Mom, son say Aramark fired them after they self-quarantined for possible coronavirus exposure

Two former employees of the Aramark industrial laundry facility in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood are accusing the Aramark Uniform and Career Apparel company of unfair labor practices.

Angela Smith, 42, and her son, Kendall Smith, 21, both of Duquesne, said they were fired from their jobs at the facility after they self-quarantined for possible exposure to covid-19.

Aramark denies the claims.

The Pennsylvania Joint Board of Workers United and SEIU (PAJB) filed charges Monday with the National Labor Review Board on behalf of the Smiths, who both serve as union shop stewards.

“Aramark’s actions are an unjustified attack on union workers,” PAJB manager David Melman said in a statement. “We believe that Angela and Kendall were fired because they are leaders in their union. This also sends a dangerous signal to other employees who want to use Aramark’s own policy. A policy has no value if workers are terminated for trying to use it.”

Aramark representatives issued a statement Tuesday evening: “We believe these claims are false. The two employees in question were terminated for presenting fabricated medical documentation.”

The company describes a policy on its website stating that part-time and full-time field associates with a confirmed case of covid-19, or who are quarantined due to covid-19 symptoms or exposure, will receive up to 21 additional days of sick time when all accrued sick time has been exhausted.

The unions argue that Aramark violated its own policy when Angela and Kendall Smith were fired.

Angela Smith said she and her son were possibly exposed to the coronavirus March 19, when they took Angela’s daughter, who is Kendall’s sister, to the emergency room for an asthma attack.

After that, they were advised by their doctor to self-quarantine for 14 days. They said they provided a letter from their doctor to Aramark.

They were suspended by Aramark when the quarantine was over and were informed that they had been fired April 13, they said.

Smith said she worries other employees could be in the same position, especially those who need to care for family members or who have underlying health conditions.

“My only concern was to keep me and my family safe, and my friends that I work with,” Smith told the Tribune-Review. “That was the only thing on my mind at the time. I wasn’t thinking about what the company would think. I didn’t think it would be a problem.”