Tim Hortons relents, workers join 'Red Friday'
Updated Fri. Sep. 29 2006 11:02 PM ET CTV.ca News Staff
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060929/timhortons_reddays_060929/20060929?hub=Canada
Tim Hortons employees almost didn't get to join other Canadians Friday in wearing red to support Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
The "Red Friday" campaign was begun last spring by the families of CFB Petawawa troops serving in the war-torn country. But employees at the Tim Hortons on the base were distressed when the head office issued an order this Friday that they weren't allowed to ditch their uniforms and wear red.
"I think it's terrible myself," one soldier who came into the doughnut shop on the base told CTV News. "We support them everyday coming in here buying coffee."
The head office altered its order within hours of making it, telling employees across Canada they had to wear their standard uniforms, but could wear red ribbons or pins on the job, if they wished.
The manager of the Tim Hortons at Petawawa, whose husband just returned from Kandahar, doesn't think that's enough. She said her employees want to hold out for red T-shirts to support their loved ones overseas.
Their relatives in Afghanistan love Tims. The outlet in Kandahar is a cherished connection to home.
Suzy Wells worked at the Tim Hortons at CFB Petawawa two years ago. With her husband training to go to Afghanistan, she can't imagine not being able to wear red on Fridays.
"They let them wear the support a cookie smile T-shirt when it's time for that, or their camp day T-shirt when it's time for camp day, but they won't let them wear a red shirt in support of Canadian Armed Forces," said Wells. "I think it's kind of silly."
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