Tyson replaces Labor Day with Muslim Eid al-Fitr

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=P ... geId=71218

Tyson replaces Labor Day with Muslim Eid al-Fitr
Chicken company: Workers wanted Islamic religious event recognized

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Posted: August 02, 2008
12:10 am Eastern


By Bob Unruh
© 2008 WorldNetDaily



A Labor Day parade from the early 1900s

Food workers at the Shelbyville, Tenn., plant for Tyson Foods, which boasts on its corporate website that it strives "to honor God," will have time off for Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday closing the month of Ramadan, instead of the American tradition Labor Day.

Officials with the company told WND the labor union representing the 1,200 plant workers, including about 700 immigrants from Somalia who largely are Muslim, sought the holiday change in the new five-year contract, and the company agreed.

Officials with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union issued a press statement about the new "contract [that] creates an additional paid holiday, [Eid al-Fitr,] a Muslim holiday that occurs toward the end of Ramadan."

A spokeswoman at the union's office told WND no one was in the office today who could comment on the request.

To the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, Gary Mickelson, Tyson's media chief, said there is no new holiday, but at the union's request the company agreed to discontinue the Labor Day holiday and implement Eid al-Fitr.

(Story continues below)



"Union leadership did request and receive Eid al-Fitr ... as a paid holiday in place of Labor Day," Mickelson told the newspaper.

"Since all Team Members will still have eight paid holidays, the change will not affect production," Mickelson said.

On the paper's forum page, readers were outraged.

"If this holiday is that important to them, make them take it off instead of Christmas Day and allow ALL workers to be off Labor Day. Most AMERICAN families have some type of function on Labor Day," wrote one participant.

"It says union leadership made this request, makes you wonder who runs the union. I guess they are already working on a plan to replace Memorial Day, that means nothing to the Muslims so why should we have the right to celebrate it. Labor Day commemorates the plight of workers and the struggle of labor unions to improve working conditions for American workers. The Muslims will not stop until all of our rights and laws are changed to accommodate their beliefs. This will be a new America but it will be their America," said another.

The union boasts on its website, "Diversity is one of the strengths of our union. … We may come from different countries and speak different languages. But what unites us is the belief that by standing together we can better advance our interests."

The holiday comes at the conclusion of the month-long Ramadan for Muslims, but it is not on the same day each year. Officials with Tyson said they were working out how best to address what apparently now will be a floating holiday for the company.

Mickelson said other days off for the company workers include birthdays, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Union spokesman Randy Hadley told the newspaper, "The negotiating committee felt this was extremely crucial, since this holiday is as important to Muslims as Christmas is to Christians."

The union also reported "two prayer rooms have been created to allow Muslim workers to pray twice a day and return to work without leaving the plant."

Ironically, the company on its website also promotes a variety of traditional and customary Christian and secular blessings for food – its primary product.

Another forum participant said immigrants should adjust to American culture, not the other way around.

"This is America, founded by the blood of our forefathers and should not be challenged by Somalians, Hispanics, or any other immigrants. If they come to America, they need to learn our language and our ways. They can practice their culture in private if they so please, but not shove it down our throats. Would they let us go there and change there country? I have banned Tyson's products from my home for years because of the illegals they were hiring. I am sorry for the producers that are supplying them, but Tyson's has once again crossed the line with the American people. Labor Day was here long before Tyson's. What holiday will be next to be taken away and replaced to accommodate an immigrant. This stinks worse than the plant," the forum participant said.

"Disgusting ... appalling ... horrifying ... there just aren't enough words to describe this situation. There will never be another Tyson product in my home EVER!! Bedford County and the rest of the nation needs to take notice. Is this what we are coming to?" said another.

A Muslim website says the holiday is a "joyous three-day celebration" that concludes Ramadan, during which Muslims fast during the day.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the Labor Day national holiday dates from Sept. 5, 1882, and is "dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."

Disgusting.

[Spang]

FUCKING MUSLIMS!

[Fairweather Pure]

Looks like the same old reactionary bullshit on both sides of the fence.

