LABOR DEPT WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION ,
ON 08/08/06
THAT I AM STILL AN EMPLOYEE
YET I HAVE LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS
THAT CLEARLY USE THE WORDS
TERMINATED
NO LONGER WITH THE COMPANY
FORMER EMPLOYEE
AND MY 401K AND PENSION HAVE BEEN SENT TO ME AS OF
8/24/06 I HAVE YET TO GET THE LETTER FROM CITIBANK
WHICH EXPLAINS HOW I AM STILL AN EMPLOYEE! HOW LONG
DOES IT TAKE TO WRITE A LETTER IF YOU ARE TELLING THE
TRUTH HOW CAN THEY SAY TO THE US DEPT OF LABOR THAT I
AM STILL AN EMPLOYEE YET THEY TELL THE DFEH THAT THEY
FIRED ME FOR NOT CALLING IN, WHAT IS THE TRUTH
CITIBANK??????????
CITIBANK STATES THAT I WAS FIRED FOR NOT CALLING IN
YET MY DOCTOR CALLED IN FOR ME THE DAY BEFORE AND ALSO
FAXED IN A NOTE FOR ME WHICH THE MANAGER RETURNED TO
ME WITH MY LETTER OF TERMINATION. THEY KNEW THE DAY
BEFORE THAT I WASN’T COMING IN SO WHY WOULD HE CALL TO
ASK IF I WAS COMING IN IF IT WAS CLEARLY STATED ON THE
NOTE AND TOLD TO THEM BY MY DOCTOR TO PROTECT MY
HEALTH
JUST MORE LIES BY THE CITIBANK STAFF IN CARMEL
DCSbears…
I whole heartedly understand you delemma, and my heart goes
out to you.
a few years back, I worked for citibank/corp. for one full year.
It was without doubt the worst job, and the worst nightmare I have
ever lived. The treatment of employees was abominable, among many
other things. .
I worked with people that had been there for years. They were not treated
any better, than I was.
I quit in the middle of the day. I sat in my car for a good twenty minutes
breathing in what was for me, the most fresh air I had in one year.
In the following year, at least six people I had worked with, and had been there
for years, were let go, with the very worst excuses ever. Of course the lost all
benifits, and retirments.
Needless to say, I have never again banked with them, or used one of their credit
cards, or have done any other business with them, whatsoever, and when asked I inform orher companies why.
I have always…and to this day, informed everyone within earshot, of that disgusting thing, know as “citibank/corp.
I am sorry they got you. I hope you get them.
FROM AOL BLOG THANK YOU FOR YOU THOUGHTS
CITIBANK FIRES ME FOR NOT “FOLLOWING POLICY ” YET THEY DIDN’T FOLLOW THEIR OWN POLICY CITIBANK IS UN FAIR AND UNEQUAL TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES
WHAT KIND OF MAN FIRES YOU WHILE YOU ARE ILL KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE WORK RELATED STRESS AND YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS UP? HOW HEARTLESS IS THIS CITIBANK MANAGER WHO COULDN’T WAIT FOR ME TO GET WELL?
CITIBANK MADE THE LIST OF THE 100 BEST COMPANIES FOR WORKING MOTHERS BUT AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PUT MY DAUGHTER FIRST THEY FIRED ME!!!
I WASN’T GIVEN AN EXIT INTERVIEW NOR WERE MY KEYS ASK FOR BUT THAT IS THEIR POLICY! HE DIDN’T EVEN HAVE MY FINAL PAYCHECK WITH MY LETTER OF TERMINATION AND THEY DEPOSITED IT INTO MY ACCOUNT WHICH IS NOT CALIF CODE
My heart goes out for you, just know that things happen for a resound and what go around must come around!! I myself am having my own issue with Citibank!!! I was approved for a lone and used my car as collateral which later I contacted them to hand me over the Title for renewal and it’s been now 3 ßΩ months I have been waiting for it and now have to deal with my vehicle parked without insurance and Citibank’s excuse is that Motor Vehicle can not locate my title and the most frustrating thing is that all the time I call I must have gave my # over 20 times and never get a call back regarding the status of my situation I would have to repeat myself all over again to a new rep…….How frustrating!!! Well that is the story of life………………Drama……………….Good Luck.
