Tyson replaces Labor Day with Muslim Eid al-Fitr

[TheSarge]

By Bob Unruh
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

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 issue 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.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=71218

[RightCoast]

Holy Bat **** Crazy

[Chris_]

I saw this the other day in the local paper and considered posting it.  I suppose setting up a voluntary, floating holiday would have been too much trouble for the union.

[TheSarge]

I saw this the other day in the local paper and considered posting it.  I suppose setting up a voluntary, floating holiday would have been too much trouble for the union.

The workers demanding the change wouldn't have settled for that IMHO.

It's typical of the Muslim religion and outlook on life..."do it our way...or else."

Looks like I'm going to have to consider switching brands of chicken I buy at the Commissary.

[Chris_]

I saw this the other day in the local paper and considered posting it.  I suppose setting up a voluntary, floating holiday would have been too much trouble for the union.

The workers demanding the change wouldn't have settled for that IMHO.

It's typical of the Muslim religion and outlook on life..."do it our way...or else."

Looks like I'm going to have to consider switching brands of chicken I buy at the Commissary.

My aunt stopped buying Tyson some time in the 90's after they supported Clinton's election campaign.  I generally don't buy them.

[NHSparky]

Between this and all the illegals they've been busted for hiring, is there any reason left to patronize this company?

[TheSarge]

^Nope no reason at all.


But here's what I want to know. How did a small group of muslim employees manage to bully an American corporation and a labor union into replacing a secular holiday paying homage to the American worker....with a religious holiday honoring Allah.

This is how it all started in Europe.  They've got a huge muslim population they fail to recognize as a potential problem hoping if they don't see it...that it will go away.

And there are certain factions and a political party in this contry hoping for the same thing.

[Odin's Hand]

How about calls to prayer from a minaret to replace coffee breaks as well? Hell, just level the factory and turn it into a mosque.

[TheSarge]

How about calls to prayer from a minaret to replace coffee breaks as well? Hell, just level the factory and turn it into a mosque.

Wasn't there a meat processing company in the south recently that was having trouble with muslim employees because they were demanding to be allowed to leave the processing line for their daily prayer calls?

[NHSparky]

^Nope no reason at all.


But here's what I want to know. How did a small group of muslim employees manage to bully an American corporation and a labor union into replacing a secular holiday paying homage to the American worker....with a religious holiday honoring Allah.

About $4/hour plus benefits difference between what they're paying the Mooselimbs and what they'd have to pay Americans.

[Odin's Hand]

How about calls to prayer from a minaret to replace coffee breaks as well? Hell, just level the factory and turn it into a mosque.

Wasn't there a meat processing company in the south recently that was having trouble with muslim employees because they were demanding to be allowed to leave the processing line for their daily prayer calls?

Yeah, but, it was in Omaha, NE.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/07/22/muslim_workers_in_neb_allege_harassment/

[TheSarge]

About $4/hour plus benefits difference between what they're paying the Mooselimbs and what they'd have to pay Americans.

Here Lies The United States of America 1775 - 2011

She Sole Her Soul and Sacrificed Her Liberty

For Minimum Wage Workers
 

[TheSarge]

I wonder if the people who get upset over things like prayers before a football game and hanging the Ten Commandments in a courtroom will get upset over this?

[DixieBelle]

More proof that unions have outlived their usefulness.

I have no problem with businesses respecting religious holidays. Everywhere I've ever worked has been understanding or had some kind of policy. I've worked with Jews who took off for certain holidays. They would volunteer to work Good Friday and Christmas in exchange though. I'm not saying that has to be the case though.

I wouldn't be troubled by this if it weren't strikingly similar to a pattern we see in other countries. They really do fit the whole "give them an inch, they take a mile" thing. It's not about respecting religious beliefs in general or taking advantage of American religious freedom. It's about taking over. That's what I'm bothered by.

[Jim]

Tyson ?  I would have thought Cinco De Mayo would be a bigger deal.

[Willow]

More proof that unions have outlived their usefulness.

I have no problem with businesses respecting religious holidays. Everywhere I've ever worked has been understanding or had some kind of policy. I've worked with Jews who took off for certain holidays. They would volunteer to work Good Friday and Christmas in exchange though. I'm not saying that has to be the case though.

I wouldn't be troubled by this if it weren't strikingly similar to a pattern we see in other countries. They really do fit the whole "give them an inch, they take a mile" thing. It's not about respecting religious beliefs in general or taking advantage of American religious freedom. It's about taking over. That's what I'm bothered by.

I have no problem with it either Dixie except for the fact that major business' in the USA have refused to recognize Christmas, they now want a Holiday! Everybody says they want "inclusion" which is BS as evidenced by replacing the 4th with a religious holiday!

[DixieBelle]

^yes, I know the whole "holiday vs. Christmas" thing is stupid. I was speaking more in generalities and working off the assumption that it's done fairly.

[djones520]

I saw this the other day in the local paper and considered posting it.  I suppose setting up a voluntary, floating holiday would have been too much trouble for the union.

The workers demanding the change wouldn't have settled for that IMHO.

It's typical of the Muslim religion and outlook on life..."do it our way...or else."

Looks like I'm going to have to consider switching brands of chicken I buy at the Commissary.

Well, they do make up the majority of the workers.  Nearly 60% of them.  Aren't we always saying that the majority should dictate terms?  That we shouldn't pander to the minorities?

Granted, Labor Day is a federal holiday, while whatever day is just a religious holiday, but if the majority of the workers preferred this, then alright.

[DixieBelle]

^Where my father works, there was debate about taking MLK day off or taking Robert E. Lee's birthday off. The state of MS officially declared Jan 30 the observation for both a few years ago.

I think it really depends on the region and the majority. Again, it doesn't ease my mind that a larger agenda is at play because it's a Muslim holiday.