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Old 08-04-2008, 18:21   #1
Paslode
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Tyson replaces Labor Day with Muslim Eid al-Fitr

WorldNetDaily


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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."
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Old 08-04-2008, 18:42   #2
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Ain't been no Tyson chicken in our home in over 10years!!

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Old 08-04-2008, 19:16   #3
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Ain't been no Tyson chicken in our home in over 10years!!

BMT
That's because the Somalis are eating them all.

I am no fan now a days of the Unions but this is stupid. Will not be buying any Tyson Birds in the future.....
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Old 08-04-2008, 19:26   #4
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That's because the Somalis are eating them all.

I am no fan now a days of the Unions but this is stupid. Will not be buying any Tyson Birds in the future.....
Nor in this house.
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Old 08-04-2008, 20:10   #5
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Devils advocate...

From a corporate perspective, as long as the company allows individuals of other religious faiths to swap the days, say Easter for a [holiday of choice], it would be consistent policy. It says everyone gets 8 paid holidays and if that's all Tyson cares about, why cry foul over it? Now, if Muslims were getting an extra day others weren't getting, or people were forced to take Eid off, then it is manhandling individuals into decisions they are not comfortable with.

Why is it anyone else's business if they are following the law (that I am assuming, though on the surface it wouldn't seem to be crime).

Personally, I like non-religious holidays because it focuses attention on the republic more (Christmas is much larger than religious, so that's an exception), but if company and employees agree to a work schedule and still think they can get their product out to the market, I don't see an issue.

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"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.
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Old 08-04-2008, 20:21   #6
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It is not that they changed the holiday but they are changing American Holiday that was enacted to pay respect to our historic Labor process that a lot of people spilled hard blood and sweat for the last 100+ years.

I bet that the other 500 American Born workers were not that happy with the change. Also why do the immigrants not adapt to our ways. I am not dinging them for being Muslim but for not embracing the country that took them in. Hell if they stayed in their country they would not have it even a little bit as good as they are in TN. I am still trying to figure out how 700 Somalis all got into the same plant. Do they have some special Chicken Skill?
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Old 08-04-2008, 20:43   #7
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Remember that old joke....

Q: What's the fastest land animal in Somalia?

A: A one legged chicken.


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I am still trying to figure out how 700 Somalis all got into the same plant. Do they have some special Chicken Skill?
They're the ones that caught that one legged chicken.
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Old 08-04-2008, 20:48   #8
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Remember that old joke....

Q: What's the fastest land animal in Somalia?

A: A one legged chicken.




They're the ones that caught that one legged chicken.
Yes...
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Old 08-04-2008, 21:24   #9
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It is not that they changed the holiday but they are changing American Holiday that was enacted to pay respect to our historic Labor process that a lot of people spilled hard blood and sweat for the last 100+ years.

I bet that the other 500 American Born workers were not that happy with the change. Also why do the immigrants not adapt to our ways. I am not dinging them for being Muslim but for not embracing the country that took them in. Hell if they stayed in their country they would not have it even a little bit as good as they are in TN. I am still trying to figure out how 700 Somalis all got into the same plant. Do they have some special Chicken Skill?
Hahahaha, good point. I'm thinking an immigration notice somewhere saying "Mad money for hacking Chickens, sign up at the local Union shop", or maybe an annual union membership drive, or maybe just one giant clan who got their clan members jobs as they showed up.

I'm definitely not saying feelings can't be hurt, but as a company, is it Tyson's problem if the USG allowed Somalis to immigrate, and that's the labor pool they have?

Plus, it is somewhat ironic that labor day (which should be a favorite of unions) is the day that was negotiated out for the muslim workers. It makes sense from trade perspective. The laborers wanted to switch days, therefore they picked the day that celebrates their hard work, the one with their greatest claim to "ownership". I'm sure if another day was attempted for a switch, it would not have received the same corporate acceptance.

The article doesn't clarify if the 500 Americans lose labor day though. From the company's comments, it seems like they're looking at having operations running for labor day and Eid, probably in smaller/lesser shifts, but continuing operations. If those 500 Americans lost their day to "Eid", then it's a no go.

Somalis or any other immigrant community should adapt; unfortunately when majority of your workers are from a certain demographic and have aid from the union in organizing their demands, the company has to deal with it.

If Tyson is facing the option of 700 Somalis showing up to work, not in the spirit (or many calling in sick, taking an unpaid day, etc.) and as a company having productivity dip, it makes sense at least from a lean manufacturing perspective to have modularity with days off and get better return on investment. I can't say either way, only the company can, but I'd hope they did some homework.
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Old 08-04-2008, 21:37   #10
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Bell and Evans or Murrarys Chickens Only!!! That move by their workforse was labor blackmail. I would close my restaurant before I let something like that go down.
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Old 08-04-2008, 22:24   #11
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A little off topic. There are plenty of Americans willing and able to work in those Tyson plants and there 'were' Americans doing those jobs in rural America. And none of them were making squat, several of my cousins worked for Tyson's on incomes of much less than 20k per year.

Tyson made the choice to bring in cheaper immgrant labor legal and illegal. Now those areas are small enclaves of immigrants that are not at all friendly from my experience.

