Friday, August 24, 2001 Updated: August 25, 7:40 PM ET
Davenport East coach suspended for missing work
Associated Press
DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Taking his team to the Little League
World Series proved to be a costly venture for manager Matt Kolar.
After his Davenport East team lost all three of its games in
South Williamsport, Pa., Kolar returned home to find he had been
suspended from his job for two weeks without pay for missing work.
Kolar, a sales representative for Qwest Dex, said he was told of
the suspension Thursday. His team was eliminated from the World
Series on Tuesday.
"I have no idea why my employer decided to do this," Kolar
said Friday from his home in Davenport. "For some reason, they
decided to make a stand. To me, it's ridiculous."
Kolar also managed Davenport East in last year's Little League
World Series and was not punished for missing work. His supervisor,
Larry Seals, declined to comment on the company's action.
"We do not discuss internal matters with people outside the
company," Seals said.
Kolar's union, the Communications Workers of America, has filed
a grievance. He said he doubted it would change anything.
"Ordinarily not," he said. "I've been around a long time. You
file a grievance and nothing usually happens."
Kolar was gone for eight working days because the team flew
straight from Indianapolis, the site of its regional tournament, to
Williamsport. He said Seals called him in South Williamsport on
Monday, Aug. 13.
"He kind of indicated we need you back here. I said I'm not
coming back until we're done," Kolar said. "Wednesday he called
and was more formal. He said, `I'm giving you a direct order to be
back Monday morning.' I said, `I'm not going to be there."'
Kolar said August is a busy time for the sales force because the
DEX Yellow Pages book comes out in the fall. Still, Kolar said he
could not understand why the company took such a hard line.
"I don't know what they're thinking -- you must be here
Monday," he said. "Why did I need to be here Monday if they were
going to suspend me? They knew there was no chance of that. I guess
they need to draw a line in the sand."
Kolar said he can return to work on Sept. 10. He also said the
experience of the Little League World Series was worth the hassle.
"You bet," he said. "In a heartbeat."
Besides, he added, "I've got plenty to do around here."
