Overview
- Kurt Kromm, a 60‑year‑old Ford electrician fired in May after a kiosk and surveillance flagged an unpaid $1.95 cookie, has retained Kentucky attorney J. Will Huber and plans to send a demand letter to Ford and Aramark this week.
- Kromm produced bank records showing the $1.95 payment, and Ford later reinstated him, paid about $33,000 in back wages and offered to rehire him, but he rejected the offer and will pursue claims instead.
- Employees say Aramark self‑checkout kiosks at Ford plants have shown errors such as red error messages, frozen screens, missing receipts and double charges that can appear to show unpaid purchases.
- Reporting has identified at least four other Ford workers who were fired over alleged snack thefts tied to kiosk transactions, and several have since been reinstated after reviews.
- Legal experts are split on likely outcomes because reinstatement and back pay limit some damages, but possible claims include wrongful termination and defamation and the case could prompt closer corporate and union scrutiny of kiosk use and discipline.