I am a canvasser for a progressive non-profit that does “community based organizing” (idk what they actually do for the community) in US battle ground states (ones that can go either Republican or Democrat). We advocate for things like medicare for all and literally any democrat that’s running. Its supposedly run by labor unions which is pretty cool, but I don’t know how much power they have versus guys who started it like Tom Steyer. When I signed on they agreed to pay me $20 per hr for 1pm-7pm shifts Monday through Friday.
Pretty good right?
HOWEVER, slowly but surely they’ve added more work. We started having to start at 12:30pm about two months ago, which I was okay with until yesterday when they said they weren’t paying us for that half hour cause it “isn’t work.” We have to meet for a zoom call at that time with our canvass manager to coordinate what we need for our shift. Usually takes about 15min. Then it take at least 15-45min to drive to our area where we’ll be knocking doors. They say that half hour “isn’t work” and we won’t be payed for it.
We also had to start working Saturdays too, no exceptions except being sick. On top of that, we’ve now entered a “blackout period” from a few days ago to the end of the campaign (Nov 8) in which nobody can ask off and all PTO cannot be used except sick pay.
They also have all-staff meetings on Thursdays that require us to start at 12pm. So despite being on a work zoom call from 12pm-1pm, I am not paid for being on it because it’s “not work”, even though I’m expected to participate in the call.
I just don’t understand how the 12/12:30pm start time, that our job is making us participate in, is NOT work. Am I out of line here in thinking I should not show up to these zoom meetings anymore if I’m not being paid to be there??