Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday

Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (Full Version)

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txheart -> Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 9:50:42 AM)
I just received this in one of those forwarded emails that everyone receives from well meaning friends. I routinely check these emails with Snopes to check the truth of what's being said before I start forwarding. I went to snopes and typed in "Tyson Foods" in the search bar, and wow! This is true... According to Snopes, the labor union started screaming that the muslim workers weren't being catered to, so Tyson Foods agreed to the union demand. What they agreed to is this: Labor Day is no longer a paid holiday. Eid Al-Fatr is now a paid holiday. I honestly didn't believe this was true when I got it. I figured it was one of those well-meaning but totally bogus claims. I can't figure out how to paste or link the picture that I received, but you can see it if you click on the link above. I'm stunned...

cow451 -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 10:03:16 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: txheart I just received this in one of those forwarded emails that everyone receives from well meaning friends. I routinely check these emails with Snopes to check the truth of what's being said before I start forwarding. I went to snopes and typed in "Tyson Foods" in the search bar, and wow! This is true... According to Snopes, the labor union started screaming that the muslim workers weren't being catered to, so Tyson Foods agreed to the union demand. What they agreed to is this: Labor Day is no longer a paid holiday. Eid Al-Fatr is now a paid holiday. I honestly didn't believe this was true when I got it. I figured it was one of those well-meaning but totally bogus claims. I can't figure out how to paste or link the picture that I received, but you can see it if you click on the link above. I'm stunned... The did not "drop" Labor Day. They allowed Muslim workers (mostly Somali immigrants) at one plant to substitute a holiday re: their worship. It was negotiated through the union contract process. Remember that the poultry industry relies heavily on immigrant workers. Since the union negotiated the agreement, Tyson can hardly be accused of bias and there is no government involvement. It is a private business decision. Nobody gets an extra day and Labor Day is still a paid holiday for those that want it. It is a precedent that I would guess others might look at. E.g, Jewish employees might want to substitute, etc. If you are going to cite Snopes, you could at least read it yourself, LOL

txheart -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 10:08:51 AM)
I did read it, did you? How is the phrase "in place of.." not a replacement? Tyson Foods agreed to the labor union's demand to drop Labor Day as a paid holiday and put this muslim holiday in it's place. That's how I read the story, am I seeing it wrong? I DID say that they agreed to the union demand and that it is at this plant. I'm pretty sure that I reported this accurately...

cow451 -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 10:22:14 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: txheart I did read it, did you? How is the phrase "in place of.." not a replacement? Tyson Foods agreed to the labor union's demand to drop Labor Day as a paid holiday and put this muslim holiday in it's place. That's how I read the story, am I seeing it wrong? I DID say that they agreed to the union demand and that it is at this plant. I'm pretty sure that I reported this accurately... But the key point is that it is only for those employees that choose it, not across the board. You also used the terms "screamed" and "catered to", which are not mentioned in the story. Hundreds of items are negotiated in bargaining agreements. Tyson could give on this without it costing the company anything, plus they get to work the Somalis on Labor Day on straight time rather than premium time paid when employess work on a holiday. It makes financial sense for Tyson and it is unconventional, but not illegal or unethical. If Christians or Jews want to bargain for a substitution, they can work with their union next round. The only thing sensational is that it has to do with those horrible Muslims.[;)]

txheart -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 10:46:56 AM)
"Eid al-Fatr is one of eight paid holidays for all Team Members covered by the contract, while Labor Day is not a paid holiday"... I'm still not seeing that cow. I'm reading that it's at the whole plant, not just for some employees, but I could very well be blind. Whatever, I still say WOW...

