So here's the situation I find myself in and please don't be shy to tell me I'm in the wrong or that I'm thinking of the situation the wrong way, I want honest opinions.
Backstory – I'm in a 3 year mining technology program in the province of Ontario, Canada and it is required to do a 7 week placement in your field of study, some paid some not. In late January I was told I'd be going to a multi-billion dollar mining company as a paid co-op student.
But as I'm in the middle of my interview I'm now told a week before starting that it is an un-paid placement, a complete 180° change in what that had to me previously. Even though this company had always paid co-op students (20-30$ an hour, I would've been very happy with minimum wage of 15$) I was the first ever un-paid co-op student.
Just to note, I do go underground everyday, waking up at 3:30-4:30am (10 hour shift) putting myself at risk and do the same work as everyone else. The only difference being that I don't do office work because I don't have access to the required programs needed. So when I'm in the office I stare at the walls for hours bored out of my mind.
My question to you is do you think the sort of unpaid co-op should be legal anywhere and so you think I'm in the right for being upset?
*yes I understand that the experience I gain and the training I got are invaluable to my career