Dispute Over Prayer Leads To Firing Of Nearly 200 Muslims At Meat Plant

[GMDino]

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/12/31/dispute-over-prayer-leads-to-firing-of-nearly-200-muslims-at-meat-plant/

Quote:FORT MORGAN, Colo. (CBS4) – The Cargill meat plant in Fort Morgan has fired approximately 190 Muslim workers as the result of a dispute over prayer while on the job.

On Dec. 18 a group of 11 Somalis working in one particular area of the plant wanted to go pray at the same time. Their supervisor asked that they go in smaller numbers to keep production going. They went anyway, and that’s when the trouble began.

“It doesn’t matter if I don’t have a job, my religion is more important,” fired worker Tony Aden told CBS4’s Rick Sallinger.

News of the dispute led nearly 200 Somalis to not show up for work for three days in protest. Now fired by Cargill Meat Solutions, they are receiving help applying for unemployment compensation with the help of a fellow Somali, Qadar Ducaale, who is upset with the firings.

“It’s got things to do with Donald Trump, it’s got things to do with (Ben) Carson and all these guys who are rhetorically talking bad about Islam,” said Ducaale, a school district employee.

With some 190 Somalis now out of work in Fort Morgan it’s threatening the economy of the African community in the heart of rural America.

Cargill insists it attempts to provide religious accommodations for all at its plant, including a prayer room. Many Somalis take issue with that.

LINK: Statement From Cargill Meat Solutions

“Five minutes, 10 minutes they give to me … they say no,” a fired employee said.

Now the Somalis out of work pass time idling away while the company looks for new hires in an attempt to replace them.

Company policy allows them to reapply for their jobs after three months, but CBS4 found out talks will take place next week to in attempt to shorten that waiting period and resolve the situation.

Well they have plenty of time to pray now.



I know I have left work to attend holy day mass at lunch. My boss isn't fond of it. Heck he is fond of me taking a lunch...because he's an ahole. But these guys pushed it and lost.

Too bad for them.

[Belsnickel]

No problem with this. Employers should make reasonable accommodations, key word being reasonable. It appears Cargill attempted to work something out that was very reasonable. Tough shit for those that were fired.

[RoyleRedlegs]

Quote:“It doesn’t matter if I don’t have a job, my religion is more important,” fired worker Tony Aden told CBS4’s Rick Sallinger.

Yeah, let me know how that works out for you

[GMDino]

(01-02-2016, 12:17 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: No problem with this. Employers should make reasonable accommodations, key word being reasonable. It appears Cargill attempted to work something out that was very reasonable. Tough shit for them.

Exactly.  I want to be clear that I am with the management on this.

[BmorePat87]

(01-02-2016, 12:17 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: No problem with this. Employers should make reasonable accommodations, key word being reasonable. It appears Cargill attempted to work something out that was very reasonable. Tough shit for them.

Yea. I chaperone a coworker's world religions field trip each year and the imam at the mosque said there's no real time requirement for prayer. There's the general guidelines for the 5 times a day, but they'd be cool with breaking up into groups in terms of staying true to their religion. 

He stressed making an effort to pray when you could if it was feasible 

[Vlad]

(01-02-2016, 12:42 PM)GMDino Wrote: Exactly.  I want to be clear that I am with the management on this.

You finding it neccessary to establish that is funny because you typically side with Muslims. Am I right?

[*Nately120*]

(01-02-2016, 12:39 PM)RoyleRedlegs Wrote: Yeah, let me know how that works out for you

A steady paycheck is nice, but good luck convincing someone who believes in the afterlife that it's more important than NOT burning in hellfire for eternity.

[GMDino]

(01-03-2016, 02:48 AM)Vlad Wrote: You finding it neccessary to establish that is funny because you typically side with Muslims. Am I right?

No, because I felt my wording was less that perfect when I said "Too bad for them".  Clarity is something we should strive for when you only have the wrtten word with no inflection to judge intent.

Also, because some people on these boards (not naming names) believe that if you take position "A" on a topic than you can never take position "B" on a similar topic.