Wednesday, April 01, 2015, 10:30 pm
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An Arkansas woman says she was fired because she was quoted in the Washington Post saying she was excited about her state's minimum wage going up by 25 cents an hour because she'd be able to afford diapers for her grandson. Tippen had worked in the Days Inn and Suites in Pine Bluff.
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Tippen says she was fired by her boss, hotel manager Herry Patel. Earlier that day, Patel had called the Post to express frustration that he had been quoted giving his opinion about the minimum wage hike. (He objected to it.)
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It was soon after, Tippen says, that Patel found her in the lobby and fired her.
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"He said I was stupid and dumb for talking to [the Post]," Tippen said. "He cussed me and asked me why you wrote the article. I said, 'Because he's a reporter; that's what he does.' He said, 'it was wrong for me to talk to you.'".
In the original article, Patel was quoted saying "Everybody wants free money in Pine Bluff." This from an employer who pays all his housekeepers and front desk staff minimum wage. "Free money." An extra 25 cents an hour for the people doing the work of keeping your business running, including the injury-prone job of hotel housekeeper.
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And the kicker? Reporter Chico Harlan notes that, before Patel fired Tippen for talking to him and being quoted in the Post, Patel had introduced Harlan to Tippen as a person to talk to for his story.
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Tippen is still looking for work
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