Kissing their ass and not requiring them to assimilate to American culture sets a bad example, and it set the stage for future assaults on our culture and standards. 50 years from now the USA my look more like the Balkans and have the problems to go with it.

My 2 cents.
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Old 08-05-2008, 06:23   #12
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Looks like all non Union employees get Labor day off but Union Does not so the Non Muslim's in the Union get screwed.

http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/200...y-for-ramadan/

http://www.wsmv.com/news/17063986/detail.html

Here is a slightly more in-depth article. Looks like there are only 250 Somalis but a total of 700 Muslims that work there:
http://www.t-g.com/story/1449487.html

Here is how our Muslim brothers see this. We are Haters? Are you a hater? for me no I just am tired of having to bow down to what ever they demand and they are not willing to bend an mm.

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USA, TN: Tyson Foods Shelbyville Plant and Labor Day
August 4, 2008

For several days now the haters have been voicing outrage over the new union contract at Tyson’s Shelbyville, TN plant which added Eid al Fitr as a paid holiday and dropped Labor Day. Since most of the union membership is Muslim (a majority of 700 out of 1200) and the contract allows for only a fixed number of paid holidays, this change makes sense. (It also only affects union members.)

Laughably, some commenters are incensed about according paid-holiday status to a religious holiday (conveniently forgetting about Christmas, I guess).

For what it’s worth, many people work on Labor Day. Its importance as a national holiday has decreased over the years and it doesn’t have the significance or traditions that we accord to Independence Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving or (for Christians) Christmas. I’m sure all of this went into consideration for the decision. Plus, with a mostly Muslim workforce, so few people would come to work on Eid al Fitr that the plant couldn’t operate properly anyway.
http://proggiemuslima.wordpress.com/...and-labor-day/
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Old 08-05-2008, 07:59   #13
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We need to create an "America First Party" based on the values this nation was build upon: The Constitution.
A paid religious holiday? Time for every religion to voice their demands I would think; in that way the issue would marginalize the these true non conformist; The MUSLIM Religion, the anti-Christian and therefore the anti-american religion.

We are a nation that that is based in Judea-Christian values, Christmas, as a national holiday in America, is a product of that Myth/value belief system. No different than Yon Kipper is a reflection of Israel belief system.

A paid Muslim holiday is bullshit, it has nothing to do with a reflection of core American values. Though, some might argue that granting this holiday embraces what is contain within the construction of our constitution; the freedom to worship, and that strengthens the fundamental principles of the constitution, I would argue that it does the very opposite. In that America’s religious tolerance is based in respect for other’s beliefs and their right to practice is guaranteed,; the constitution affirms this. It is the concept of country first, not religion first. As is example by the principle of the Muslim faith.

Additional, some time ago I posted a statement that corporations only had their own interest and that of their stockholders as a concern. That they would do what is in their best interest, not in the interest of the country they are based in. Tyson proves that my statement is on point. Their decision to grant this holiday, in my mind, erodes at a basic level, a core cultural value: Acquiescing to religious demands.

Last edited by Penn; 08-05-2008 at 08:03.
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Old 08-05-2008, 08:09   #14
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...A paid Muslim holiday is bullshit, it has nothing to do with a reflection of core American values. Though, some might argue that granting this holiday embraces what is contain within the construction of our constitution; the freedom to worship, and that strengthens the fundamental principles of the constitution, I would argue that it does the very opposite. In that America’s religious tolerance is based in respect for other’s beliefs and their right to practice is guaranteed,; the constitution affirms this. It is the concept of country first, not religion first. As is example by the principle of the Muslim faith....
Well said sir.

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Old 08-05-2008, 09:01   #15
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One other related thought. Last evening a dear friend and his wife came in for dinner, he is a professional touring musician, his wife a graphic designer. As all discussions over dinner and good wine invariably lead, we entered that nebulous abyss of political commitment; Iraq, BHO, Bush, the election, etcetera. Finally reaching the point of what was their commitment to the positions that they embraced and what gives them the right to not only express that position, but the right to defend it. They mistakenly mention their rights under the constitution, their freedom of expression. To which I asked a simple question: Would they put their life on the line to protect that right? When silence answer my question, I explained my position, and I will be presumptuous to included in the following statement, as a core value of most, if not all, of this membership. The difference between my friend and me/us is that we swore a solemn oath to defend the constitution (their freedom of expression) from all enemies both foreign and domestic, and to obey the lawful orders of those above you. We did not swear allegiance to any person, place, thing, or religion.... We, You & I, swore allegiance to The Constitution of the United States of America. And it is exact same oath that the every President, Supreme Court Justice, Senator, Congressman and Service Member has pledged for the last two hundred and thirty two years... I further stated that today in our nation of 300.000,000 people, less than .5% or so, have taken that Oath, an Oath that implies your willingness to pay the ultimate price; even for those who will never take that oath or who disagree with your point of view ... It is an oath to an Ideal...that those who disagree with you, can disagree with you, and you will defend their right to do so. That is what freedom is. That is what our nation is build upon; an IDEAL, and that their position had no moral or ethical bearing, as they are unwilling to defend that ideal with their lives.
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