I'll file this under "don't care".

[Ashur]

Big hairy deal. This particular plant has a huge number of muslims and they wanted a change to the holiday schedule and presented it through their union. The suggestion that they take it instead of Christmas is retarded because the US is pretty much shut down on Christmas.

Besides, it's not a fad until they're doing it in Springfield as well as Shelbyville, but then Homer Simpson hilarious antics would ensue.

[Animale]

Care to elaborate why you think this is disgusting?

Sounds like the vast majority of workers asked (and voted) for their union to alter a holiday schedule to greater meet their particular needs, and the company agreed to assist with that in its agreements with the workers and their union. Labor day was created to recognize the power and benefits that unions can have in our capitalist society - this is merely a result of a company meeting the needs of its employees due to a union, seems great to me (p.s. it could be spaghetti monster day and I wouldn't give a crap about it - it's a private company and as long as both sides negotiate in good faith it's no skin off of my nose).

Animale

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

If the vast majority of workers voted to not celebrate MLK Jr Day, would that be okay?

[Fairweather Pure]

If Obama is elected, every day will be a Muslim holiday.

[Spang]

If the vast majority of workers voted to not celebrate MLK Jr Day, would that be okay?

Sure. All 365 days each year are the same to me, except Sundays during football season.

[Sylvus]

I'm curious as to what you find disgusting, Midnyte?

I find the comments that talk about the "illegals" that Tyson employs disgusting, since I don't think that any of these union members are probably illegals. I find it kind of disgusting that they are making disparaging comments about immigrants, since just about everyone in this country who isn't living on a reservation right now is an immigrant in some form (sup Kylere) or another. I also find it kind of disgusting that a country that is supposed to separate church and state and allow freedom of religion forces Christmas on people. Not that I'm against Christmas, although I don't particularly subscribe to the religious aspects of it, I just think that if you actively try not to participate in Christmas, since it's not your religion, you should be able to have time off to celebrate whatever your beliefs dictate.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

If the vast majority of workers voted to not celebrate MLK Jr Day, would that be okay?

Sure. All 365 days each year are the same to me, except Sundays during football season.

HAHA

Yeah, let's see that one play out with the ACLU and NAACP.

[Animale]

Answer my question first... why do you think this is disgusting?

[Show]

If it went through the union and company via good faith negotiation I'd have no problem with it. That being said, you and I both know that negotiating a change from MLK day would be harder (from a PR standpoint for the union and company) than negotiating a switch away from labor day (a Union pushed and sponsored holiday).

edit to add : ACLU wouldn't have a problem with it by the by... NAACP of course yes, but as long as the voices were heard in negotiation (which is what ACLU is all about, not supporting holidays). Do you even know how much the ACLU helps our country function - or is it just another "evil liberal" thing to you. Disparaging the ACLU is like disparaging the Constitution, they are there to protect everybody.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

I don't think religion should play a part at all in the work place. I'd think many on this board should agree with that.

[Animale]

So you don't think unions/companies should work with each other to make their members/workers happier in the workplace? Or only when you don't agree with the concessions necessary to make that work.

This is just good business for Tyson - they get a cheaper immigrant labor force at the tiny price of a moved holiday and a few "prayer" rooms.

[Ashur]

I don't think religion should play a part at all in the work place. I'd think many on this board should agree with that.

Holiday scheduling has always taken religion into account. I think every company I've ever worked for has allowed "alternate" holiday days off for those of Jewish and Islamic faiths etc. For a large processing plant you need to plan these things out more carefully. It's a lot different when you have 50+ percent of your workforce who want to change it rather than a few folks here and there.

Again, there is no issue here. The workforce for this plant wanted a reasonable accommodation and brought it to the employer through the union. The accommodation was made and no one was hurt (except possibly some poultry...). It's no different than if the whole of the plant was gay and they wanted to take off a day to wear tiger-leather chaps and pink chapeaus in a rainbow pride parade instead of taking off Labor Day. As long as they can work this out, more power to them.

