THV Exclusive: Waitress Claims She Was Fired For Supporting Hillary Clinton

sara1981 · 04-29-2008, 03:28 PM

THV Exclusive: Waitress Claims She Was Fired For Supporting Hillary Clinton
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

Quote:

(Little Rock) KTHV -- A Little Rock waitress claims her political activism got her fired.

Micah Qualls says she was on break and decided to show her support for Hillary Clinton by waving a sign she had in the trunk of her car, but after her shift ended she was fired.

"Whoa… lone protestor…" This video shows Micah Qualls Friday when she heard John McCain would be landing where she worked as a waitress at Central Flying Service.

Micah Qualls says, "Shock. It still hasn't even sunk in that this is occurring. Not just that I was fired, but the other things that are attached to the story."

Sunday Qualls sits with us confused and upset she didn't get a hearing or answers after working for the company for seven years.

"I just went to my car and got it out and ran to the fence because the plane was landing and that's all," she adds.

The controversy stems over the fact she was wearing her company uniform and whether or not she was on break.

"I do not feel that I have done anything wrong," Qualls says.

An open letter from Dick Holbert of Central Flying Service reads…
"I didn't witness Qualls' demonstration. After hearing the details I told the flight deck manager to relieve her. That she was holding a Clinton sign was beside the point. She was on my time wearing my uniform and she spoke loudly and a lot of people noticed."

Qualls believes this never would have happened if she held a McCain sign instead.

Qualls adds, "The problem people perceive is it was counter to what was going on, but as I've stated it wasn't against anyone. I am a person that believes in my own candidate."

Qualls show us pictures of co-workers several years ago showing support for candidates while on the clock. "There's me and my other co-workers and our aprons. I have no reason to believe this action isn't tolerated at my job."

Qualls became so hurt she didn't get fired until after her shift was over she wrote Hillary Clinton. "I am shocked about the decision, but honestly I would not go back and change anything I did..."

So far she hasn't heard back from Clinton or the campaign.

Qualls is without a job right now, but just graduated in none other than political science and plans to go into teaching.

Pacman · 04-30-2008, 10:18 AM

Oh, ugh at her company about fired her for showing Clinton banner but it's more personal and all companies should be neutral for all issues based on employee's opinion.

I feel bad for her about lost the job.

It's better to not bring any personal issues at workplace if you don't know about anyone at workplace.

PowerON · 04-30-2008, 11:00 AM

I felt it's not enough story that they didn't show the behind story.

who know, she make great threat to the company of something we may not know.

PuyoPiyo · 04-30-2008, 11:34 AM

What happened to the free speech?

Wokamuka · 05-01-2008, 12:06 PM

This is a non-story to me.

Quote:

She was on my time wearing my uniform and she spoke loudly and a lot of people noticed.

Chase · 05-01-2008, 12:51 PM

Agreed.

The U.S. Constitution guarantees free speech without fear of government retaliation. It does not and cannot guarantee there will be no adverse reaction or consequences from the private sector or from private citizens.

I’m not saying the restaurant management was morally right to fire Ms. Qualls, but it seems certainly within its rights to do so. Perhaps the restaurant’s written policy may offer a way to appeal and get back to work.

Otherwise, you have Clinton followers crying it’s a dirty shame, Obama and McCain followers saying good enough for her, and Bush-beaters taking another opportunity, claiming he has always hated ungodly waitresses. Politics as usual.

Speaking of which, the political Ms. Qualls' fundamental first-amendment rights seem intact enough to make lots of mileage on them, so maybe she'll come out the winner in other ways.

Dixie · 05-01-2008, 07:30 PM

It wasnt so much that she was supporting Hillary Clinton, it was the fact that she was doing it while in work uniform. You have to realize when your'e in uniform you need to be very careful of your words and actions because it can and does reflect onto the rest of the company.

It reminds of when a woman who was going through EMT training with me and there was an anti-immigration protest here in town. She stood at the corner of the main intersection in her Student-EMT uniform and held a poster up that read 'Stop the browning of America'. The picture was on the front page of the local newspaper and needless to say the next day the instructor told her to hand in her stuff, she was now excused from the course and was not allowed to sit for the National Registry examination. I did not feel sorry for her instead I only offered a 'You should have thought of that before you acted.' While other citizens protested and were not fired or arrested, they did so because they were off the clock, out of uniform and made sure their poster was not offensive or racist.

Thats the same with this woman, she was not a private citizen at the time because she was still within her shift hours and still in uniform - she wasn't Bubblegum Betty, she was a waitress for the company. Even more childish is the fact that she actually contacted the Clinton campaign. Yeah right - that is the last thing on their agenda to hear this woman's sob story that she lost her job for protesting a presidential candidate on the clock.

pek1 · 05-02-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuyoPiyo

What happened to the free speech?

It ended when you put on your company uniform that has their name on it.

gmcman1996 · 05-28-2008, 12:35 PM

That is screwed up! Just firing a waitress, over that? Where is society going these days? South? or down the hole?

04-30-2008, 10:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
Pacman dunno dunno Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 12,176	Oh, ugh at her company about fired her for showing Clinton banner but it's more personal and all companies should be neutral for all issues based on employee's opinion. I feel bad for her about lost the job. It's better to not bring any personal issues at workplace if you don't know about anyone at workplace. __________________ Oh damn, don't mess with me

04-30-2008, 11:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
PowerON Please don't click me! D: Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Would like to live at Fort Davis, TX Posts: 3,621 Blog Entries: 1	I felt it's not enough story that they didn't show the behind story. who know, she make great threat to the company of something we may not know. __________________ Research before you shoot me.

04-30-2008, 11:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
PuyoPiyo slotting Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Couve Wa Posts: 4,304	What happened to the free speech? __________________ In memory of Ruby, see my picture album for more detail.

05-28-2008, 12:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
gmcman1996 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Madison, Alabama Posts: 346	That is screwed up! Just firing a waitress, over that? Where is society going these days? South? or down the hole? __________________ Life is like a highway... Enjoy the Ride! It's a long walk to Florida, Would you like to ride? Toby Keith- "Dale Earnhardt Tribute The Intimidator 7 time Winston Cup Champion "You have the right to be Intimidated!"

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05-01-2008, 12:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chase Retired on ex-mod pension Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 2,066	Agreed. The U.S. Constitution guarantees free speech without fear of government retaliation. It does not and cannot guarantee there will be no adverse reaction or consequences from the private sector or from private citizens. I’m not saying the restaurant management was morally right to fire Ms. Qualls, but it seems certainly within its rights to do so. Perhaps the restaurant’s written policy may offer a way to appeal and get back to work. Otherwise, you have Clinton followers crying it’s a dirty shame, Obama and McCain followers saying good enough for her, and Bush-beaters taking another opportunity, claiming he has always hated ungodly waitresses. Politics as usual. Speaking of which, the political Ms. Qualls' fundamental first-amendment rights seem intact enough to make lots of mileage on them, so maybe she'll come out the winner in other ways.