Don't be a fool and die for your country. Let the other sonofabitch die for his.
-- General George S. Patton
October 31, 2004
Fired Reservist Prompts Federal Action
Take a look at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and you will see that finally the Fed is standing up for the little guy.
In the first suit of its kind in Western Pennsylvania, the U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh has sued a Mercer County paper company on behalf of a major in the Army National Guard who says he was fired from his job as plant manager because of his military obligations.U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said in the suit, brought by the Justice Department, that McLaughlin was fired from Newark Paperboard Products in Greenville on Aug. 27, 2001, the day he returned from two weeks of Guard duty.
Buchanan and one of her assistants said McLaughlin's status as a Guard member was a "motivating factor" in Newark's decision to fire him in violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act of 1994. That law is designed to keep companies from punishing or otherwise discriminating against someone for serving in the military.
If you'll recall I wrote a piece on a similar situation regarding the Pep Boys Auto Parts chain.
Take note Pep Boys, and all employers whose greed overshadows doing not only what is write, but what is required by law, the Federal Government is starting to crack down!
These brave men and woman who serve in our Guard and Reserve units do this in addition to their daily lives, and though not full time military they are put in harms way like the rest of us. The least this nation and its corporations can do for Guard and Reservists is ensure they still have their jobs to come home to.
SlagleRock Out!
What non-Reserve and non-Guard members don't realize or want to know is that the "weekend warrior" is looked upon as a liability all too often by their employers.
They never consider that these members have to work harder to prepare for their absence during annual training. Nor the fact they forfeit their annual vacations so they can meet their annual training requirements without impacting their employers. They all too often have to spend more than one weekend a month in training. If they are cadre, they spend some of their time between meetings planning and coordinating the next meeting. Not only do the members have to put up with these requirements, their families, spouses and children have to live this lifestyle and sacrifice too. Neither full fledged civilians nor full fledged soldiers, their lives are always in limbo. During war this uncertainty and the training demands create a miserable existance. If we as a nation want a strong all volunteer military we must support the reserve element also. These men and women are a vital asset to the whole defense picture. I will not knowingly patronize any establishment that will not support our troops whether full time or part time.
Very nice comments you guys have here, congratulations and thanks to allowing my post...
Posted by: Phendimetrazine at April 15, 2005 01:58 PM