Peter_Gunn -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 12:16:18 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: txheart "Eid al-Fatr is one of eight paid holidays for all Team Members covered by the contract, while Labor Day is not a paid holiday"... I'm still not seeing that cow. I'm reading that it's at the whole plant, not just for some employees, but I could very well be blind. Whatever, I still say WOW... Nope...you're right, txheart. (Cow just likes to argue.) For some reason, it won't allow me to copy and paste [&:] but this is what gets me: there are 1200 workers at this particular plant, 1000 of them covered by this contract. 80%...EIGHTY PERCENT...of these union workers approved this! But there are only 250 Somali employees. Am I really reading that correctly? And most of these 250 Somalis are political refugees...who wanted to get away from the tryanny of their government and we...the good, old US of A...took them in. And this is the thanks we get.

cow451 -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 12:16:21 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: txheart "Eid al-Fatr is one of eight paid holidays for all Team Members covered by the contract, while Labor Day is not a paid holiday"... I'm still not seeing that cow. I'm reading that it's at the whole plant, not just for some employees, but I could very well be blind. Whatever, I still say WOW... Thanks for the correction. But it applies to just one plant and (the contract) was approved by union members: A Tyson press release defending the policy stresses two points: first, it applies only to the Shelbyville facility, not to the company's other 118 plants; second, the change was specifically requested by the union and accepted by the company in the interests of reaching a contractual agreement. The new contract was approved by an 80 percent majority of the plant's union members. As to the outcry by Christians, Labor Day is not a "Christian" holiday. The anger should be directed at the union, not Tyson. Tyson did not initiate this issue. If employees object, they should address this through the union. I suppose a union member could sue. In a related vein, the Cattleman's Association and the Pork Producers of America (not to be confused with Congress) both support a boycott of Tyson. Protest signs are already out "Tyson is a Chicken" and "Oprah eats Tyson Chicken". The corporate office at Chic-fil-A issued a statement that they will only pruchasechicken from producers that employ Mexican workers.[:D]

Peter_Gunn -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 12:19:27 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: cow451 Thanks for the correction. But it applies to just one plant and (the contract) was approved by union members: Sorry...I was posting at the same time. Glad you caught it...I was wondering if I was reading the right thing and looking for another pair of glasses! [:D]

uncabeeil -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 12:38:48 PM)
What's the big deal? Oh yeah, they're *Muslims* [sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif] Everybody get out your white robes and pointy hats, we got us a new minority to lynch! If the people involved were any other religion I don't think anybody'd even blink an eye. But the dreaded M word is involved so it's gotta be anti-American and anti-Christian. It's sad to see such bigotry.

kernsfamily -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 12:54:16 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: cow451 The did not "drop" Labor Day. They allowed Muslim workers (mostly Somali immigrants) at one plant to substitute a holiday re: their worship. It was negotiated through the union contract process. Remember that the poultry industry relies heavily on immigrant workers. Since the union negotiated the agreement, Tyson can hardly be accused of bias and there is no government involvement. It is a private business decision. Nobody gets an extra day and Labor Day is still a paid holiday for those that want it. It is a precedent that I would guess others might look at. E.g, Jewish employees might want to substitute, etc. If you are going to cite Snopes, you could at least read it yourself, LOL we have a similar "arrangement" as well. We're not "union" or anything, but are a multinational company, based in France, and thus we do have a VERY diverse workplace.....so, we have "floating" holidays, so that if a holiday, such as Eid Al-Fatr, or ANY other "day" comes up, the employee would be able to take the day off....as a "paid holiday"..... I think it's a "PLUS" that a company can work with it's employees and let THEM decide which "holidays" are important to THEM....instead of just letting the "holidays on the calendar" dictate which holidays their workers will take off. Having the freedom to do that in America is much more than you would get than in other countries. Here, at the French company I work for (my office is in Texas)......we ALWAYS get "President's Day" off. Kind of a "quirky" holiday that typically only government workers get off....but, it's a VERY popular one, since everything is OPEN, and you can do doctor's appointments, go to the dentist, or do whatever.....(AND, here, the KIDS are in school....so it gives me and my wife the day to ourselves).....