Just warn me so I can avoid the parade route,

[Trias]

union representatives are hired by a union to work toward the wants/needs of the majority in that union...the majority of their union are of Muslim affiliation so this action by Tyson is no surprise.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Tyson Plant Drops Labor Day for Muslim Holiday
Tuesday, August 05, 2008

E-Mail Print Share:

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. — Workers at a Tyson Foods poultry processing plant in Tennessee have opted to trade a paid Labor Day holiday for the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

A 5-year contract approved by members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union at the Shelbyville, Tenn., plant last November includes the change to accommodate Muslim workers.

"The negotiating committee made the holiday a top priority in contract talks," the union's Alabama and Mid-South Council Representative Randy Hadley said in a statement issued in June. "And we were able to get management to commit to it."

The change, which does not affect the company's 118 other plants, exchanges Labor Day for the Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. The new contract, negotiated last fall, also gives Muslim workers a prayer room.

"Eid al-Fitr is one of eight paid holidays for all team members covered by the contract, while Labor Day is not a paid holiday," Gary Mickelson, Tyson's media relations director, told the Shelbyville Times-Gazette.

But Tyson spokeswoman Libby Lawson told FOXNews.com that employees who are not a member of the union at that plant would still be eligible for Labor Day as a paid holiday.

RelatedVideo
Poultry Protest The seven additional paid holidays are the employee's birthday, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Mickelson said.

"Given the nature of our work, many, many, many times we have to work holidays anyway, and Labor Day is usually one of those holidays that our workers have to work," Lawson said. "And, of course, they are paid holiday pay when they have to work any holiday that is recognized at our facility."

Tyson officials said that approximately 250 of the plant's 1,200 employees are Somalis who entered the United States as political refugees. Most, if not all, are believed to be Muslim — among them, Abdillahi Jama.

"This new contract is good because it allows me to work on the second shift and still pray when I need to," Jama said in the union's press release. "It’s very important to us, and the Eid is one of our most sacred holidays. It shows how the union helps us."

Lawson said that the Shelbyville plant is one of a handful that have designated prayer areas that can be used by groups of all faiths.

News of the holiday change has prompted some anger on local Web message boards, with some writings urging readers to contact the AFL-CIO and boycott Tyson products.

The union's national president, Stuart Appelbaum, said it is the union's job "to stand up to win respect for every worker's right to practice their faith."

Tyson officials said the contract was agreed to by 80 percent of the union's 1,000 members at the plant.

This year Eid al-Fitr falls on Oct. 1.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Another case of the minority winning over the majority. They guilted the majority into agreeing. Disgusting.

[Spang]

How many Tyson plants are in Shelbyville?

That looks like the same fucking case you posted to start this thread!

[Sylvus]

Tyson Plant Drops Labor Day for Muslim Holiday
Tuesday, August 05, 2008

E-Mail Print Share:

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. — Workers at a Tyson Foods poultry processing plant in Tennessee have opted to trade a paid Labor Day holiday for the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

A 5-year contract approved by members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union at the Shelbyville, Tenn., plant last November includes the change to accommodate Muslim workers.

"The negotiating committee made the holiday a top priority in contract talks," the union's Alabama and Mid-South Council Representative Randy Hadley said in a statement issued in June. "And we were able to get management to commit to it."

The change, which does not affect the company's 118 other plants, exchanges Labor Day for the Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. The new contract, negotiated last fall, also gives Muslim workers a prayer room.

"Eid al-Fitr is one of eight paid holidays for all team members covered by the contract, while Labor Day is not a paid holiday," Gary Mickelson, Tyson's media relations director, told the Shelbyville Times-Gazette.

But Tyson spokeswoman Libby Lawson told FOXNews.com that employees who are not a member of the union at that plant would still be eligible for Labor Day as a paid holiday.

RelatedVideo
Poultry Protest The seven additional paid holidays are the employee's birthday, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Mickelson said.

"Given the nature of our work, many, many, many times we have to work holidays anyway, and Labor Day is usually one of those holidays that our workers have to work," Lawson said. "And, of course, they are paid holiday pay when they have to work any holiday that is recognized at our facility."

