Thread by @FredFredderson1

Costco is violating the human rights across Canada.

If you are disabled and unable to wear a face mask or face shield, you are not allowed on the premises. If you have no one to shop for you, and aren't able to order online, you will be denied entry, contrary to their policy.

I phoned two locations, spoke with two supervisors and two managers. In addition I filed a complaint to their main call centre.

Here is what happened, and I encourage others to do the same.

Put the pressure on. Don't let them set precedence for other stores.

First supervisor:

I explained there is someone I know who cannot wear a face mask or shield, does not have anyone to shop for them, and isn't familiar with computers. I wanted to know how they can be accommodated. I asked politely for clarification.

They said, this person is not allowed in the store, and that it is the law. There are no exceptions. They became immediately irate at the question.

I explained it is not the law, rather the opposite was true; Costco was breaking Canadian law, and refusing basic service based on disabilities. I explained Costco has no authority to change laws in Canada.

They became aggressive and rose their voice. They told me it's not up for debate, they aren't allowed in. I reiterated my point.

Then I was hung up on.

I phoned another location.

The supervisor was very polite and apologetic, however advised that they would deny the person entry because of their disability.

He knew it was wrong, you could hear it in his tone. Very polite and caring.

That doesn't change the situation, however.

I phoned several days later to speak to a manager:

I wanted further confirmation that Costco was denying the disabled access to their essential store. They became aggressive, and advised the person would not be allowed to shop, and they should cancel their membership.

I explained that this isn't legal, and could end up with grave consequences for certain groups of marginalized Canadians. The Costco manager was unrelenting, and the tension rose.

I advised that they would not cancel their membership on the basis of them having a disability; they deserve to be able to shop for food.

I thanked them for confirming once again; Costco will deny service to the disabled, because they are disabled.

I called the number from the following page to file an accessibility complaint as per Costco procedure. See photo.

costco.ca/member-service…

I spoke with the membership department, as there was no option for complaints. The agent was unsure how to proceed, but spoke with their supervisor on how to take the complaint against the local warehouse.

I explained that our local warehouses were violating Costco policy and human rights code. I explained I was told to cancel the membership, and that my local Costco refuses to serve persons with disabilities.

His answer; "Wow."

He took all the supervisor and manager names, as well as the date, time, and details of the calls.

Then something great happened, he opened up to me.

He said he came from a country that treated different groups of people like that. He hoped it wouldn't come to Canada.

He had an elderly mother and was worried for her well being, would she be denied entry at some point?

I thanked him from the bottom of my heart.

He said...

"You are right sir, and if I tell you that it's okay to treat people like this, then I am wrong."

He could not defend this type of treatment or policy.

Two days later I received a call from the local warehouse. Must have been upper management.

They advised they will not permit someone in that circumstance to shop there, and that the only way was for someone to shop on their behalf. No exceptions.

I said that I had attempted to get this resolved through the process Costco has available, and that I am now forced to take further action outside of the internal policy of Costco.

He was very quick to say that Costco is a private company and they can do this if they want, and that this was not a human rights issue.

Clearly he wanted to discourage that type of issue from coming up. I'm certain he was instructed to avoid a human rights complaint.

I was very quick to say that Costco has no authority to pass legislation in Canada, and has no authority to exempt themselves from Canadian Law, nor the human rights codes in each province.

They have no right to refuse the disabled.

No business can discriminate.

I explained that there are people who escaped Nazi/Communist regimes, and have seen this before. Someone I know is terrified to go into their store, and is terrified of the employees.

Judging by the way I was treated on the phone, I explained, their fear was wholly justified.

He was very polite, but unrelenting.

He could offer no solution suitable for this situation.

I thanked him politely for his phone call, and thanked him for confirming (for a fourth time) that Costco will deny service to the disabled.

I advised the issue was unresolved, and that I will need to pursue other means to ensure the disabled will not be denied access to essential goods such as food.

I thanked him again, and ended the call.

Please call your local Costco, and ask them how they would handle this particular type of situation.

Start local, and work your way up.

Be exceptionally polite, being rude won't fix this.

You are simply looking for them to confirm their policy, and to make a formal complaint.

https://twitter.com/Redhdlois/status/1329250138670305280?s=19