Walmart Is Eliminating Greeters, Worrying the Disabled
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Friday, March 1, 2019 Vol. 13 No. 4 14783 Carmenita Road, Norwalk, CA 90650 3.3 earthquake Norwalk rattles Walmart is eliminating restaurant Norwalk grades NORWALK – A minor greeters, worrying The Habit Burger Grill earthquake jolted a large swath of 12401 S Norwalk Blvd. Southern California early Tuesday Date Inspected: 2/22/19 Friday morning. Weekend64˚ Grade: A The magnitude-3.3 quake the disabled at a struck Norwalk at 1:51 a.m., and So Cal Pizza Glance was the largest of several micro 12253 Imperial Hwy. earthquakes that made Southern Saturday 62˚⁰ The nation’s largest Date Inspected: 2/22/19 68 California tremble within just a Friday few hours. employer told greeters last Grade: A week that their jobs are Most of those quakes ranged being eliminated. Hibachi Grill Buffet from a 1.0 to a 1.8 and struck areas Sunday 63˚70⁰ like Ojai, West Hollywood and 14021 Pioneer Blvd. Saturday Bellflower, besides Norwalk. As Walmart moves to phase Date Inspected: 2/22/19 out its familiar blue-vested Grade: B The Los Angeles County “greeters” at some 1,000 stores sheriff’s Norwalk station said nationwide, disabled workers who Stater Bros. Market (Bakery) there were no damages reported. fill many of those jobs say they’re being ill-treated by a chain that 11300 E Firestone Blvd. According to the U.S. Geological Date Inspected: 2/22/19 Survey, the magnitude-3.3 styles itself as community- earthquake was felt as far east as minded and inclusive. Grade: A Riverside and as far north as Santa Walmart told greeters around Clarita. the country last week that their Stater Bros. Market (Meat) Norwalk City Hall used the positions would be eliminated on 11300 E Firestone Blvd. tremblor to remind residents to be April 26 in favor of an expanded, Date Inspected: 2/22/19 more physically demanding prepared for a larger earthquake. Grade: A “customer host” role. To qualify, “That small quake serves as they will need to be able to lift Totally 80’s Murder Mystery RC Burgers a reminder that seismic episodes 25-pound (11-kilogram) packages, Friday - Downey Elks Lodge, 6 pm 14041 Pioneer Blvd. can happen at any minute and we climb ladders and stand for long Walmart greeter John Combs works at a Walmart store in Vancouver, need to be prepared!,” the city periods. Date Inspected: 2/22/19 Wear your best 1980’s clothing at this Washington on April 21, 2018. AP photo murder-mystery whodunit dinner show. posted on Facebook. “Please visit Grade: B our website for information on That came as a heavy blow $60 with proceeds benefiting Downey emergency preparedness.” to greeters with cerebral palsy, Rose Float Association. spina bifida and other physical house? That’s all I’m going to deadline indefinitely for greeters Doublas Burgers The city’s website is Norwalk. disabilities. For them, a job at do?” Combs asked his sister and with disabilities. 16306 Pioneer Blvd. org. Walmart has provided needed guardian, Rachel Wasser. “I do my Date Inspected: 2/21/19 income, served as a source of job. I didn’t do anything wrong.” “We recognize that our associates with physical Grade: A pride and offered a connection to Wasser urged the retailer to the community. disabilities face a unique Vietnam War “give these people a fair shake. ... situation,” Walmart spokesman Guesthouse Hotel Now Walmart, America’s If you want to make your actions Justin Rushing said in a 12500 Firestone Blvd. match your words, do it. Don’t be largest private employer, is facing statement. The extra time, he Date Inspected: 2/21/19 remains a backlash as customers rally a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” said, will give Walmart a chance around some of the chain’s most to explore how to accommodate Grade: A ID’d as With the U.S. unemployment A Flock of Seagulls highly visible employees. rate for disabled people more such employees. Angie’s Deli Friday - Totally 80’s Bar & Grille in Walmart says it is striving than twice that for workers Walmart said it has already Norwalk man 14346 S Pioneer Blvd. Fullerton, 7 pm to place greeters in other jobs at without disabilities, Walmart has made offers to some greeters, Date Inspected: 2/21/19 NORWALK – Military officials the company, but workers with long been seen as a destination including those with physical English new wave band A Flock of have positively identified the disabilities are worried. for people like Combs. Advocacy disabilities, and expects to Grade: A Seagulls performs live at this ‘80s dance remains of a Vietnam War veteran groups worry the company is continue doing so in the coming party. $20 Donny Fagnano, 56, who has as those of Norwalk native Raul