Pep Boys fires manager for being called up by the Navy,

Tucson Citizen ^ | March 15, 2003 | Oscar Abeyta and Irwin M. Goldberg

[Vindibudd]

A federal lawsuit alleges Pep Boys fired a store manager because of his military obligation.

Automotive supply chain Pep Boys fired a Tucson store manager because his military Reserve duties took him away from work, according to a federal lawsuit filed here.

[Pippin]

Now I've heard everything! (or at least thought I did)

This is rediculous!

[ProudEagle]

Yep, makes you wonder.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I won't ever set foot in a Pep Boys again.

[kaboom]

"Why should Pep Boys provide a place for the government to stash its soldiers when they're not immediately needed?"

Because they are defending your right to make stupid comments.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Manny, Moe, and Jack can go piss up a rope. I hope this guy takes the Pep Boys to the cleaners.

I won't do business with Pep Boys for a stick of gum now. Looks like NAPA and Autozone are getting my business now.

[archy]

Okay, FReeper artists: we need some dishrags and kaffiyehs on these PepBoy heads:

[Salgak]

My reply to Pep Boys:
Posted at http://www.pepboys.com/about/contact/cust_relations.html

I am aghast at your firing of Mr. Erik Balodis for being called in for his Naval Reserve duty. You can spin it all you like, but claiming a man "abandoned" a job after being called to active duty is beyond reproach. As an American, a veteran, and a consumer, please take notice that as of this moment, I will no longer patronize your stores, and will encourage others not to patronize them as well.

Those of us who have served in uniform know that we have done to to maintain, amongst other things, the freedom of Americans to choose. And thus, I choose not to patronize your establishment until Mr. Balodis, and numerous others who have also been terminated for answering their countries call, are made whole of damages inflicted by your thoughtless and unpatriotic policies, a formal policy supporting the Guard and Reserve, and a formal and public apology, not just to Mr. Balodis and the others directly affected, but to every veteran in America.

I will also be posting links to the news article, http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/business/3_15_03reservist.html, which alerted me and others to this situation.

It is my hope that you will do the right thing, and restore those you fired in accordance with Federal Law. I look forward to your reply in this matter. . .

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Tell these people what you think:

Bill Furtkevic
Director of Marketing Communications, Pep Boys
3111 West Allegheny Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19132
E-mail: mediarelations@pepboys.com

George Babich
Chief Financial Officer, Pep Boys
3111 West Allegheny Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19132
E-mail: investorrelations@pepboys.com

Heather Ward
Assistant Manager of Public Relations, Pep Boys
3111 West Allegheny Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19132
E-mail: mediarelations@pepboys.com

Emily Florin
Account Supervisor, Edelman Worldwide
1500 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
E-mail: emily.florin@edelman.com

Link to Pep Boys contact page HERE.

[goose1]

Great letter but don`t hold your breath for a reply.

[archy]

I hope this guy takes the Pep Boys to the cleaners.

Take them to the cleaners? It's quite possible that there could be a felony criminal conviction and prison sentences. And if they do it again after that, they could face criminal and civil racketeering charges, to include triple damages for every penny's expenses incurred by the victims of their crimes, as well as getting to pay for the plaintiff's attorneys at 1.5 times their usual rate, typically $295 per hour for such work- and the award for back pay can be doubled, as well as a fee for interest.

PepBoys is about to learn about the USERRA. And I suspect they'll not enjoy their education.

-archy-/-

[Joe Bonforte]

Auto-Zone should offer jobs to any one fired by PepBoys because of military obligations, with the jobs to start when they get back. What a PR coup that would be!

[clamper1797]

"Why should Pep Boys provide a place for the government to stash its soldiers when they're not immediately needed?"

Because they are defending your right to make VERY stupid comments.

[proudofthesouth]

I wonder if Pep Boys is owned by a French corporation? After all, it came as a great surprise to me last week when I heard that the French own Red Roof Inn motel and Nissan automobiles.

[FryingPan101]

The Boys are within a mile from us. A lot of soldiers from Fort Bliss do business with them. My own son-in-law thinks it's his private club. LOL. Think I'll copy the article and post it somewhere where it can be noticed.

[archy]

I am going to fill out their internet form with my name as American Citizen with the White House phone number, as soon as I can look up the phone number.

Others might want to use various names like Uncle Sam, American Patriot, Military Vet, American Military, etc.

Can you image the shock when they attempt to call me only to realize that they are calling the White House.

The White House switchboard number is 202-456-1414.

But even better: Give them *this one*: 800-336.4590.

[archy]

Auto-Zone should offer jobs to any one fired by PepBoys because of military obligations, with the jobs to start when they get back. What a PR coup that would be!

I just e-mailed your interesting thought and a link to this thread to a fairly senior executive at AutoZone's corporate headquarters here in Memphis. We'll see if they agree, or if anything comes of it.

-archy-/-

[clamper1797]

That post was directed at Grunt BTW

[clamper1797]

"Why should Pep Boys provide a place for the government to stash its soldiers when they're not immediately needed?"

Because they are defending your right to make VERY stupid comments.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Sounds like Manny, Moe, and Jack are going to be having some bad days ahead.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

I told them to take their business to France and that they could change their name to Manny Moe and Chirac.