Company fires 18 employees after they participated in 'A Day Without Immigrants'

[Pony]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A total of 18 people were fired from a Tennessee business after joining the nation-wide protest "A Day Without Immigrants."

The 18 employees at Bradley Coatings, Incorporated in Nolensville, Tennessee told their supervisors on Wednesday they'd be taking part in the nationwide movement. Then, on Thursday, they were told they no longer had jobs.

"We are the team leaders directly under the supervisors and they informed us last night that we could not go back to work and the boss said we were fired," one employee said.

The former employee asked to remain anonymous but had this message to his former boss.

"I would tell him he was unfair, after working for them for so many years, giving him our best. They could not understand that it was just one day. We were going to make up that day on a Sunday, but they didn't understand that, and it was not the best way. They didn't give us an opportunity and just told us we were fired," he said.

"Tennessee is an employment-at-will state which basically means an employer can end your employment at any time without reason or cause. Of course there are a lot of different stipulations, civil rights issues that could stop them from doing that," Department of Labor and Workforce Development spokesman, Chris Cannon said.

Bradley Coatings, Inc.'s attorney released the following statement:

"Bradley Coatings, Incorporated (BCI) is a family-owned, Nashville-based business that provides commercial painting services to its clients on a very demanding schedule. Established in 1986, BCI has always celebrated diversity and supported the immigrant community. This past Wednesday night, certain employees of BCI informed their leadership that they would not be at work the following day. Because of the time-sensitive nature of the jobs these employees were assigned to, all employees were told that they would need to show up for work or they would be terminated. On Thursday, the majority of BCI’s employees fulfilled their obligations to our clients, but eighteen employees did not. Regretfully, and consistent with its prior communication to all its employees, BCI had no choice but to terminate these individuals. The reason these employees missed work—to engage in peaceful demonstrations—had nothing to do with BCI’s decision to terminate them. BCI regrets this situation, but it has contracted with its clients to complete work on a schedule set by the client’s general contractor. BCI will review its procedures in an effort to avoid similar issues in the future, and will continue to provide timely service to its clients and support to the Nashville immigrant community." - Robert Peal, Company Attorney

[lost in melb.]

"A day without Americans"

[Goofy]

I agree with the company on this :)

[Teh One Who Knocks]

This whole thing was overhyped by the MSM because you know what I noticed on this day? Absolutely nothing. Definitely glad those people in the OP got fired.

[PorkChopSandwiches]

:haha:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN


(CNN)Jim Serowski said his employees told him they planned to skip work on Thursday to participate in "A Day Without Immigrants," the nationwide day of protest.

Serowski, founder of JVS Masonry in Commerce City, Colorado, said his message to them was clear and unwavering:

"If you're going to stand up for what you believe in you have to be willing to pay the price."

As promised, when his foreman and some 30 brick layers failed to show up for work he fired them all with no regrets, he said.

He insisted it had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with business.

"I stand by what I believe in. I didn't do anything wrong," he said in a phone interview Sunday.

"They were warned, 'if you do this you're hurting the company, and if you go against the team you're not a member of the team.'"

As US President Donald Trump continues his tough stances on immigration, people skipped work on Thursday and businesses closed to show how much immigrants contribute to the nation's economy.

Others, including Serowski, responded with pink slips to employees who took the day off.

His foreman told CNN affiliate KDVR that it was important for him and his workers to join the protest. Some of his masonry workers have relatives who are afraid to leave their homes out of fear they may get arrested or deported, he said.

But Serowski said it was a slap in the face to people like him who have long supported immigrant labor. He's known many of his employees for nearly two decades, ensuring they were paid when he did not have work for them.

"I've gone above and beyond for these people," he said, seemingly distraught. "No one is going to dictate how my company is run."

Bill McNally, owner of "I Don't Care Bar and Grill" in Catoosa, Oklahoma, said his 12 line cooks gave him no heads up that they planned to participate in the day of action. They didn't even call to say they were not coming in.

Consequently, he said they were fired just like anyone else who's a no-show for work.

"I'm on their side but we have rules at "I Don't Care Bar and Grill." If you're going to be late call in. If you're not coming to work call us. That's the American way," he said.

Six of the fired Hispanic immigrant workers told CNN affiliate KTUL they felt they had been unfairly terminated. They wanted to stand in solidarity with other immigrants but they did not think it would cost them their jobs, a translator for the group told KTUL.

Under US labor law, workers can be fired with no warning and no reason given.

McNally also insisted it had nothing to do with politics. Had he known about the protests he said he would have closed the restaurant in solidarity.

Why fire them, then?

"They just forgot about the 50 other people who work here," he said. "If the cooks don't show up then servers don't have jobs and customers can't eat."

[PorkChopSandwiches]

:tup:

[perrhaps]

I'm calling bullshit.
If it really was a "Day Without Immigrants", why wasn't there a nationwide drop in the crime rate?