The latest dispute between Muslim workers and their bosses over prayer time on the job is playing out in a small town in Colorado — and with a federal agency that enforces discrimination laws.
The New York Times reports Cargill Meat Solutions in Fort Morgan, Colo., — which has a population of less than 12,000, 1,000 of whom are refugees from Africa — has fired 150 Muslim employees for walking off the job in a fight over the role of prayers at work.
The workers say top managers told them their religious breaks — previously allowed once or twice per shift, in 10-minute segments, after explicit permission from a supervisor — would be severely curtailed.
The company said no such change was announced, and that "prayer requests" are based on adequate staffing.
Dozens walked out in protest in mid-December, and the firings took place days later, the Times reports, adding many workers say they won't return until worship breaks are guaranteed.
"Occasionally, there are times when staffing limitation does not allow granting of prayer requests," Mike Martin, a company spokesman, tells the Times. "There has been no change to our religious accommodation policy. The granting of prayer requests has always been based upon adequate staffing."
Lawyers representing about 130 of the Cargill workers have now filed discrimination complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal employment discrimination laws, the Times reports.
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15 comments:
Another step toward Sharia law.
Don't be so rigid with how you pray. God will understand. If you don't think so, just ask.
Screw them. They are there to work not to pray. Bring in the freeloading Obama Democrats on food stamps to fill the jobs. If they refuse, cut off the welfare!
If they don't like our rules and company policy that accommodates when possible then go back to their Muslim country. They came over here to, in their words, a better life. A very simple remedy.
5:48 Their god is that rigid.
They made testing the system look at England now.
Totally agree 5:48!
Suck it up Cargill. This company and other Big Agri business businesses encourage immigrant labor because it's cheap and with a steady stream of immigrants they never have to give raises. They lobby for liberal immigration policies. They destroy communities because of this. They are getting what they asked for. Don't defend them.
They want EQUALITY, so they get a 15 minute morning break, a half hour lunch break, and maybe a 15 minute afternoon break, all unpaid, just like I had when I worked at the factory.
They want frequent prayer breaks, the must move to a country where that is the norm so they can be treated equal to the other employees.
It's that simple!
Very good points, 6:35.
What is the problem? Increased demand for bacon and ham should alter the products produced in the plant. They are running a meat plant, not a mosque.
Problem solved.
Cargill is getting just what they deserve... The only reason the Muslims took the jobs is to create a problem and advance Sharia law in the US like they are doing in Europe.
6:35 gets it.
Whatever happened to good guys that took care of situations like this? In the old days we got together and beat the big mouthed jerks so they couldn't talk anymore.
We will see Sharia law if Hillary or Bernie gets elected.
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