txheart -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 2:48:19 PM)
The reason this blows my mind is simple - Labor Day is, in my mind, a uniquely American holiday. Labor Day is one of those days that you can celebrate no matter what your religious views might be. I'm not sure why some people are coming at me so strongly, but I still say it's wrong. Somehow I dont believe that 80% of the company's workers approved this vote. Not when the story read that out of about 1200 workers, there are only about 250 muslims. My question is, why did Labor Day get overthrown for a muslim holiday? Why not in addition to, if it has to be there? Does that make Eid al-Fatr more important than Labor Day now? Yes, it bothers me - but it's not like it was a christian holiday that was overthrown so I dont see how you can say it's bigotry. It's simple American vs. un-American in my mind. Labor Day has been around a long time, and now it gets dropped and a holiday that (dare I say most) many American's have never even heard of gets put in it's place? And, to say that every worker now has to work on Labor Day and take the muslim holiday off? I don't like it so it's probably a good thing I'm not working for that company - or that union. Sorry, but that really stinks. My opinion of course...

freakofnature -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 3:03:59 PM)
quote: It's simple American vs. un-American in my mind Here lies your problem txheart, it is un-american to think America first now. Totally passe! We are a diverse nation of migrants and immigrants and we have to be willing to change our traditions and sacrifice ourselves for the good of this new and diverse nation, we certainly can't expect these immigrants to assimilate to our culture that would be unaccepting of who they are are where they come from. Come on txheart, either get on board or move to like North Korea where this kind of diversity is looked down on. /sarc off

TheosCentric -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 3:14:12 PM)
Not a big deal. Granted I don't like unions, but I don't see how this is a big deal. A lot of the comments I've seen about this issue are so racist and bigoted, that it creates a big deal, but if 80% of the workers in the union approved it, who cares. They decided to switch paid holidays. Let them.

freakofnature -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 3:32:58 PM)
quote: A lot of the comments I've seen about this issue are so racist and bigoted, See txheart- passe to think about America and our traditions first, not only passe but bigoted and racist too. [:D] We must encompass ALL of the worlds traditions... Heck, if we could adopt all of the holidays from the different country's American's may get a couple of days off a week... So, txheart, Get on board buddy!... march to the right (or left as it were) step before you get stomped and trampled on.

SovereignIsHe -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/7/2008 3:37:06 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: uncabeeil What's the big deal? Oh yeah, they're *Muslims* [sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif] Everybody get out your white robes and pointy hats, we got us a new minority to lynch! If the people involved were any other religion I don't think anybody'd even blink an eye. But the dreaded M word is involved so it's gotta be anti-American and anti-Christian. It's sad to see such bigotry. Muslims are anti-Christian given they are anti-God... John

iluvatar -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/8/2008 6:40:01 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: txheart The reason this blows my mind is simple - Labor Day is, in my mind, a uniquely American holiday. Labor Day is one of those days that you can celebrate no matter what your religious views might be. I'm not sure why some people are coming at me so strongly, but I still say it's wrong. Somehow I dont believe that 80% of the company's workers approved this vote. Not when the story read that out of about 1200 workers, there are only about 250 muslims. My question is, why did Labor Day get overthrown for a muslim holiday? Why not in addition to, if it has to be there? Does that make Eid al-Fatr more important than Labor Day now? Yes, it bothers me - but it's not like it was a christian holiday that was overthrown so I dont see how you can say it's bigotry. It's simple American vs. un-American in my mind. Labor Day has been around a long time, and now it gets dropped and a holiday that (dare I say most) many American's have never even heard of gets put in it's place? And, to say that every worker now has to work on Labor Day and take the muslim holiday off? I don't like it so it's probably a good thing I'm not working for that company - or that union. Sorry, but that really stinks. My opinion of course... Labor Day was created at the end of the 19th century to celebrate the strength and value of the worker (and the labor unions) and to give the "working man" a day off. What is more in this spirit than allowing the labor unions and working folks to decide for themselves whether or not to substitute one paid day off for another? -Dan.

earthless -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/8/2008 10:06:44 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: cow451 The corporate office at Chic-fil-A issued a statement that they will only pruchasechicken from producers that employ Mexican workers.[:D] Awesome.

freakofnature -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/8/2008 11:28:31 AM)
UPDATE TO STORY If some can get passed the bias for a right wing blog here is an update to the story on the Michele Malkin website. Tyson Reinstates Labor day!