To OCC office
Thank you for your reply and for requesting information form Citibank. Citibank states that I was fired for not following policy but yet they didn’t follow their own policy and guide lines nor were they equal and fair in how they treated each employee.
Citibank states that I was fired for not calling in, but I did have my doctor call in at the end of my doctors appointment on 12/12/05 and my doctor also faxed on a note. Contact was made with the bank. My doctor called in to protect my health.
I have copies of some of Citibank policy which are in the employee hand book and from what I have read Citibank and the manager didn’t follow proper procedure. Before firing they are to consider your work performance and take that into consideration and my reviews were very good. I never got a verbal warning just written up and the write up was not correct with errors. Citibank gives an exit interview which I didn’t get nor was I asked to send in my keys.
Citibank sent me my Cobra papers and never offered me FMLA, when they find put that I was applying for disability or that I was disabled they reinstated my benefits and made them retro to 01/01/06
Citibank then sends me a check for about six weeks worth of pay with no deductions for benefits then all of a sudden they start deducting for medical and dental and now I have to pay for these benefits out of my pocket.
Many if Citibank clients have told me they have been told that I left to work for my husband or that I am on vacation.
Lisa Austin of Citigroup mentioned that when I go back to work they would set up payments for some of these benefits but she couldn’t explain how this would happened after I explained that I had been fired. Is Citibank going to fire me again via UPS when my doctor feels that I am well enough to look for work?
Citibank didn’t; follow policy to the tee and fires me for not following policy to the tee but had no heart about me being ill and my doctor helping me out.
Citibank made the list of the best 100 companies for working mother to work at but as I try to put my daughter first they started harassing me with abandonment and corrective action.
My seniority didn’t matter to them.
Ronon at the US Dept of labor, wage and hour division ( 1-415-744-5590 ext 226 ) was told by Citigroup attorney that I was still employed and they would send a letter to explain but the letter never came.
Citibank fired me while in the middle of a workers comp pending case.
Ann at the DFEH ( 1-408-277-1916 ) was lied to by Jeff Ursino and Kathleen Munoz, they explain to the DFEH how and why they fired me.
Again Citibank violated state labor codes and more.
Employees which are unethical are still working there and I get fired for having my doctor call in, these employees broke company policy and still have jobs.
Citibank recently sent me a letter thanking me for my five years of service and it states looking forward to another five years but I was fired on 12/13/05 a few days later a get another letter stating that yes I had been terminated and the stocks that were issued to me for being a good employee had been taken back due to an error in their system. I believe the only error is that I was wrongfully terminated and Citibank is back tracking trying to cover up their mistakes.
My pension and 401k have been sent to me due to termination and then I get the letter saying looking forward to another five years.
Jeff Ursino knew that the tellers were cooking the books and none of them were written up or fired. Kathleen was refunding her daughter money and having Citibank pay for her overdrafts and she still has a job and Jeff knew about this. Unfair unequal treatment of employees.
Why did it take Citibank a few weeks to give me a clear reason as to why I was fired? Why was my final check deposited into my account, why was I fired via UPS, Why was my final check not ordered until 12/14/05? Why did Chrys Smith call workers comp on 12/14/05 to see if my case was going to be denied but yet didn’t bother telling them that they had already fired me? This is violation of code 132A.
Why doesn’t the staff at Citibank in Carmel simply say “she is no longer with us” instead of all the lies?
Why was Citibank so strict with me and the policy and yet not the other employees?
Why was it ok for Andrea to change her schedule but not me and I had the seniority over her?
Citibank told the Office of Thrift Supervision that they were dealing with it internally and the office asked them to send me a letter of explanation yet they never did.
How many other state codes have they ignored and violated?
Jeff Ursino states that he was calling to see if I was coming in yet he returns to me the faxed in note by my doctor with my letter of termination which clearly stated that I would be out for a few more days? Jeff knew I wasn’t coming in he just fired me because I wanted to communicate via email to protect my blood pressure and stress level. Is it against the law to protect yourself? They wamt to hold me to the letter of theit policy but don’t follow their policy or state codes to the letter of policy.
Working mother at Citibank, how did they make the list of the “Best 100 Companies for Working Mothers?
Please forward to anyone that could help us, thanks.
Keep this story going so we can get help. Tell a friend to tell a friend, how else can the little guy fight corporate America?
