My question involves unemployment benefits for the state of: Maryland
I worked for my last employer for almost 3 years. At hiring, I was hired as meeting planner with certain responsibilities. Shortly after being hired, I was cross trained to do my co-workers (Audio Visual Tech) position which pays more money. Less than year later, I was given more responsibities. The contract ended for others and they merged to the company that I worked for. Once this happened, my position was upgraded to a combo position. I did not get a increase but I was now doing my co-workers job but he was being paid more money.
I did the work because it had to be done. In 2007, I learned that I was pregnant. The company did not give me resonable accomodations. I still had to do Audio Visual work which included moving heavy equipment, putting down and pulling electrical tape, crawl on the floors, moving podiums etc. There were times that I stayed after my work hours because my co-worker was not there and did not receive overtime pay.
Before I went on maternity leave, I spoke to my manager in regards to more money and my return date. This past February, I spoke to management again about more money and that I would need more time off without pay. Again that was not a problem. This past March, I called to the corporate office to speak with the CEO only to leave a message because he was not available. I then called back to my manager again about the same issue at hand. He said that he would call corporate and get back to me.
3 weeks later in April, the manager calls and leaves a message apologizing for not getting back to me sooner. He claims that he did not have my information and that he had to get it from my co-worker. He also requested my personal email and wanted to discuss it further. I called him directly back, leaving him a message and I sent a email from personal email account. That was on a Friday. The following Monday, I called again, left him a message and sent him another email requesting a status. He never responded. The next day, I received a termination email in my personal email from corporate.
They stated that I made no attempts to return to my position. Which is not true because I have phone records and emails where I tried. I filled for unemployment and was denied because "I voluntarily quit without good cause or valid circumstances".
I want to appeal this decision because I don't agree with their findings. I was an employees who has never received a year job appraisal or increase in almost 3 years. Is that ethical? But I have received awards and appraisal letters from management and others about my job performance. Also, I have asked on several occassions about a raise only to be told that I will get a raise when the government gets a raise.
Personally, I think that management dropped the ball and did not want to deal with corporate as stated in his voice message. I did not quit and I believe that I was terminated because they did not want to give me a increase. How can I appeal this decision? What are my rights? Any advice?

