A glitchy payment kiosk flashed red, the worker paid again, and a week later Ford allegedly accused him of stealing a $1.95 snack.
Kurt Kromm, a 60-year-old employee at Ford's Kentucky truck plant, says he was fired over a chocolate chip cookie he did not steal.
>>> Five Dead in Shooting at German Youth Facility in Stade
He earned over $200,000 last year.
What Happened at the Kiosk
The incident occurred around 3:30 a. m.
on May 9 during a 12-hour shift. Kromm bought a Grandma's Chocolate Chip Cookie for $1.95 after feeling light-headed from low blood sugar.
He swiped his debit card at one kiosk, but the machine showed a red screen indicating a failed transaction.
He then moved to another kiosk and paid successfully.
Kromm says the red screen is exactly why he switched machines. Security footage later showed the red screen, which Ford interpreted as nonpayment.
Fired a Week Later
Seven days after the purchase, Kromm was called into a supervisor's office and told he was being terminated for theft.
>>> UK Court Orders Removal of Family Pet Rabbit from Garden
He was escorted out immediately and barred from taking his tools.
The UAW bargainer urged him to apologize, saying workers who do return sooner. Kromm refused, insisting he had paid.
He later checked his bank statement and found the $1.95 transaction.
Ford initially required notarized bank statements. The kiosk operator Aramark confirmed on June 12 that Kromm had paid.
Ford then offered reinstatement, but Kromm had already found a better-paying job elsewhere.
He now earns $52.51 per hour plus a $10 bonus, up from $48 at Ford.
He also received over $28,000 in lost wages, short of the $33,000 the UAW said he would get.
>>> Andy Burnham Proposes UK Power Decentralization in Bid for Prime Minister
Ford declined to discuss the case but acknowledged it could have been handled differently. A coworker said kiosk glitches are common and have led to other terminations.
