My name is Micheline Dépatie, and I am from Saint-Hyacinthe, in Quebec. I am single.
I have been in the labour market since the age of 15. Among other things, I worked 39 hours a week for 25 years in a grocery store. We went through a labour dispute following a management demand that we be available seven days and seven evenings, without any guaranteed number of hours. This is what retail and grocery superstore workers are enduring at present. This prevents them from holding down two jobs.
After the labour dispute, the grocery store closed. But at 50 years of age, it was not an easy thing for me to find another job. Because of all this stress, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and diabetes, which limited me to working a maximum of 25 hours a week. I am nevertheless intent upon working in order to retain my morale and my pride. I do not want to be dependent upon the State.
Today, I have a job at the cafeteria of l'Institut de technologie agroalimentaire de Saint-Hyacinthe. This job allows me to work only five hours a day. It is a seasonal job, but my hours fit those of the students and I am off during the summer. When I started this job, I worked 25 hours a week, but because of today's economic climate, I have been cut 15 to 9 hours per week, with an hourly wage of $8.64.
I filled in my employment insurance application form in December. For this year, I am entitled to 21 weeks at $144. At present, with 9 or 15 hours, I will not be able to accumulate the 600 or 700 hours required to be eligible for employment insurance. This situation is hard on my morale and stressful. I have had to leave my dwelling, become an informal care giver and move in with my mother in order to take care of her and save money.
I would like to see the number of hours as well as the waiting period reduced. It is not easy, when one finds oneself jobless, to have to wait five weeks before receiving a small cheque for $144. You do what you can to accumulate the required number of hours but you cannot afford to fall ill nor stray one iota off course. With every pay cheque, you count your hours to verify your eligibility. I would like to see you reduce the number of hours required to be eligible for employment insurance, as well as the number of weeks one has to wait.
Thank you.