Legal fees for Juanita

My name is Juanita Jones I have worked for Safeway since July 2001 as a cashier. I have been very successful in this position even though I am Partially sighted. Over the years I have received many compliments from my regular customers both as a cashier and at the service desk of my local Safeway store. Safeway was purchased by Sobey's in June 2013. During the transition Sobey's changed the cash registers at each of its new stores. As a result of this change it became impossible for me to perform my duties as a cashier due to a change in the print/Font size. I was forced onto medical leave because of eyestrain and lack of willingness on the part of Sobey's/Safeway to make changes to their software that would allow me to read text on the new system clearly and without eyestrain.  

  In July of 2014, I filed a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal regarding this issue. This is a very complicated legal matter that has lasted over two and a half years and there is still no resolution in sight to my complaint. This complaint has caused me financial hardship due to reduced income while I was on medical leave and on going legal expenses. I expect my legal fees by the end of this case will be close to $50,000 and that does not include the loss of income I suffered while on a medical leave. If I'm not successful in my complaint I will be left with no choice but to sell my home in order to cover outstanding bills. I may also be forced into bankruptcy which I feel is wrong as I have done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment.

  After two years of delays, Sobey's added a second larger monitor to one of the cash registers and I HAD NO OPTION BUT TO return to work, EVEN THOUGH this SECOND monitor does not resolve my accessibility issues because it obscures the primary display and provides no accessible options such as print magnification, colour or contrast Controls. I am unable to see the function buttons on the primary monitor and I am required to count keys in order to find the right functions. Without changes to Safeway's software or the addition of accessible software I would be unable to make changes to brightness, contrast and colour as required. This is extremely important because it would allow me to prevent eyestrain and protect my remaining vision in my right eye. Sobey's has modified one checkstand and as a result I am no longer able to perform my customer service duties at the service desk or work at any other checkstand in the store. I am afraid that without the intervention of the BC human rights tribunal  I could become unemployed if Sobey's/Safeway was to make any software upgrades without considering accessibility.

  I contacted my union to express my concern over the installation of the new cash registers at my store. My union UFCW local 1518 assisted me with the completion of the human rights complaint Application and attended two meetings in the summer of 2014. Since the initial meetings my union has shown very little interest in my case and has not in my opinion put enough pressure on Sobey's/Safeway to resolve the outstanding technical and working conditions. The union has suggested that it is the employers responsibility to fix the outstanding issues. The union cannot get involved in my complaint because it is now a legal matter.


  My hope is with your support that I will be able to cover the legal costs of this complaint. The Human Rights Tribunal will not award legal fees as part of their decision. I also hope that the BC Human Rights Tribunal will find Sobey's in violation because they have not provided the appropriate accommodations at my local store. This is a very complicated legal matter that has taken two and a half years of my life so far and put me into financial hardship Due to reduced income and legal expenses. It is my hope that a positive decision by the human rights Tribunal will ultimately benefit thousands of disabled people who are denied employment because of accessibility issues.