I'm betting he'll discuss it in court.
Posted on 02/12/2005 6:23:02 AM PST by Pikamax
Photo in Paper Costs Beer Drinker His Job
By The Associated Press
Published: February 11, 2005 11:00 PM ET
RACINE A man may have found out firsthand just how nasty the competition is between the world's two biggest beermakers.
Isac Aguero, 24, said he was fired from his job with a Miller Brewing distributor, the same day a picture appeared in The Journal Times of Racine of him drinking a Bud Light, which is brewed by Anheuser-Busch Co.
The photo, taken Feb. 5, was part of the newspaper's weekly "On the Town" feature, which depicts the city's night life.
Aguero, who had been a forklift operator at CJW Inc. for four years, told the newspaper he was informed by co-workers when he arrived at work Monday that he was in trouble because of the picture.
He said he was called into the general manager's office and told he was fired. Aguero said he was not given a reason and claimed he never had problems with his bosses.
"It was a Saturday and I wasn't at work," he told The Journal Times. "They can't tell me what beverages I can drink.
"Bud Light's my beer of choice, I always drink that. Just because I work there, do I have to change what I drink?"
Thomas Bey, a CJW sales manager, read a statement to The Associated Press Friday and would not answer any questions. He said the company does not publicly discuss past or present employees.
But they can tell you not to show up for work.
I'm betting he'll discuss it in court.
Apparently you do. This is what happens when there are no controls on corporations.
They prefer to discuss it publicly in court.
For more money.
I know that at least in Canada, certain huge parking lots do not allow GM cars to park there; in others, no Chrysler products.
I am sure the same is true in the US too.
Too many beers on board to notice the newspaper photographer taking a closeup--or too many beers to care.
The company did not tell him what to drink.
It's a free country, and they are not obligated to provide employment to one who advertises for the competition.
If the guy is so loyal to Bud Light, go run their forklifts.
No controls on corporations? Cough, sputter...you were being facetious, yes?
Well ... that was ill-advised, wasn't it?!
"It was a Saturday and I wasn't at work," he told The Journal Times. "They can't tell me what beverages I can drink."
If the photo was the sole reason for the firing, then Mr.Aguero has a case. Bet he gets a hefty retirement nest egg, too.
His bad taste - Bud Light - is another matter.
Aguero said when he went to work on the day his picture hit the paper, the place was abuzz.
"When I came in, they said, 'You're in trouble for drinking Bud Light,'" Aguero said.
Then, his boss gave him the ax.
"I asked him to tell me the reason why I'm fired, and he was like, 'There's no reason. We just don't need you no more,'" Aguero said.
To Aguero, the reason was as clear as his picture in the Racine Journal Times.
Aguero's boss wasn't in, but off-camera, a C.J.W. employee told 12 News that it won't discuss personnel issues, but said the company does not tell its workers what to drink.
C.J.W'.s employee handbook doesn't directly address drinking the competition.
"It's my choice of beer. Who can tell you what to drink or not to drink? What you like?" Aguero asked.
Aguero is supporting two young sons so he's on the job hunt, but he's trying to keep his sense of humor. "I was actually thinking I was going to go apply at Anheuser-Busch," Aguero said.
To Aguero, the whole incident makes no sense.
"It's like saying you work at Pepsi and you get caught drinking a Coke, are you fired for that?" Aguero asked.
"I don't know? Are you?" WISN 12 News reporter Colleen Henry asked.
"I'm not sure. I mean, I guess so. I got fired for Bud Light," Aguero said.
Two years ago, a truck driver for Coca-Cola lost his job after he was spotted slugging a Pepsi.
For its part, Miller Brewing told 12 News its distributors are independent businesses with their own policies -- that Miller has no formal policy on this issue.
Man ... losing your gig over bad beer ... maybe if it was Guinness or Red Hook ...
I feel sorry for this man but I think the company's issue was not so much that the man drank the competition's beer but that by his allowing to be photographed and then being in a newspaper, he was, in effect, without realizing it, a walking advertisement for the competition and THAT is why they probably fired him. Oh well...
Well they fired the guy because of demonstrably poor judgement. And he still doesn't get it apparently.
Bottom linr--if you love your competitor's produccts--keep it to yourself.
Of course if he had any smarts he would seek out employment with Bud and offer to make commericals for them as well.
The logical outcome of all this will have us (or our progeny) sitting in government approved homes being fed government and employer-approved foods prepared with government/employer approved products before we set off to our government mandated jobs.
Kinda' scary... not a world I want to live in.
No self respecting union man would be caught dead in a Toyota...lol
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