Initially, Kara's husband, Sgt. Dale DeWitt was to be deployed for only 6 months, but his tour was extended twice, and Kara was on her own for 19 months. During that time, their daughter Daisy, now 2, was born. Kara was taking care of Daisy and her sister Julia, now 4, while working full-time at Verizon Wireless. When the girls were sick, Kara of course had to stay home with them, using some of her sick days.   

 

After using her allotted sick leave, Kara came down with pink eye and a stomach bug and took two additional sick days. Rather than allowing her to use vacation time or work out any other arrangement, Verizon Wireless fired Kara. Kara's family lost not only her income but also their health insurance; Dale is a self-employed HVAC contractor, so the entire family was on her health care policy.

 

 

Kara had worked at the Verizon Wireless call center in Wallingford, CT, and CWA Local 1298 is spearheading the effort to support Kara and have her reinstated.  

 

 

Verizon Wireless likes to tout its inclusion on Working Mother magazine's list of the 100 best companies for working mothers. However, the company clearly doesn't deserve this honor. 

As part of our campaign to win Kara her job back, we're letting Working Mother magazine know that Verizon Wireless has no place on its list of companies that are good for working mothers.  Please visit www.unionvoice.org/campaign/dewitt_firing and send a message to Working Mother magazine!

Working Women, AFL-CIO

For more information, read the New Haven Register's coverage of this story, "Soldier's Wife Fired After Struggling to Mind the Homefront," May 1, 2005 (free registration required).