Cashier is flashpoint in capitalism debate

[JODO 2]

Cashier is flashpoint in capitalism debate

By Franziska Scheven

BERLIN (Reuters) - A Berlin cashier who was sacked from a supermarket after 31 years of service because her employer accused her of stealing 1.30 euros ($1.65) has become a flash point of a debate about unchecked capitalism in Germany.

Leaders of Germany's major political parties criticized the supermarket's decision to fire Barbara Emme, especially because the 50-year-old who has become a German cause celebre denies the charges that she kept bottle deposit receipts worth 1.30 euros.

Wolfgang Thierse, vice president of parliament and member of the Social Democrats, on Thursday called a court decision on Tuesday that upheld the cashier's sacking "barbaric" and warned cases like this "destroy people's confidence in democracy."

Horst Seehofer, leader of the Christian Social Union, said the case raised questions about capitalism, which has come under attack in Germany in the wake of the global financial crisis.

"I don't understand how a cashier can be fired because of 1.30 euros while managers who lose billions of euros can keep their jobs," Seehofer told a rally in Bavaria on Wednesday.

LIGHTNING ROD

Even Chancellor Angela Merkel was asked about the case at a news conference with a group of foreign journalists on Thursday after the case has drawn extensive television and print media coverage in recent weeks.

The case of "Barbara E." is starting to loom over Germany's upcoming election campaign in a way that has similarities to "Joe the Plumber," an ordinary Ohio voter who became a lightning rod in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

"My phone has been ringing off the hook," Emme told Bild newspaper on Thursday after she appeared on a late night ZDF television talk show on Tuesday evening.

"But unfortunately no one offered me a job. That's not surprising considering the nasty accusations hanging over my head. It's going to be hard to find a new job because of that."

Bernd Ahlers, head of the supermarket chain, defended the company's decision to sack the cashier. He said the company had lost confidence in her trustworthiness because of the incident.

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnough...oddlyEnoughNews

[Nagishkaw 510]

Life without parole!

[Niels Bohr 72]

Ridiculous. Maybe because of her 31 one years there, it have caused the fear of seniority rights that her management need to sack her due to her high credentials. Although, being a cashier is not supposed to be a steady job anyway. A more permanent job is something that many college degree offers.

[mkg265 2]

She worked there for 31 years and they fired her for 1.30 euro!!! It costs more to look for a new employee than to ask her where the bottle money went!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I wouldn't want a cashier that stole working on the cash register in my business.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I wouldn't want a cashier that stole working on the cash register in my business.

Nobody will be your cashier for your store. They'll be freak out that they are under the till by a penny.

Speaking of theft, noone ever thought about taking 5 cents at the end of their shift. If they did, the total 365 days will earn them 18 dollars. Or, 50 cents will earn them 182 dollars.Hey, they are already getting paid at measly wages. They deserve it.

Edited February 28, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

She worked there for 31 years and they fired her for 1.30 euro!!! It costs more to look for a new employee than to ask her where the bottle money went!

but the new one they can pay less. i don't know if it's still going on in germany, but the longer you are in a job, the more and more pay you get. i suspect this was a way they could cut payroll costs, could probably hire 2 people for what they were paying her.

and yes, it's still wrong that she was fired.

[mkg265 2]

I wouldn't want a cashier that stole working on the cash register in my business.

Nobody will be your cashier for your store. They'll be freak out that they are under the till by a penny.

Speaking of theft, noone ever thought about taking 5 cents at the end of their shift. If they did, the total 365 days will earn them 18 dollars. Or, 50 cents will earn them 182 dollars.Hey, they are already getting paid at measly wages. They deserve it.

Can't wait to start my new job as a cashier so I can steal 5 cents a day everyday (including Christmas and my birthday!) and be able to treat myself to a movie and a small popcorn (after I was fired because if I still had my job I wouldn't have time for the movie).