Skip to main content

Contractors - Pros and Cons




Contractor At Work. 
Urban Native Homes Inc. downsized staff especially maintenance and the effects are apparent. ie: A refrigerator brakes down and the UNH’s office handed out gift cards to the tenant to compensate for the spoiled food.  The proper procedure is to have a appliance supplier handy for such emergencies and funds available to pay for the replacement.  Also contract maintenance to the KMHC grounds was the shits this summer.
Last Friday KMHC tenants received a “24 Hour Notice To Enter Unit” taped to their doors announcing there will be unit inspection carried out by a hired contractor on today’s date.  That’s fine with me last time we had a unit inspection was years ago when we had a superintendent.  So yesterday getting ready for the inspection I gave my unit a complete shakedown and prepare to ask questions regarding maintenance to my unit and will there be a follow-up.  I plan to be present when the contractor knocks on my door.  I don’t like strangers entering my dwelling unless invited or I’m lying in a pool of blood and need medical attention.  Anyway the unit inspection never took place the contractor guys showed up after 9 am then soon after I heard them complaining about something as they walked to their truck and drove off.  So here I am thinking are they going for a coffee run and coming back to start the job.  We tenants are waiting and being inconvenienced I manage to work around my errands and appointments for a bloody unit inspection that never happened.  Thank you UNH’s. :P

We were never notified of the cancellation, today nothing was accomplished in the KMHC office and that’s their problem.  I know one thing I want a new written “24 Hour Notice To Enter” from the office before anybody steps foot in my unit.
The difference between employees and hiring independent contractors: staff knows what the job entails and will not leave in a huff.  Contractors can come and go as they please plus there is no loyalty and the employer is not allowed to tell the contractor how to do the job.  Should an employer do this the contractor will be deemed an employee thus the employer must pay full wages and benefits.  Something I’m sure UNH’s doesn’t want to do.
From what I've heard independent contractors sued UNH's. I don't know if it's resolved or still pending.  When will the women *UNH's* learn to stop dragging cheap labour off the streets and hire experienced maintenance staff that cares.  Sheesh! 

tk

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Poor Working Environment

My unit is located near the KMHC office, along with a friendly wave or hello I see the junior staff going about their business in a cheerful manner with the exception of one employee.   You would think KMHC has a pleasant working environment but that is not the case.   March 2016 is when Urban Native Homes head office was forced to move from their former spacious location to the cramp basement level of KMHC.   There were approx. 8-10 staff members at the time.   Then the Urban Native Homes financial scandal broke out and soon after the current UNH acting director’s illicit past became public knowledge, everyone was worried will they have a job.  Fearful meetings going on in the community room, the rumor mill was in full rotation while I just stood back and observed the panic.   Check your search engine it states this building location is Urban Native Homes head office yet that is not correct.  There is no real head office, the organization has s...
110 comments
Read more

Wigwamin Terrace

After many years I received a call for Toronto Native Housing offering a vacancy so I decided to explore my options by attending a viewing of what's available. But first I did a phone interview with acting project manager Paul Feitelberg. He said my personal and financial information checks out fine then we talked about the negative reference I got from Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services. I was asked for my side of the story and I also invited Paul to read this blog site to find out more who I am.  A few days later I called Paul for an update, I was complimented on my blog posts and he could see the love and compassion I have for the Native people on this blog site.  Due to the Hamilton cyber attack it was difficult for Paul get a reference from my current housing provider so with my assistance I helped him get in contact with their office. I received an excellent tenant reference from my housing provider. When I asked about OAHS he said he's going to ignore their negative re...
2 comments
Read more

Koo Gaa Da Win Manitou

I hope one day we can truly say there is a haven where older natives who experienced homelessness can find a place to call home and have the resources available for the best quality of life in their golden years. Koo Ga Da Win Manitou Housing Complex has a long journey in order to reach that goal. Perhaps more funding is needed or better trained/experienced outreach workers who can relate to tenants concerns and health issues. Programs that would interest all tenants as a whole would be nice. Most important we tenants must try to get along with their neighbours. (as the good book says "Love thy neighbour") I've been here less then a year and I've observed alot, we have a diversity of tenants living in the building from different reservations and walks of life. Some have problems with alcohol, prescription drug addictions, physical disabilities and slight mental disabilities. The one thing we all have in common is our health concerns, from chronic back pain to deadly...
1 comment
Read more