Job loss is unfair, Guard member claims

[4dsc]

http://desmoinesregister.com/business/stories/c4789010/23179202.html

A sergeant in the Iowa National Guard says he has been wrongfully dismissed from his job as a deputy sheriff in Pocahontas County only a few months after he returned from a year's active duty with his unit.

"It just upsets me because I really love my job, and they took that away from me," said Brian Runneberg, 34, of Laurens.

He was told he was losing the job two days before Christmas.

Pocahontas County Sheriff Bob Lampe denied Monday that Runneberg was treated unfairly. Lampe said Runneberg lost the job because a deputy's position had to be eliminated due to budget constraints.

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The activation took a toll on Runneberg's personal life, too. He and his wife divorced. They have two children, ages 7 and 9.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

1. trying to feel sorry for a cop

nope. . . .not working.

[bspence]

2. Geez, stereotype much?

I've been locked up, but not ALL cops are @$$es. Most, but not all. I don't think you can tell the difference from this story though.

[JeebusH]

3. guy seems to have 'Bush voter' written all over him ...

but who knows ... hopefully he'll know who to blame could 2004

[Mikimouse]

4. There is a generic line here that we should not ignore...

""It just upsets me because I really love my job, and they took that away from me," said Brian Runneberg, 34, of Laurens."

Hey, in *'s economy, it may as well be a generic statement; how's this?: ""It just upsets me because I really love my job, and they took that away from me," said (enter name), (enter age), of (pick a spot, any spot).

Welcome to *world!

[alfredo]

5. I hear of this happening all the time. That is the story behind

the increased productivity numbers. While you are gone fighting bush's war, your boss is learning how to do without you.

[Dhalgren]

6. Of course, he can always reenlist.

This may be good way to beef up those recruitment numbers. With no jobs to come home to, that $10,000 enlistment bonus looks pretty good, eh.

[AndyTiedye]

7. No Job, No Wife, No Life to come home to

I feel sorry for him.

[banana republican]

10. It also counts for the employment figures

[Randomthought]

8. Apples and oranges

He would have lost the job even if he hadn't gone to Iraq. Being in the National Guard had nothing to do with the budget problems that caused his job to be eliminated.
What does he want? Someone with more seniority to lose their job instead?

[LiberalFighter]

9. I would feel sorry for the guy if...

it was due to personal reasons or any illegal reasons.

I would still feel sorry for the guy if it was because of their budget which was the result of the trickle down from the bush government that has been reduced. But every state and local government are being forced to reduce the allocation of monies for their departments.

I would have a problem if the department has a union and seniority was not used to determine who would be reduced. But from the story the guy was the lowest seniority of the 5. In addition, the guy that filled in while he was gone will lose his new position on July 1st in a contract position. Now, it is possible that the contract position should go to the returning guard.