Muslims draft complaint against Swift meatpacking plant

AP/Omaha World Herald ^ | 7/23/2007

[Lijahsbubbe]

Good info. (post #41) I love it when informed people bust this garbage wide open.

[Regulator]

Those animals are in Grand Island?

Nebraska?

Beyond belief...

[Shots]

Uh...Mohamed....Read it and weep:

If only that were true unfortunately it is not

Article 7 of the civil rights bill applies here not the first amendment

(j) The term ``religion'' includes all aspects of religious observance and
practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that he is
unable to reasonably accommodate to an employee's or prospective
employee's religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the
conduct of the employer's business.


http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/vii.html

[rottndog]

Gee, I always thought The Constitution was the Supreme law of the land. The civil rights bill was an act of Congress. That the morons on SCOTUS choose to ignore that fact is their problem. Not arguing that it isn’t currently binding, just that the constitutionality of it is wrong.

BTW, how is it possible that an employer would have to allow workers time during the work day to pray, and yet workers can be prohibited from waring a crucifix?

[Shots]

BTW, how is it possible that an employer would have to allow workers time during the work day to pray, and yet workers can be prohibited from waring a crucifix?

The answer to that is very simple a crucifix (All jewelry for that matter) could get caught in machinery. thus is considered a safety hazard in most factories.  It is very common for factories to prohibit the wearing of jewelry

As for allowing them time off for prayer let met make it clear I am against it 100%. When they signed their employment agreement I am sure it states they are allowed two breaks a day perhaps three and the exact times for those breaks are specified on the agreement as well as their union contract  that they sign they have read and understood it.  That in and itself is a binding contract between the employer and employee as I see it. ( the union says their current contract does not allow times for prayer at this time although they will look into it in 2010).

It should also be noted that back in May they staged a walk out and that is when many were fired that was definitely a sufficient reason to fire the first batch.

[rottndog]

The answer to that is very simple a crucifix (All jewelry for that matter) could get caught in machinery. thus is considered a safety hazard in most factories. It is very common for factories to prohibit the wearing of jewelry

Yes, but office workers have been prevented from wearing a crucifix...Children have been prevented from wearing a crucifix to school...many other examples. There clearly is a double standard with enforcement when it comes to muslims.

Of course there hasn't been a court case yet. We'll have to wait and see how it pans out. Hopefully the Roberts court will decide correctly, if an when an actual case is brought.

[GatorGirl]

Two wrongs don’t make a right!

[GatorGirl]

Actually, I do get it, thanks!

This is a private company, so they have the right to run things however they want, but in principle I think EVERYONE should be allowed a prayer break!

You can read into the article whatever you want, but I’m looking at the bigger picture.

[Shots]

Yes, but office workers have been prevented from wearing a crucifix...Children have been prevented from wearing a crucifix to school...many other examples. There clearly is a double standard with enforcement when it comes to muslims.
 

You are taking this way out of context wearing jewelry in a factory is considered a safety hazard and has been for years. Do not try and combine that with other events that are not in a factory.

 

HAZARDS OF LONG HAIR, LOOSE CLOTHING & JEWELRY  What do wild habitats and factory or industrial work have in common? Both environments are dangerous because rotating shafts, moving machinery and other equipment will "bite" you as easily as a wild animal. Video shows viewers how they reduce the risk of injuries by controlling long hair, not wearing loose clothing or jewelry and being aware of hazards in the workplace.

[rottndog]

I think you missed my point...

I think the company is perfectly justified in firing workers who stop what they are doing to pray—workers are there to work not pray...and the government has no legitimate purpose in interfering with that interaction.

People who would wear a crucifix in a non-industrial atmosphere do so as religious expression, where safety is not an issue. The government IS ALREADY interfering in that instance, to say it’s appropriate to prevent that religious expression.

How then, is it possible, for the government to step in in this instance and say the company has no control over someone leaving the production line and interfering with the work of the plant, so they can practice their religion?

There IS a connection, and there IS a gross double standard. And at any rate, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS GETTING INVOLVED!

[Shots]

"I think you missed my point..."

No I got your point alright, I just wanted to make it clear in the case of wearing jewelry in a factory it is and has been considered hazardous for as long a man has used machines. What you were doing by bringing them into for comparison was like comparing apples to oranges. The situation in a factory is unlike that of schools, planes, offices, whatever; yet you clearly tried to put them on the same level

Here a picture of Rosie the riveter from back in the early forties. Note the head scarf and lack of jewelry. The headscarf was at that time required to keep their hair out of the machines because of long hairstyles back then.

[Beckwith]

These people are absolutely entitled to pray

Of course they are -- just not on Swifts' dime.

[montag813]

I hope the Muzzies win...this traitorous Company deserves whatever they get for hiring this Somalia savages that Clinton gave asylum to. Had they hired American workers who speak English, this would never have happened. Let them get reamed, and hopefully it will be a lesson to companies in the future—don’t hire non-citizens, and especially don’t hire Muslims.