Union Votes to Replace Labor Day With Muslim Holiday at Tennessee Plant

[JWBear]

Story here (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,397645,00.html)

Discuss.

(I know, I know... It's Fox. But it is the only major news outlet that's running the story.)

[BDBopper]

Why can't they observe both? Then it would be a non issue.

[Alex]

Everybody involved agreed to the change by the rules agreed to ahead of time so I don't see any reason to be bothered.

I'm not big on religious holidays and ceremony being given institutional dispensation but I'm not involved. Since they include "personal birthday" as a holiday, I'd think it would be easier to just give everybody two more float holidays a year and take Christmas (the only other recognized religious holiday) off the list. Christians can take Christmas and Labor Day (or Christmas and Easter if they prefer). Muslims can take Eid and Labor Day (or some other day), Jews can take Passover and some other day. This way they don't have worry about accommodating everybody faith that comes through. When they have 18% Hindi then the Hindis can just decide which two holidays are most important to them.

So, I don't object to the holiday, just the inefficiency in which it is granted.

[JWBear]

Everybody involved agreed to the change by the rules agreed to ahead of time so I don't see any reason to be bothered.

I'm not big on religious holidays and ceremony being given institutional dispensation but I'm not involved. Since they include "personal birthday" as a holiday, I'd think it would be easier to just give everybody two more float holidays a year and take Christmas (the only other recognized religious holiday) off the list. Christians can take Christmas and Labor Day (or Christmas and Easter if they prefer). Muslims can take Eid and Labor Day (or some other day), Jews can take Passover and some other day. This way they don't have worry about accommodating everybody faith that comes through. When they have 18% Hindi then the Hindis can just decide which two holidays are most important to them.

So, I don't object to the holiday, just the inefficiency in which it is granted.

I have no problem with it either. But, it's interesting to see the comments of the apoplectic crowd.

Apparently, the reason they didn’t give it as a floating holiday is that 700 of the plant’s 1200 employees are Muslim, and would be out. It makes economic sense to just shut down that day.

[JWBear]

Why can't they observe both? Then it would be a non issue.

Read some of the commentary on the web. Trust me... A lot of those people are complaining more about honoring a Muslim holiday than taking away Labor Day.

[BDBopper]

If I owned a business like this I would make the schedule around my own religeon's holidays but would allow those who are Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise to have their holidays off (with pay). It's only common courtesy. I wouldn't be a decent boss if I didn't do it. In addition my employees would have their Birthdays off (with pay) and my Birthday would be a day off for everyone! :)

[wendybeth]

I agree with Alex. My husbands company avoids these problems by doing just what he suggests, and while it's a pain for holidays like Easter, etc, it really is the fairest thing to do.

[BarTopDancer]

If I owned a business like this I would make the schedule around my own religeon's holidays but would allow those who are Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise to have their holidays off (with pay). It's only common courtesy. I wouldn't be a decent boss if I didn't do it. In addition my employees would have their Birthdays off (with pay) and my Birthday would be a day off for everyone! :)

That's what floating holidays are for. 2 extra paid days off to use as you see fit. If you're Jewish take off the High Holidays. If you're Muslim take off your holidays. If you're an atheist take a day off.

Closing a business is done with a business purpose. If over half the staff would be out on this day, then it does make sense to close the office. Retail stores are open 364/365 days a year. Their services are needed. Baskin Robbins can close twice a year, at the owners discretion. The store I ran was closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas with shortened hours on Easter because it was dead. It's not a matter of being a "decent boss", it's a business reason.

Alex, are you suggesting going from 2 floating holidays to 4, or going from set company holidays to adding 2 floating holidays on top of other PTO?

[Kevy Baby]

If I owned a business like this I would make the schedule around my own religeon's holidays but would allow those who are Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise to have their holidays off (with pay).

That's what floating holidays are for. 2 extra paid days off to use as you see fit. If you're Jewish take off the High Holidays. If you're Muslim take off your holidays. If you're an atheist take a day off.Two things:

As JWBear pointed out, the decision is a common sense decision, not a religious based one: since at least 58% of ALL employees would be off on that one day, it is not practical to expect the business to run efficiently on that day.
(And this is a completely different discussion) How does one draw the line on what is a religious holiday? That opens up a whole new argument (however, mostly rhetorical).

[BarTopDancer]

Two things:

As JWBear pointed out, the decision is a common sense decision, not a religious based one: since at least 58% of ALL employees would be off on that one day, it is not practical to expect the business to run efficiently on that day.
(And this is a completely different discussion) How does one draw the line on what is a religious holiday? That opens up a whole new argument (however, mostly rhetorical).

I was pointing out to BDB why companies don't give out paid religious holidays for everyone. That's what floating holidays are for.


I wasn't disagreeing with JWBear. It makes sense to close the plant when over half the staff would have been out on that day anyways.

[Disneyphile]

Read some of the commentary on the web. Trust me... A lot of those people are complaining more about honoring a Muslim holiday than taking away Labor Day.I shouldn't have even looked. People disgust me. What wonderful "Christians" some of those idiots claim to be. I think they need to study their faith a little harder.

[Alex]

The article states that 250 out of 1200 are Muslim.

And that's why I wouldn't really recognize religious holidays. The problem is that Christmas is a federally recognized religious holiday which I strongly oppose.

I'd prefer to just see religious holidays not handled at all. Just add two days to vacation (or call them floating holidays if you want) and then handle the requests for time off the same way you would any other vacation requests where multiple simultaneous requests would create a critical shortage.

[JWBear]

The article states that 250 out of 1200 are Muslim.

And that's why I wouldn't really recognize religious holidays. The problem is that Christmas is a federally recognized religious holiday which I strongly oppose.

I'd prefer to just see religious holidays not handled at all. Just add two days to vacation (or call them floating holidays if you want) and then handle the requests for time off the same way you would any other vacation requests where multiple simultaneous requests would create a critical shortage.

250 are Somalian Muslims. Other sources state that there are a total of 700 muslims at the plant.

[Betty]

What's so ironic about this is the that union has negotiated away the one holiday that celebrates the workers - I think the holiday came from unionization didn't it. Also - nonunion employees would still get the day off.

[Gn2Dlnd]

"Given the nature of our work, many, many, many times we have to work holidays anyway, and Labor Day is usually one of those holidays that our workers have to work," Lawson said. "And, of course, they are paid holiday pay when they have to work any holiday that is recognized at our facility."

Sounds like every job I've ever had. Nice that they get holiday pay on those days.

BTW, Ramadan is a serious fasting holiday, the end of which is a huge celebratory meal. The holiday is on a par with Thanksgiving and Yom Kippur for need to be with friends and family.

I don't need to click on the Fox comments. I hope the Rapture comes for these people soon.

[BDBopper]

I can definitely tell that I would make a really bad businessman.

[Alex]

250 are Somalian Muslims. Other sources state that there are a total of 700 muslims at the plant.

According to a Tyson spokesman (http://www.t-g.com/story/1449487.html) the union press release that said 700 was incorrect and 250 is the number. I have no idea which side is giving the more correct number.

But either way it is moot to my view. If anybody at the company gets a sanctioned day to engage in their worship then I either want the same number of days designated for me to engage in my worship or to be compensated if I choose not to use work days for worship.


Not that I would be given the opportunity but to help un-muddy the waters I'd support eliminating Federal recognition of Christmas as a holiday. But since if the Feds recognize Christmas as the most significant of Christian holidays and then forces everybody to take the day off I think every faith should get to designate as their most Holy and then everybody has to take that day off. Then we just need 364 more religions and I only have to work one day every four years.