Tennessee plant drops Labor Day for Muslim holiday

#1

saxvol

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#1
The times they are-a-changing

Workers at the Tyson Foods poultry processing plant in Shelbyville will no longer have a paid day off on Labor Day but will instead be granted the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr.
According to a news release from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a new 5-year contract at the plant included the change to accommodate Muslim workers at the plant.

Tyson's director of media relations Gary Mickelson said the contract includes eight paid holidays -- the same number as the old contract.

Eid al-Fitr -- which falls on Oct. 1 this year -- marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting.

Union leaders say implementing the holiday was important for the nearly 700 Muslims, many of them Somalis, who work at the plant that employs a total of 1,200 people.

WBIR.com | Knoxville, TN | Tennessee plant drops Labor Day observance for Muslim holiday
 
#5
#5
I don't see what is wrong with it ... if the union is negotiating the contract and it is what they want because they have so many Muslims ... then it seems like something pretty obvious. If they're only getting 8 holiday days off...then it seems like Labor day might be one that I would let go to hold onto others....
 
#8
#8
I don't see what is wrong with it ... if the union is negotiating the contract and it is what they want because they have so many Muslims ... then it seems like something pretty obvious. If they're only getting 8 holiday days off...then it seems like Labor day might be one that I would let go to hold onto others....

Is there not a bit of irony that the union dropped "Labor Day" -- a labor union holiday?

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create "a day off for the working man".
 
#9
#9
Is there not a bit of irony that the union dropped "Labor Day" -- a labor union holiday?

It is a bit ironic...but obviously they were lobbying for an extra day off (and called it Labor day)...they're still getting it off. But, I certainly see what you're saying.
 
#11
#11
I guess they still want Christmas and Thanksgiving off.

/irony
 
#12
#12
I guess they still want Christmas and Thanksgiving off.

/irony
Thanksgiving, I understand, but Christmas is a Christian religious holiday. Why didn't they trade that one in?
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#14
#14
Thanksgiving, I understand, but Christmas is a Christian religious holiday. Why didn't they trade that one in?
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I'm guessing that is because they still have a sizable Christian workforce and they did't want to turn around and "do unto others what had been done unto them," if you will.
 
#15
#15
Here's a day that should be a holiday - the day after St. Patrick's Day

I would not disagree with that...as long as I can cut out of work by 3:00 on St. Patty's to beat some of the sizable crowds at the good bars...I would have to hit it up by noon to go to the best ones...but that would be over the top :)
 
#16
#16
I'm guessing that is because they still have a sizable Christian workforce and they did't want to turn around and "do unto others what had been done unto them," if you will.
can't be the case. EVERYONE knows that Christians and Muslims only fight.
 

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