Tyson officials said that approximately 250 of the plant's 1,200 employees are Somalis who entered the United States as political refugees. Most, if not all, are believed to be Muslim — among them, Abdillahi Jama.

"This new contract is good because it allows me to work on the second shift and still pray when I need to," Jama said in the union's press release. "It’s very important to us, and the Eid is one of our most sacred holidays. It shows how the union helps us."

Lawson said that the Shelbyville plant is one of a handful that have designated prayer areas that can be used by groups of all faiths.

News of the holiday change has prompted some anger on local Web message boards, with some writings urging readers to contact the AFL-CIO and boycott Tyson products.

The union's national president, Stuart Appelbaum, said it is the union's job "to stand up to win respect for every worker's right to practice their faith."

Tyson officials said the contract was agreed to by 80 percent of the union's 1,000 members at the plant.

This year Eid al-Fitr falls on Oct. 1.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Another case of the minority winning over the majority. They guilted the majority into agreeing. Disgusting.

Who says anyone guilted anyone else? 80% voted for it, sounds like the majority won over the minority to me.

Officials with the company told WND the labor union representing the 1,200 plant workers, including about 700 immigrants from Somalia who largely are Muslim, sought the holiday change in the new five-year contract, and the company agreed.

Make up your mind.

[miir]

Am I still banned?

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Haha. I didn't even see that. WTF? Wow, you really can't trust the media. Wonder which one is correct. The 700 figure would make me feel better. I'd still disagree, but I'd feel better about it.

[Boogahz]

Officials with the company told WND the labor union representing the 1,200 plant workers, including about 700 immigrants from Somalia who largely are Muslim, sought the holiday change in the new five-year contract, and the company agreed.

Make up your mind.

Maybe everyone else converted to Islam last night?

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Am I still banned?

I believe so. My sig still says to unban you.

[miir]

Am I still banned?

I believe so. My sig still says to unban you.

Fucking sylvos needs to unban me.

[Animalor]

Laborday has such shitty scheduling anyways. Can I have Eid al-Falafel and Chrismas instead?

[Truant]

fuck, now I want falafel.

[Aslanna]

If the vast majority of workers voted to not celebrate MLK Jr Day, would that be okay?

If they were smart they'd celebrate both of them. I'm more for gaining holidays than I am for losing them. Especially if it means a day off work.

[Truant]

do people actually get off work for MLK day? (barring banks, post offices, and government employees obviously who get all days ending in 'y' off)

I haven't worked a job that had holidays in a long, long time so I don't remember. I'm pretty sure that we still had classes on MLK day at uni as well.

[Boogahz]

Only holidays my employer currently has are New Years Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. That doesn't mean we're closed. There is just a highly reduced workforce available, and each major call center rotates closing for one or two of them each year.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

do people actually get off work for MLK day? (barring banks, post offices, and government employees obviously who get all days ending in 'y' off)

I haven't worked a job that had holidays in a long, long time so I don't remember. I'm pretty sure that we still had classes on MLK day at uni as well.

Schools get it off now.

[Truant]

I know that grade schools get it off. But grade schools get a ridiculous amount of days off. They have teacher/staff days off like once a month around here. I'd have to suppose they do it to extend the school year (it's been growing every year since I was a wee lad).

I'm 99.999% sure that we didn't get it off at University last year (public state university). In fact, we got very few days off from school. Labor Day, Thanksgiving (thurs/fri), and President's Day are the only holidays observed during the Fall and Spring semesters that I can remember.

[Spang]

If I remember correctly, as a kid growing up in a Florida public school system, depending on the district, you either got Columbus Day off or MLK Day off, but never both.

[sarlen]

When our HR director was a black guy we had MLK day off, soon as he was replaced by a Hispanic woman they took away MLK day and replaced it with a floating holiday that we could use at our discretion.

Also, I have no issue with this, what do I care what day they want off? The majority voted for it so from my perspective its democracy in action.

[Nick]

Democracy has no place in my country!