USA: Somali workers in Grand Island quit over prayer dispute

[Ms DD]

USA: Somali workers in Grand Island quit over prayer dispute

 

16-05-2007

 

 

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) - Nearly 100 Somali immigrants have quit their jobs at a meatpacking plant here because their prayer times weren't accommodated.

 

"They kind of issued the company an ultimatum," said Dan Hoppes, president of Local 22 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

 

"They went in before the shift started (Monday) and said that they'd go unless they could pray when they needed to," Hoppes said Tuesday.

 

It was his understanding the workers - nearly half the Somali contingent at the packing plant - had been offered jobs at a Kansas plant that would give them time off for prayer and make other accommodations for their Muslim religion. He didn't know the name of the company.

 

Hoppes said the union contract contained no provisions for prayer, which for many Muslims is a minimum of five times a day.

 

"They had talked to a couple of our representatives," Hoppes said, "but you can't go into the middle of the contract and renegotiate those types of things. You've got a lot of different nationalities at the plant, a lot of different religious beliefs."

 

He said the company had tried to work with the Somalis, telling them: "'These are your break times. Can you fit it into that?'"

 

But, Hoppes said, "If you take a hundred people out of that line you gotta shut down the line. ... It's a real touchy subject."

 

Sean McHugh, vice president/investor relations, public relations and communications at Swift's headquarters in Greeley, Colo., said the contact calls for one paid 15-minute break and one unpaid 30-minute break per eight-hour shift.

 

He said Swift's policies and information about breaks are included as part of orientation for all new employees.

 

"Swift's 15,000 domestic employees represent a diverse mix of ethnicities and religious faiths," McHugh said. "The company has a history of making reasonable accommodations for legitimate religious practices. Swift has experienced no issues related to religious accommodations in recent years.

 

"The company expects no significant adverse impact to its Grand Island operations from today's event," McHugh said Monday.

 

Swift said Friday that it had refilled nearly 1,300 positions left open after immigration authorities rounded up workers at Grand Island and five other plants in raids the meatpacking giant said cost the company $45 million to $50 million.

 

 

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1208&u_sid=2384218

[Peacenow]

Oh these people really amaze me. Look at how the Arabs have brainwashed and arabized these people. Their masters in Saudia, must be hailing the fact that they have brainwashed them. What is their purpose? Just as acting for the wishes of the arabs in their plans. These Americans have given them a reguge and money so they can stop starving and then they do this. Amazing.

[Ibtisam]

^^^what...? Run that pass me again, please

[Ms DD]

lol Xanthus...

 

Peacenow..who brainwashed you into thinking that somalis were arab slaves?

[Ibtisam]

^^I'm sure that is not what he meant dear, surley...

[Peacenow]

When I was in university in the UK around 1997, living in student halls. I had Arabs and Pakistanis with beards, knocking on my door to see if they could speak with me. I knew what they were after. I closed the door on them. I would see them often knocking on the doors of other dark skinned students. My neighbor then was a Nigerian, and he let them in. But I later warned him. God knows, where I would be today, if I had fallen for their tricks. Of course, it is not me that they are after but what I can do for their them using my body. They are particularly after Somalis living in the west to this. We must be careful and let the elders know about them. Their 'brotherly love' it would seem doesn't extend more than seeing as Somalis as people they can use.

 

I can only assume, that the absolute devotion Somalis show to religion, I don't know anything other people, who are like this. Surely not the Saudis, who man to man are the most deprave people in this world to how it dominates their lives to illiteracy. But we have to remember that Islam, will not put food on our table or make Somalia, rich and free from ignorance that comes from poverty and lack of education. We must be brutal about this and fact up to it.

[Malika]

Laakin,why do Somalis love the drama, they did the same in our local royal mail, tesco's..How come the pakistanis,Indians and other muslims know what is their priorities.They know inaan duul galoo jognaa, they still hold on to their religion,culture etc and still make it in the economic ladders.But the Warya's the drama queens,whom really just love the attention,will claim to be far more religious and jeapordise their lively hoods for what they are really not.I am sure they can find a balance, why not pray during their lunch breaks?

 

I am sorry folks but we are such drama queens!

[Malika]

"dark skinned students."

 

Bisinka!! the dude has issues with his complexion..

[Ms DD]

^^ He has many issues..period.

 

Munira

Sis most cornershops are run by pakistanis and indians and whilst they pray (if they do), they still sell alcohol, porno, lottery etc.

 

I commend these Somalis standing for their rights. Nothing is more important than a prayer. I too would have left my job if they'd refused me to pray. So if these somalis have decided that this job is interfering with their prayers, I am with them.

[Ibtisam]

MunirA002, prayer at times does not fit into our work schedule, the average person will be at work for Zur, Asr and Marghri (winter times) what is 5mins off the your work place, they give that for people who smoke or toilet breaks. I've never worked in a place which had an issue with me praying, after a while they get use to it, and it will be the none Muslims who will remind you to pray. I do not thinking praying jeopardizes your lively hood, nor does not pray at work make you any more productive.

 

Peacenow, I still don't get what you are jaabering on about. What has Pakistan and Arabs got to do with religion and praying??

[Ms DD]

Peacenow

 

Admit now..Who is the Arab/Asian woman that let you down? Surely one cant hate a whole section of people that much. We were friends with bearded pakistani blokes, he went to masjid with them, ate with them etc and still they havent even shown interest in his body

[Malika]

^^^You are both right, I was just venting my frustration with Somalis..lol

 

This morning,an email was circulating in heads of departments from the headteacher,in regard to a pupil[somali].His "guardian" has refused to visit him in hospital,after an incident in school. Unless the social services pay his expenses..Hadaa the bloke is serious and wont go to see his so "Brother" until the school and social services fork out the money...Can you believe the drama!!how embarrasing,here I am always preaching how family oriented we are...darn!!

[JUSTICE]

^^^You have to trust some somalis, they will milk anything if it was about money

[N.O.R.F]

Puts things into perspective when one prays at a later time than he/she should or not praying at all.

 

Rageedi!

[Baluug]

The fact of the matter is that if they wanted a place to pray while they work, a meat packing facility is not the best choice of employers. It is nearly impossible to keep your clothes clean enough to perform salaat from all the blood, guts, and other assorted body parts and fluids. As well, the animals are not being killed in a halaal manner, so that's bad anyways. They're better off finding another job.

 

P.S. peacenow, you can keep spouting your rhetoric all you want, but the fact remains that Islam will be the saviour of Somalia, once the people realize how to use it, and stop fighting over family names.