backsliding. weeks. Marquez Restaurant Antonio Guerra. worked at Walmart for more than 21 years, said he cried “It’s the messaging that But some workers say they 13226 E Rosecrans Ave. Guerra was a U.S. Navy when a manager at the store in concerns me,” said Gabrielle have been tacitly discouraged Date Inspected: 2/21/19 journalist who died in a plane Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, called Sedor, chief operations officer from applying for other jobs. Grade: A crash over Vietnam in 1967. He had him into the office last week and at ANCOR, a trade group been listed as a POW/MIA. representing service providers. Mitchell Hartzell, 31, a told him his job was going away. Mexicana Markets “Given that Walmart is such full-time Walmart greeter in U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez “I like working,” he said. “It’s an international leader in the Hazel Green, Alabama, said his 13208 S San Antonio Dr. announced the news of Guerra’s better than sitting at home.” retail space, I’m concerned manager told him “they pretty Date Inspected: 2/21/19 positive identification as much didn’t have anything in that Fagnano, who has spina this decision might suggest to Grade: C confirmed by the U.S. Department store for me to do” after his job bifida, said he was offered a some people that the bottom Awesome 80’s Run of Defense. winds down in April. He said he severance package. He hopes line of the company is more The Poke Co. Saturday - Rose Bowl, 8 am “America will never forget important to the company than persisted, approaching several to stay on at Walmart and clean 12200 Civic Center Dr. Ste A Big hair, neon colors and leg warmers those who fought and died for inclusive communities. We don’t assistant managers to ask about bathrooms instead. Date Inspected: 2/21/19 are encouraged at this 80’s themed 5K our country,” Sanchez said in a think those two are mutually openings, and found out about a and 10K run/walk, with live music and Walmart greeters have been exclusive.” vacant position at self-checkout. Grade: A statement. “Every generation entertainment. $25-$49 is committed to the mission around for decades, allowing the But it had already been promised The greeter issue has of recovering missing service retail giant to put a friendly face to a greeter who doesn’t use a already prompted at least three Casa Adelita members who are killed in battle at the front of its stores. Then, in wheelchair, he said. complaints to the U.S. Equal 12842 E Rosecrans Ave. and returning them home to their 2016, Walmart began replacing Employment Opportunity “It seems like they don’t want Date Inspected: 2/21/19 loved ones. I am honored to say greeters with hosts, adding Commission, as well as a us anymore,” said Hartzell, who we have fulfilled one part of that responsibilities that include Grade: A federal lawsuit in Utah alleging has cerebral palsy. mission.” helping with returns, checking receipts to deter shoplifters and discrimination under the Jay Melton, 40, who has Noemi’s Mexican Restaurant Since 2017, Sanchez has keeping the front of the store Americans with Disabilities Act. worked as a greeter in Marion, 14350 Pioneer Blvd. Under the federal law, employers worked with U.S. Marine Ruben clean. Walmart and other chains North Carolina, for nearly 17 Date Inspected: 2/21/19 Valencia to identify and return have been redefining roles at must provide “reasonable” years, loves church, Tar Heels accommodations to workers with Grade: A Guerra’s remains for a proper stores as they compete with basketball and Walmart. His Brazilian Carnival Parade burial. Valencia was a friend of Amazon. disabilities. sister-in-law, Jamie Melton, said Guerra’s. Anticucheria Peroana Saturday - Venice Boardwalk, 12 pm Walmart did not disclose how the job is what gets him out of The effect of the greeter 14351 Pioneer Blvd. Put on a costume, paint your face and “Through many starts and many disabled greeters could lose bed. phase-out on disabled and Date Inspected: 2/20/19 join the parade honoring Brazilian stops, Mr. Valencia never lost hope elderly employees — who have their jobs. The company said that “He doesn’t have a lot of Grade: culture. Family-friendly. and he never gave up,” Sanchez traditionally gravitated toward after it made the change at more things he does himself that bring A said. “He showed unwavering the role as one they were well- than 1,000 stores in 2016, 80 to him joy,” she said. Addressing commitment to his childhood suited to doing — largely escaped 85 percent of all affected greeters Walmart, Melton added: “When Albert’s Mexican Food friend. public notice until last week, found other roles at Walmart. It you cut a huge population of 11610 Imperial Hwy.