Please help us if you can along with the Senator, this letter was sent to the Senator:
To: Senator Barbara Boxer, Feb. 18, 2007
Also: Jason J Chan,
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240
San Francisco, Ca.94111
Regarding your letter of February 5, 2007, thank you. You state that you will submit a formal inquiry to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and that this may take up to 4-5 weeks. In that case I have taken the liberty to put together this binder as to hopefully speed up the process or maybe just so you have it to review.
In this binder I can show the Jeff Ursino was not fair and equal to all the employees and although others violated policy I am the only one he fired. Citibank did not follow their own policy much less that of the Ca. Labor laws and codes.
I don’t believe that Citibank has been honest with their clients as well as the DFEH and DOL.
Citibank did not submit a new statement regarding 11/15/05 to the DFEH and seem to stand behind their ” bad Information”. I worked the day they state I called in and supposedly stated that I would be out the rest of the week, not true. What else is branch 915, Jeff Ursino, Kathleen Munoz and their corporate attorneys in New York willing to lie about?
Please help us get to the truth about why Jeff really fired me. Why does Citibank stand behind Jeff and his lies and much more? The teller that left about $10,000.00 out is still working their and to my knowledge was not written up and yet this was worse for the bank than me just wanting to care for my daughter and having my doctor call in for me.
Jeff made error after error with the write ups and the firing procedure of Citibank. Why did Jeff Ursino and Citibank feel I wasn’t worthy of an exit interview? Why was I fired at home and not at my place of work? Why was I not given a verbal or informal warning as is Citibank policy?
Please go through or have someone review my notes and proof of their dishonesty. Please help us and all those wrongfully terminated by corporate America.. It is time for Corporate America ethics Reform. Senator Boxer if I had been a bad employee I would have just walked away but I wasn’t. I have letters from clients that truly appreciated me and my work and even Citibank has acknowledge that I was great for the Carmel branch, so why fire me and throw me out like yesterdays trash? Because Jeff Ursino just didn’t like me and was out to fire me from the moment he threaten me with job abandonment before I had ever missed a Saturday. Why? As I told Dr. Lowell and all the other doctors I have seen, “this just doesn’t make sense!” I have spent the past 14 months fighting for my rights, please help me and my family, we need more moms like me that want to be their for their children and teenagers are children.
I look forward to hearing from you, thank you so very much for writing back or at least someone from your office, thanks Jason J. Chan.
Sincerely,
Damari Stratford
1291 Ord Grove Ave, Seaside, Ca 93955-3119
Cell 831-236-0112 Home 831-583-9077 Fax 831-393-9464
AS OF 4/21/06 SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
I SPOKE WITH THE EMPLOYEE RELATIONS DIRECTOR OF CITIGROUP TODAY, IT WAS ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS SOME WRONG INFORMATION GIVEN TO THE DFEH REGARDING THE 15th and17th OF NOVEMBER, 2005. CITIBANK WILL BE SENDING IN A “NEW’ RESPONSE DUE TO NOT DOING THE INVESTIGATION THOROUGHLY THE FIRST TIME. SO WHAT ELSE ARE THEY NOT DOING THOROUGHLY OR ETHICALLY?
