I know that most of you the post on this forum are in England, but have you been asked not to remember your war veterans.....?
Staff in Northern Ireland banned from wearing a POPPY
The Newtownabbey Times....
A store chain was slammed yesterday for BANNING their staff from wearing poppies.
TK Maxx has ten stores here, but angry customers have vowed to never shop there again........
Staff at the cut-price fashion suppliers 188 other branches in the rest of the UK and the RoL were free to wear poppies. But staff in NI were told it was a company rule that no NO emblems could be worn - except badges from 6 charities the firm supports.
They heard the ban was to avoid offending anyone, given the political symbolism associated with the various emblems in Ulster.
But DUP MLA Edwin Poots was "appalled". He said " I don't see how anyone could find a poppy offensive. It is the symbol of those who died making the ultimate sacrifice".
Belfast receptionist Gillian Cash, 36, was horrified at the "ridiculous" ban and vowed to boycott the store. She said: People wear a poppy to honour the dead who gave their lives in war-time fighting for freedom. This is not a political issue. I know a lot of people who say they will not shop there again.
Furious callers swamped BBC Radio NI's lunchtime Talkback phone-in show to protest. One, named Mary, said "I am a Catholic and I won't shop at TK Maxx again - do they not relise that Catholic people wear poppies too?"
Another called Mark said, "This must ne the most bigoted shop in NI - my family won't be shopping there again.
Last night a spokeswoman for TK Maxx said: "we had no intention to cause offence but we do have a policy on emblems in NI. We realise this is a very sensitive issue."
Your views please!!!