Subway sacks worker who shares a Coke
A Subway restaurant in New Zealand has been accused of heavy-handed tactics after a woman was sacked and the police called in because she shared a complimentary soft drink with a friend.
Bill Clark, from the Autonomous Workers Union (AWU), said it was the most vicious action from a company he had ever dealt with.
He said Jackie Lang, aged in her 30s and who worked full time at the restaurant, was confronted by management two weeks following the incident.
Managers had found video footage that appeared to show Lang giving some of her cup of Coke to a friend.
Bill Clark from the AWU said Jackie admitted sharing her drink with a friend, who had come into the workplace upset.
"They are allowed endless amounts of soft drink if they work there. Her friend came in all upset and distressed, so Jackie took a break, poured a drink and sat down with her," he said.
According to reports the video footage shows Lang giving some of her drink to a friend before refilling it and leaving it on the table where her friend sat.
Following the meeting with management Lang was suspended, and after she filed a personal grievance claim the company went to police.
She has been charged with stealing the drinks, valued at $NZ4, and will appear in court later this month.
"The escalation has been vicious. They (management) decided they were going to do something and at every turn they upped the ante," Clark said.
Franchisee with the Dunedin Subway Rob Nicol refused to say whether Lang was treated fairly.
"All I can say is that it is a matter between myself, my business partner, the employee and the police," he said.
Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/070507/2/13dcr.html