THANK YOU
As of 2007 they never submitted the correct information
A BETTER EXPLANATION Mother fired by Citibank for no good reason
I am searching for an Employment Attorney willing to work on a contingency basis. I was fired while I was out sick, the managers states in a note added to my personnel file that he had called me to see if I would be coming into work on Dec. 13th but yet with my letter of termination he returned to me the faxed in doctors note, faxed in at 3:44p.m. on 12/12/05 by my doctor, which clearly stated that I would be out from 12/12-12/16/05. He sent me my letter of termination thru UPS, which arrive on 12/15/05. The manager knew that I was out on work related stress and I had a workers comp case pending. The manager states that I was fired for not complying with my warning and I asked how I could comply if I wasn’t there to comply so then I get a letter from HR stating that I was fired for failure to follow the call in process but my doctor had called in for me on the 12th due to my stress level and blood pressure. The doctor had spoken to the supervisor on the 12th so they were aware that I wouldn’t be in on the 13th and my doctor has the notes on my file that she had made a call in for me. Citibank did not follow their own procedures when they fired me. The EEOC has given me the right to sue and the letter arrived on 2/17/06 so my 90 days have started. The DFEH has also launched their own investigation which Citibank received notice on 1/23/06 and should be responding to the notice any day now, (as of 3/8/06they haven’t responded). I had an outstanding performance history with the bank; I had worked there for 4 years 2 months 6 days. I was the head teller one of the notary and the only Spanish-speaking teller. I have at least 40 letters of support from Citibank clients and I can prove that the manager was not equal with all the employees and although he was aware of the teller cooking the books under the direction of the supervisor none of them were put on corrective action yet I was written up for missing my first Saturday and then again when I missed my 2nd Saturday although I had a doctors note to be out of work due to my blood pressure and stress brought on by the manage and the unfairness in treatment. I had been threaten with job abandonment but at that time I hadn’t missed any work long enough to be accused for this. Citibank violated code 132A of the worker comp law and I do have an attorney for that but they are unable to deal with all the other issues. I have a strong feeling that the manager never told HR that my doctor had called in for me nor did he share my doctors note with them, he is to get approval from HR before firing me yet fired me by 4:30 pm or so, I had also emailed him that day at 1:45 pm and explained that my doctor had spoken to the supervisor and faxed in a note, again he was aware that I wouldn’t be in. The manager had called my cell phone and left a message at about 10:25 am, he states that he called because I hadn’t called in a half an hour prior to my shift, which started at 8:30 a.m., why did it take him 2 hrs before calling me? And I would bet that the supervisor had made arrangements to have a teller there to cover my shift since my doctor called her. Please help my family and I. Sincerely, Damari
Please forward to anyone willing to help us, thanks>
March 8, 2007
To: Senator Barbara Boxer
Also: Jason J Chan,
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240
San Francisco, Ca.94111
Dear Senator Barbara Boxer,
On, 3/7/07, I received a notice from Citigroup, HR Communications Unit in New York, regarding Corporate benefits for January 2007, I have included a copy with this fax to you..
I am at the point that I feel this is harassment, why, because Citibank fired me on 12/13/05. It is very upsetting to me every time I receive these notices, it is a constant reminded of everything I have lost due to the unfair and unequal treatment of employees by Jeff Ursino and Citibank. I have already been sent my 401K check due to my termination, I am not contributing to this program so why does Citigroup keep harassing me with these notices. Remember that last October, 2006, Citigroup sent me a letter ( 10 months after firing me) thanking me for 5 years of services and looking forward to 5 more years, why, they fired me. I would have made it to 5 years, as I had no plans to leave the company, but I was fired 12 days before Christmas via UPS. That notice was again just another reminded of what could have been and what I have lost. Please ask Citigroup to stop harassing me with these notices for they are very upsetting to me.
Also, on 3/7/07, I received a letter from your Director of Constituent Services, Eric Jose Vizcaino, regarding a letter I sent you and it states that my concerns are being forwarded to the Director of the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Suzanne M Ambrose, for her review. Again, Citibank attorneys explained to the DFEH, how and why they fired me and as I pointed out to you in an earlier letter, Citibank lied to them about me calling in on 11/15/05, Citibank states that I called in and said I would be out the rest of the week. Again this is a lie, I worked that day. Sheri Paulo, Employee Relations manager of New York for Citigroup, had told me that they said this due to being miss informed , when I brought this lie up to her attention, she said that they had been given bad information and that they would correct this by sending in another statement to the DFEH, and to my knowledge they never did and instead stand by their lie. I have sent you a copy of my time card for that week and other information regarding their statement to the DFEH. Why does Citibank tell the DFEH that I was fired and Ronan of the US Dept. of Labor that I am still employed. They also told Ronan that they would send me a letter explaining how I am still employed, but I never received this letter, why? Last June, Citigroup gave me stock, which I refused due to being fired and Chuck Prince office acknowledges receiving my letter explaining that I had been fired and that I should not have been issued the stock and they took the stock back. I have also sent you a copy of that letter in the black binder which I sent to your San Francisco office, did you receive this binder?
Please , Senator Boxer, please help us get to the truth, it is as if Citibank doesn’t know what the left hand is doing or the right hand is doing, please help stop the harassment. How many more letters am I going to be sent by Citigroup informing me of everything I have lost.
Sincerely,
Damari Stratford
1291 Ord Grove Ave, Seaside, Ca. 93955
831-583-9077 (home) 831-236-0112 (cell) 831-393-9464 (fax)
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