I work at a local prefabrication shop as a helper. I am in the process of becoming a apprentice for my local union right now. I am very easy going and quiet. I have never been late and I have never called out of work for the past year.
This last week I had an incident at work where I was smacked in the face by my foreman. I have had issues with my foreman acting like a bully. As childish as it seems it is harassment everyday. Constant verbal abuse and hitting me with things such as welding curtains and carts. Come this week out of the blue I was smacked in the face. This guy takes advantage of nice people who only want to work in a place where they don’t have to worry about conflict.
Any sort of physical conflict is by right a automatic termination at my company. However, this guy is a 27 year old sub foreman who got the job based off the fact he is neighbors with the general foreman. The general foreman is constantly trying to defend this guy for his mistakes knowing full well if it was me in that situation he would never defend me. The higher ups at the company tried to sweep it under the rug. It was only until yesterday my shop steward for my local union came back to work did he find out about. The guy who hit me was terminated. I am filing a complaint to the union hall.
What can I do as a young man when something like this happens?