Store Axes Workers for Watching Funeral
Posted on: Monday, 9 July 2007, 21:18 CDT
JACKSON, Mich. - Two grocery store employees have been fired after they didn't punch out while viewing a 300-vehicle procession funeral procession for a soldier who was killed in Iraq.
Polly's Country Market store produce manager Ron Klimmer and produce retail clerk Michael Wahr received notice of their firings in letters from the company mailed to their homes, said United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951 business representative Scott Gould.
They were punished for watching the June 19 funeral procession of Army Sgt. Matthew Soper. The Jackson resident died June 6 in Bayji, Iraq, of wounds from an improvised explosive device.
Gould said a grievance is planned.
"The union feels the company does not have just cause for termination," he told the Jackson Citizen patriot for a story Saturday.
Polly's employees were encouraged to view the procession, and about a dozen did so after punching out or taking their lunch breaks, said Polly's Food Service Inc. President Kim Kennedy.
Employees who did punch out while viewing the procession complained to management about Klimmer and Wahr, the company said.
"Those are the two that chose not to clock out," Kennedy said. "The one thing we do discipline very harshly is stealing, and we consider this stealing time."
Klimmer, a Polly's employee for 31 years, and Wahr, a seven-year employee, had been on suspension.
Klimmer said there were few customers during the procession and service did not suffer because they were outside.
"We might as well have closed anyway," he said. "There weren't enough customers to run a 7-Eleven, much less a large supermarket."
Klimmer said military veterans and others have expressed overwhelming support.
"A lot of people are disappointed," Wahr said.
Jackson-based Polly's is a family owned grocery chain founded in 1934 with stores in Jackson, Lenawee and Washtenaw counties.
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Source: Associated Press/AP Online
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