Why I'm Always Exhausted

Sun 5AM-12:30PM
Thu 1:30PM-10:00PM
Fri 6AM-2:30PM
Sat 2:30PM-11:00PM
Sun 6AM-2:30PM

That, my dear friends, was my schedule for this coming week. First shift - second shift - first shift - second shift - first shift...with a whopping 7 hours between those last two shifts.

A co-worker, who has only been with the store for 2 years, is scheduled to work 8AM-4:30PM next Saturday. I have seniority and every right to that shift, so I went to my manager and told her I want it. She refused to give it to me, stating that said co-worker has a wedding that evening and she wants to go. She then asked, "How would you feel if you had a wedding to attend and you couldn't go?"

Um, excuse me???

How many weddings, showers, get-togethers have I missed since I've been working at this hellhole? How many times have my vacations and personal days been denied because someone with SENIORITY had that particular day/week off?

So many that I can't even begin to count them!

She flat-out refused to give me that shift. Instead, she changed mine a bit so I'll have a few more hours between shifts. I have put up with this kind of crap for years and am tired of it. I told her I can't function on little to no sleep and that after what they've done to me (taking away my vacations-paid time off-holiday pay), the scheduling and the low wages, I am not willing to kill myself for that place.

She was livid with me and I was shocked at her behavior throughout the entire conversation. I have talked with the union steward and am considering filing a grievance.