Fired at - then fired, man says

Rocky Mountain News ^ | 7/14/07 | Alan Gathright

[Millee]

First someone took potshots at the 7-Eleven store where Bruno Kirchenwitz clerked after two Hispanic men warned him about wearing a "U.S. Border Patrol" cap off the job.

Then he was canned by 7-Eleven after the June 26 shooting and his opposition to illegal immigration made him a hero to some and a controversial figure to others in tiny Basalt, home to workers who toil in tony Aspen resorts.

"First I get fired at and then I get fired," Kirchenwitz said Friday.

The 54-year-old mountain man said a 7-Eleven official told him Monday he was being fired for "an egregious customer complaint" over an early June incident.

The former clerk says he's a well-liked "people person" who got good job reviews. He added that 7-Eleven won't give him details of the complaint, including who made it.

"To have me fired like this for what I consider a bogus reason, it's just not right," said Kirchenwitz, who thinks the shooting furor cost him his job.

[Millee]

The town of Basalt is right outside of Aspen. I'm sure the Aspenites don't want their cheap labor messed with.

[Talking_Mouse]

"Someone does not get dismissed just because of their political views or what they say away from the store or what they wear away from the store," said Margaret Chabris, a spokeswoman for 7-Eleven Inc. in Dallas.

She said corporate officials visited Basalt recently and spent days doing an in-depth "investigation in the areas of customer service and employee interaction."

Riiiiiight. Why do I have trouble believing this spokesperson?

[Mr. K]

"She said corporate officials visited Basalt recently and spent days doing an in-depth "investigation in the areas of customer service and employee interaction."

I long for the days when it was not acceptable and the standard response to LIE. People make comments like this with no shame at all.

People lie when the truth would make more sense. If she had simply said "He made himself a controversial figure and we don't like our stores being shot at" I would not only have believed her but actually felt somewhat for their concerns.

But the standrd CYA Bullshit answer has become almost automatic.

[Tainan]

He may have been pushing the envelope a bit - but off work his wardrobe is none of their concern.

[rockrr]

That has to be the ultimate insult - to be fired by the likes of 7-Eleven ;’}

[absolootezer0]

i suppose a drive by would be a form of “an egregious customer complaint”