NuTcAsE

Muslim leader says 150 workers fired at Neb. plant By JEAN ORTIZ (Associated Press Writer) From Associated Press September 19, 2008 7:00 PM EDT OMAHA, Neb. - A Grand Island meatpacking plant fired at least 86 workers Friday after they walked off the job amid a dispute over prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, company officials said. But a Muslim leader and one of the fired workers said 150 Muslims lost their jobs. JBS Swift & Co. spokeswoman Tamara Smid confirmed 86 firings late Friday, saying the employees were terminated earlier that day for repeatedly leaving work without authorization. She would not give any other details, including whether anyone else had been fired. Mohamed Rage, who leads the Omaha Somali-American Community Organization, said 80 workers were thrown out after an altercation late Thursday. He says when they tried to return for their shift Friday, they were fired, along with 70 others. Police said were called to the plant late Thursday amid reports of a riot or serious fight. But when officers arrived, the situation had calmed, said police Chief Steve Lamken. Muslim workers - mostly of Somali background - have been asking for accommodations with break times to allow prayer at sunset. The issue led to walkouts this week - not only from Muslims but from non-Muslims who protested such accommodations as preferential treatment. One of the Somali workers, Mohamed Farah, said some workers tried to take a break to pray Thursday around sunset. The break had been arranged with managers, Farah told The Associated Press, with Rage translating the conversation. Farah said tension had been building in recent days with Latino workers, who started protesting when they saw the Muslim workers leaving for break. Farah said the Latino workers started shouting and beating on their tables. Two women, one 19 and another in her 40s, and a 20-year-old man fainted during the commotion because they had gone so long without food, Farah said. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Dan Hoppes, president of Local 22 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, described what happened Thursday night differently than Rage and Farah did. He said that according to management and employees, 60 to 80 people quit late Thursday after raising the prayer issue and creating a commotion. Hoppes said supervisors had told the workers to go back to work or leave and they left. Workers who walked off the job Monday and Tuesday in protest had to have known their leaving again would result in their termination, he said. The plant employs about 2,500 people, not counting management. About a fifth of them are Muslim. Tensions have also flared elsewhere, including Swift's plant in Greeley, Colo. More than 100 workers there were fired last week because the company said they walked away from work before their shifts ended. Hoppes couldn't confirm the total number of workers affected Friday, but said he knew human resources representatives were posted at employee entrances to address workers. "We don't have any clear cut information as to numbers or why they were terminated," he said. On Monday, hundreds of Muslim employees walked off the job, saying they weren't being allowed to take a break to pray during Ramadan. Break times were then altered on the second shift so the Muslim employees could make their fourth of five daily prayers at sunset. Hoppes said most Muslim employees did not work Monday or Tuesday. Then hundreds of non-Muslim workers walked off the job in counterprotests Wednesday and Thursday. Later Thursday, plant managers did an about-face, saying the new break times weren't working. Swift said in a statement that the company is working to resolve the issues that have arisen. "JBS values its diverse workforce and has a long track record of making significant accommodations to employees," the statement said. "We work closely with all employees and union representation to accommodate religious practices in a reasonable, safe and fair manner."

[ame] [/ame]Just run man, just run............... Don't tell my wife, Congrats!

and too stupid to to realize she's President of Alaska. As far as duties & responsibilities go, She's probably more qualified than McCain. Most people are not qualified to vote, and shouldn't unless you can pass a civics exam and have a job.

http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

Whoa!! hadn't saw those, Conrats!! So, when are we all comin' over??? Y'know, I'd say you gotta break those in real good. I'd really hate for you to get a dud....

Seems like we've figured out where NOT to buy gas, especially when it does come down. Sadly most will forget......

I'll sign this as soon as there is an investigation for tax gouging.

What to do with it when your done.. "Brine it, rub it oil it and impale it on a beer can..." [ame] [/ame]

I wouldn't go to a church that posted.

I've always wanted to try this, as dumb as it is...... [ame] [/ame]

I wouldn't expect anything else from them.

I admire your conscience! But on the same hand, if your dist. called and he said your next shipment would be 1295.00 ea. could you have reordered and not lost money?

, Well, not me but the wifey will have the NuTcAsE punkwagon full steam ahead.....

I hate high gas as much as anyone. But, GUTTERbOY, slothful1, and Sheepdog are absolutely right. If anybody wants to do anything about it open a gas station and I'll buy your gas for .50 a gallon.

Gun totin', air plane flyin, moose huntin', race car drivin', women. Can't beat that! Democrat women are sissies!

Good song. One of my favs.

So we've covered the look, now about the feel. Warm & fuzzy, soft & squishy??

YOU WEREN'T!!! Glad you're O.K. Be careful!

www.fairtax.org

Just watch where you point it, It may go off.

Man, I'm really sorry!!!...........

Well,then I'll see your NASCAR, and raise you 2 NHRA......

O.K.

NAW, forget those two I'll just take the beer...