I work part time for a small tech company. My boss is the owner. Most of the work can be done remotely. About once a month we have work where we need to use power tools at some client's site. For example installing a camera in the ceiling or drilling a whole for a cable to go through. I'm not very experienced with power tools and told my boss I'd like to get better. The tools are just electric screwdrivers and drills, though we've also done some wire crimping. Today in a meeting he said he won't pay me to learn, but if I want to come for free and learn then that's OK. I said I'm not going to spend hours at a client site for free.
Are there any other considerations or options? Should I do it for free once then tell him I'm confident? In the past I've been paid, including the time he takes to show me what to do and how to use the tools etc.
I'm considered a contractor, but I think that's just so he can get avoid paying tax. I think this is one of those things I could report to the authority but would tarnish my relationship and probably loose the job. Generally speaking, is it right that employees get paid for training/practice/learning time but not contractors?