cow451 -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/8/2008 12:21:47 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: freakofnature UPDATE TO STORY If some can get passed the bias for a right wing blog here is an update to the story on the Michele Malkin website. Tyson Reinstates Labor day! Seems a fair resolution. It can happen when adults talk to one another like adults.

kernsfamily -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/8/2008 4:58:04 PM)
From the statement that was posted on Michele Malkin's Website: For the remainder of the five-year contract period, the eight paid holidays will include: New Year�s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and a Personal Holiday That's a "union" contract? the workers actually pay some outside political lobbying organization, uh, I mean union for "representation", to get that for them? The people here at our company (including the workers on our production lines), get 16 "paid holidays"......and, then THREE "personal holidays" on top of that (to take off days like Eid al-Fitr, MLK day, or whatever other day you want, though most employees just use them as 3 extra "vacation" days whenever they need one.......and, that doesn't even include "vacation time", as that's entirely separate from "company holidays".....nor does it include "sick time", which, again, is entirely separate....(the last place I worked, "lumped" 2 weeks worth of sick time/vacation time TOGETHER...called it PTO (personal time off).....you get severely sick early in the year? Well, then there goes your vacation time!.....needless to say, I wasn't there for very long before I chose to get a job elsewhere....(the unsatisfactory vacation/time off policy was the least of the problems, btw!). we get those "benefits" and much, much more.....and, the company calls it "what they need to do for employee retention"....and, there's not a union in sight....(as I currently live in a state that respects the rights of business owners from outsiders telling them how to run their companies)

relady -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/9/2008 10:53:19 AM)
Kernsfamily - do you work for a Fortune company? Public or privately held? Many of the large corporations are moving away from giving as much time off and are indeed moving to the PTO model, especially those in the "service" industries. It is very discouraging. quote: we get those "benefits" and much, much more.....and, the company calls it "what they need to do for employee retention".... You are working for a gem of a company. Not many of those left around unfortunately.

kernsfamily -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/11/2008 9:05:20 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: relady Kernsfamily - do you work for a Fortune company? Public or privately held? Many of the large corporations are moving away from giving as much time off and are indeed moving to the PTO model, especially those in the "service" industries. It is very discouraging. quote: we get those "benefits" and much, much more.....and, the company calls it "what they need to do for employee retention".... You are working for a gem of a company. Not many of those left around unfortunately. I have been with my current company for 4 years. When i was looking for a job, I found that the 'vacation' time schedule that I do have is "average" compared to the many other companies that I interviewed with. I work for a medium-sized company.....publicly held, though, it is based in France... could there be a correlation between employees earning the ability to take off that much vacation vs. an outside organization "demanding it" from the employer....and telling the company they are "entitled" to it?

revbob4God -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/13/2008 8:41:04 AM)
Sylvia got one of those stupid forwards in an e mail today about Rachel Ray wearing what looked like a birka around her neck that was alleged to have the pattern of a muslim extremist around her neck while doing a commercial for a company, it may have been Tyson.

iluvatar -> RE: Tyson Foods Drops Labor Day Holiday for Muslim Holiday (8/13/2008 9:51:41 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kernsfamily could there be a correlation between employees earning the ability to take off that much vacation vs. an outside organization "demanding it" from the employer....and telling the company they are "entitled" to it? I doubt it. It's more likely that a particular company has a good management structure and a healthy, appreciative attitude towards its employees. Part of it may be regional, too. Here in the northeast, I've never even heard of anybody getting three weeks worth of paid holidays except, perhaps, in places where the whole facility shuts down for the week between Christmas & New Years; even with that extra week, 16 days still sounds pretty high. Plenty of companies don't treat their employees well; that's why unions were created in the first place. My wife is a software engineer and her last employer is hemmoraging people, because of poor management and a stressful work environment. Electronic Arts was famous for abusing its employees, building development cycles around 100 hr work weeks. Some places see this as a way of increasing profits, while yours apparently sees things differently. -Dan.

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