Contact us immediately.  We will do a review of your case to determine if there is prospects for success in pursuing a grievance. Your grievance will take some time to be processed.  You have a right to be at the grievance meetings, but you may elect to have the union represent you in your absence.  If the case goes to arbitration, you must be present. You should mitigate your losses by seeking other employment and not waiting for the grievance process to finish hoping to be reimbursed for back-wages.  Though this may happen, you have a duty to mitigate your losses and the arbitrator will deduct from your back-pay what they believe would have been reasonable earnings even if you do not earn it. If you are genuinely terminated without just cause, or with insufficient cause, apply for EI.  EI is not payable to those terminated for cause, but if we are pursuing a grievance and believe you were not terminated for proper cause, you can apply for EI and let your representative know – we will then send a letter to EI informing them your grievance is pending and asking them to process your EI giving the benefit of the doubt to the Employee – which is a statutory provision. If you were terminated for specific things you can change – such as drug and alcohol, try to get yourself clean by going to rehab or treatment so that by the time of the arbitration we can show you have changed your life around and we can have people to testify to that effect. See a psychologist or therapist and seek help.  Arbitrators and employers are not unforgiving.  If you change your life around, they will be more likely to give you another chance. DO NOT speak negatively about the employer or go on facebook and vent.  Your behaviour following termination can be used to demonstrate why the employment relationship has been irrevocably harmed and why it is not possible to be continued again. Participate fully with the union reps processing your grievance in providing the documentation necessary and attending to medical or other appointments necessary for your defence.